The Ride to Crookwell - 22 July 2007

( in two parts - or two versions, rather) - the Long version and the Short ( there’s something to be said for both )....and yes they do come with pics

Flip’s Tit Bits – (the Long Version)

No apologies if names or bikes are wrong. Riders should write properly so reporters can read what they have written. Why the hell you can’t write it better I don’t know, for example, this is an acceptable way to describe a bike. 

Yamaha - big, brown and strong, or a Ducati – sexy red, even a BMW – Black and naked would be acceptable…..yes, very, very acceptable…
 
Peter Arday XV213TF (Ride leader extraordinaire)
Garry McCurley VRF800 (no ice-cream today Garry?)
Trevor McLeod R1150RT (you were very quiet)
Nick and Terese Hicks M109R
Butch Willis BMW (nice description Butch, go to the top of the class)
Chas Towie GTR (nice to see you Chas!)
Norm MacLachlan BMW R1100GS
Andrew Woodman FZ1 (I think it’s blue)
Andrew Campbell Honda Goldwing GL1800 (I’m speechless)
Peter Stark and Cheryl BMW R1150R
Chris Stonehouse Kwaka 650 (good use of correct naming conventions Chris)
Neil Goldfinch Honda CBR 1000 (hey, I know what this one is!)
Matt Warmington Blackbird singing in the dead of night…
Jen (The Prez) Woods Yamaha XVS650
Terry Fenton 4 & 20 Blackbirds baked in a pie…
John Groan-burger (sorry John, I swear that’s what it says) and I don’t know what sort of bike it was, but it’s big and has a GPS.
Dave Robinson FJR1300
Now here’s where I get really vague… Gary? was riding a Goldwing. I think.
And last, but not least…. I’m proud to present to you Mick and Kipper…. Kipper is a Border Collie who travelled in his box strapped on the back of Mick’s BMWR1150.

I have to tell you that this was one of the most boring rides I’ve even been on. Nothing happened. I don’t even know why I bothered to get out of bed on such a cold miserable and foggy morning. I certainly don’t know why I bothered starting up the lovely 750 Virago. We both should have stayed tucked up warm and toasty in bed. I was really enjoying having the exhaust pipe down the middle of my back and there’s nothing like a handle bar scratching that hard to reach spot for you. Anyway, that moment is gone… sigh… and I did make it down to the servo at Watson for the 9am start, despite the fog. Just before I arrived I was having little fantasies about grabbing Garry Mc (the only other fool that would show up on such a dismal morning) and heading off for a hot coffee and a leisurely breakfast. You can imagine my surprise when I turned the corner and was confronted by nearly 20 bikes!!! This was an unheard of turnout for such a cold and awful morning. There went my visions of a morning filled with hot coffee in a small café with Garry! 

Jen had a huge disappointment before we left the servo – the toilets were busted, so not to be deterred she committed to hanging on until we next stopped. A couple of late comers turned up and a total of 20 bikes and 22 riders hit the frog and toad. Nick and Terese deserted the group almost immediately and headed off to find another servo which had a working loo (Good luck with that – word has it that some reprobates had gone on a bit of a dunny rampage the night before and we all know what plumbers are like to get hold of on a cold Sunday morning!)

Because of the conditions we headed straight up the highway, me on my lovely 750 Virago, towards Sydney and made the turnoff to Goulburn in record time (no speeding of course!). We headed into Goulburn, me on my lovely 750 Virago. I’ll admit to anyone that I NEVER listen to the briefing before the ride, so you can imagine my surprise when we just cruised straight through Goulburn and on towards Crookwell. I did give a fleeting thought to the predicament that Jen had got herself into. 

 About this time, something strange was happening back in the ranks…riders had started to go missing!! John G was Tail-end Charlie, and had a GPS, so how could anything possibly go wrong???

It wasn’t until the main group parked in Crookwell, me on my lovely 750 Virago, and Jen ran screaming into the public amenities, that we realised we had not only lost Nick and Terese, who hadn’t been seen since we left Watson, but we had in fact lost 7 of our number, including John G (with his bloody GPS). Just as panic was setting in, and Jen was restored to a normal gait, did 6 of the missing 7 arrive. A few minutes later, Nick and Terese also showed up. 

 Here’s where I get condescending and tell you in simple terms what corner markers and tail-end Charlie’s do. Tail-end Charlies stay at the back of the line. Get that? Stay at the back. Corner Markers stay at the corner until Tail-end Charlie comes though. If someone has legitimately dropped off, tail end Charlie indicates to the corner marker to join back in the pack. Unless ALL riders are accounted for, corner markers STAY put! It’s really easy.

 IF YOU DO THIS PEOPLE DON’T GET LOST! End of lecture.

A great lunch was had by all, once we all arrived and thawed out. The food was fabulous as usual. We headed back into Goulburn for fuel, me on my lovely 750 Virago, and then though Lake Bathurst (a fantastic road) into Canberra. As we approached Canberra proper, me on my lovely 750 Virago, we started peeling off at various turnoffs. I was pleased to see that John G made it back despite his GPS. A few stopped at Watson for fuel and then even fewer went to Tilley’s for a final coffee. 

As I was showing off my new spare detachable fuel tank that Peter Lord had made a bracket for last week (THANKS PETER) we (I) was approached by a tall dark and handsome stranger who had arrived on a hot Harley. After brushing the boys aside, I took over the conversation and it turns out he was interested in checking out the club, not just checking me out (how could he not?). Of course, I made sure I got his email address and promised to send him some details……. 

Ride to Crookwell 22 July 2007, written by John Gruenberg (The Short Version)

A good ride, of course the usual suspects and then some came. It was very foggy in the morning, I wasn’t quite sure it was the weather, or me, but after the mandatory coffee at the Watson servo, life took on a new meaning.

Crookwell is an interesting place since I haven’t been there before and Catherine’s Coffee shop served the best bacon &eggs I have tasted in a long time, must go again

Yes ...there you go ....different versions of the same events ....as they say....everyone has their own point of view...and we all live different lives .....and that is not a bad thing!

........If you didn’t look before ....have a look at the pics!