‘OMG ! I NEED A SECOND BIKE!’

Chomp And Chat - Moon Rock 16/09/07

A 10:00AM start was not achieved as it seems that folk got too involved in chores or snores beforehand, however there were 9 bikes and 3 pillions assembled and rearing to go soon after 10.

Present were:

Richard –Goldwing alias ‘double lounge suite’

Chris – Kwaka 650 –with a nice red frame that I had not noticed before

Flip – on her lovely 750 Virago

Judy – on the not so well behaved 535 Virago

Andrew & Catherine - slightly blemished Goldwing

Peter [surprise!] & Cheryl BMW R1100R

Jen [our prezzie] – Yammie XVS 650

Indian John G – Vulcan - minus its GPS

Andy & his blue eyed 8yo angel - Nomad 1800

 
A special welcome to Catherine, Andrew’s wife, who was sitting pretty in grand splendor on the back of the blue, slightly blemished Goldwing and Peter S who had traveled from the wilds of Karatha WA where he now works and lives, and little the apple of Andy’s eye, who all joined us on the ride.

 After a truly democratic discussion about routes and restaurants, from Goulburn via Collector to Bungandore, the Moon Rock Café in Tidbinbilla won by popular vote. Even though we were a small group, in true Ulyssian tradition, we discussed the route and designated a ‘tail end Charlie’ [Flip, God bless her, volunteered] and rules for corner markers.

Can’t remember who the leader was as I was too busy putting in my ear plugs etc … I always seem to be last to be ready!

 Even though I was first to arrive at the servo and am SURE I turned EVERYTHING off, my ‘not so well behaved’ Virago would not start! It took me a while to accept this. I had to remove my ear plugs and silence my 5 x hours of Italian tenors to fully accept my plight. Flip and Jen gave every bit of technical advice they could muster but the base line was .. the machine had no power!

 I was determined to work on the problem right there and then but Flip reminded me of my life’s mantra of ‘having fun and wasting time’ and said I should go as her pillion and deal with the problem later. What a good idea! We had dallied so long that Chris had come back to see what had happened and was nearly back to the servo!) As we turned up at the first corner, at Kurringle Rd off the Barton Highway - at least 15 min behind everyone else and there was Andrew [& Catherine] dutifully waiting for us. The sweethearts!

 It was a divine ride through the northern Canberra suburbs, up through the Urriara loop to the Cotter, and then up to Moon Rock… on lovely curves, beautiful temperature, great surface [except for one gravel wash]. The lovely Virago 750 certainly had the power to transport the total weight of the two beauties. As usual there were several crazy, high speed riders leaning at 45 degree angles (or lower) in the bends, coming from the opposite direction …we must forgive them as they are still young and maybe will NOT going to grow old disgracefully or grow old at all.

 The deck out the front of the café was ours to tell stories and lies, resist feeding the kurrajongs, and watch the dish do some amazing gymnastics. 

While Flip’s lovely 750 Virago was more than adequate to transport the two goddesses, my new Aldi touring pants [with CE approved protection] caused enormous pressure on my very bent knees. This led me to beg for a pillion back to Watson servo on Richard’s Goldwing. This turned out to be so comfortable I could have fallen asleep. Richard and I returned to the servo to work out what to do with my bike via the Monaro Highway and Majura Rd, and we arrived before the support team (Flip and Andrew) turned up.

 A push start from Richard got me going. I have not used that mechanical technology since I owned a VW Beetle in my youth. The principles were still buried in the brain cells. I rang Andrew and cancelled his trip back to the servo with a set of jumper leads and Flip followed me home, just in case I stalled.

 A trip to the battery shop next morning after being on the charger all night revealed that the battery is OK. A more sinister, expensive solution is on the agenda which means I am going to miss my Wednesday ride.

 It was a great, fun ride with such nice folk in this Ulysses tribe. I can’t bear the thought of missing a ride due to bike failure, so I’ve decided I need a second bike.