Dargo

Well, I must say you all missed out on a great deal of mud.
I was disappointed at the lack of snow however.

It was unanimously decided[*] to turn up to Alpine instead of
Wintersun next year for the aus.moto rally ...

-----muddy mudsharks

[*] by Moike and I.

 

Some observations arising from the High Plains Rally...

The Grantville- Korumburra Road is still excellent fun, as are the roads
into Mirboo Nth via Mardan and out again via Boolarra.

The publican at Briagalong is a true gentleman. He not only shouted us
a beer, but he rides a BMW R100RS JPS.

It is reportedly possible to attend a rally in the mountains by
travelling long distances two-up on an SR500.

A Rather earthy gentleman on a Guzzi will attest that Barbara's road
(the dirt section of the short link between Stratford and the Dargo
Road) can be quite treacherous after heavy rain.

If you are planning on eating at the Dargo Store, it's best to get there
early. Lovely ladies, but not the fastest fast-food people around.

When the entrance track to your Rally ground turns to slippery mush, and
you are riding a '79 Honda 4 with clip ons, bikini fairing and custom
paint, blasting past someone who's on an R100GS is probably not a good
idea.

A 1979 Honda 4 can high-side in slippery slush.

It should also be said that riders of BMW R100RSs who overtake ancient
ariels on the flat bits, should try not to look too shocked when said
ancient piece of machinery rattles and skips about as it blasts past in
the steep, damp twisties.

Riding a heaviy, heavily laden R100RS equipped with road tyres on really
slippery dirt roads is not *that* hard. _Steep_ slippery clay roads are
another matter altogether.

Hitting the kill switch at the top of a steep slippery hill can let you
slide down with a moderate amount of control. Two feet on the ground
for moral support and a carefully feathered clutch providing the rear
wheel braking.

Such a descent is not elegant from any perspective

The rain that pools in tarps can be a useful, if plentiful supply of water.

Always take your own toilet paper.

Coffee is good in the morning. If your eyes need popping out of their
sockets, get Sharkey to make the coffee.

When a precarious descent to a rally site has decorated the insides of
your mudguards in the manner suggested by their name, it is a good idea
to clean them out, rather than wait until the build up hardens enough to
make your front wheel lock up on the way out, causing momentary
confusion, a lack of forward progress, and some embarrassment.

When it gets bad enough to lock the wheel, you have to take the mudguard
off to clean out the dried mud with sticks. Even then it isn't easy (or
neat).

The Noojee Powelltown road is really good fun, but not in the dark, when
it's cold, and the rain is falling in copious quantities.

It was a good weekend.

Thanks Sharkey.

Moike