We Took
To The Hills – Sunday 19th July 2009.
At last we have gotten around to
organising a ride, and we had a pretty good idea where we were going. Destinations were decided first, as we were
keen to make our ride a reasonably short one allowing for the short and cooler
days. Then we set off on a Saturday
afternoon straight after closing shop, and tracked out the roads and times for
the ride. On this particular
reconnaissance trip we called in to see relatives down the coast and they
informed us of a local scenic road that was very worthwhile checking out. So, we duly took off the next week-end (what
a good excuse for another ride!) This
time including the Old Coach Road through the Bogangar Range and then we
discovered another delightful spot for our morning tea break – what a
find. At last Thommo was satisfied that
we had a decent ride.
Sunday arrived with glorious
weather and we arrived at the BP Yatala Service Station nice and early, and
what a lovely surprise we followed Scott and Irene at the same time. Closely followed by three single fellows –
Paul, Peter and Eric our clan gradually swelled to a total of 11 bikes. Thommo presented the run details and we were
on the highway by 9.40 am with Paul as tail-end Charlie. Non eventful cruise down the highway to our
first turn-off at Reedy Creek, onto the Old Coach Road linking up with Old
Connection Road and riding through the range and trying to enjoy the glorious
views (as Larry said “we have to watch the road”). We had morning tea at the Currumbin Rock Pool a delightful spot
which deserves another investigation
.
Bill and Mary have also discovered this place and recommend we check-out
the lookout just up the road.
We are on the road again heading
for Murwillumbah, a pleasant ride through cane fields and just off the old
highway to a favourite shopping spot for me called Stokers Siding. Everyone was very patient as I did my little
shop adding to my particular pottery (Thommo was well prepared for this) and
all the guys were lucky the girls just enjoyed looking! This is where Scott and Irene left us and we
were now heading for our luncheon destination Ocean Shores Country Club.
Again, this was just a short trip
down the old highway and we were all parked and signing in by 12.40pm. We were set-up on a reserved table in the
Reflections Restaurant and the staff were very pleasant but we missed taking advantage of the magnificent views
either over the golf course towards the mountains, or out to the sea – but the
company was great and the food was good and very reasonable.
Have to remember next time to be
quick when my dish arrives, although I cannot complain about my substitute
choice it was delicious (I believe it was better than my original choice which
was snapped up by a member who loves dancing!!).
Our raffle was over very quickly,
and congratulations to Rusty and Paul the lucky winners on the day. Thank you to everyone for participating and
joining us on our ride, it was a delightful day and over all too soon. We said our good-byes in the car park as our
northside members were leaving with Rusty and Maree who had a time schedule to
meet. The rest of us just hit the
highway and made for home with another pleasant Sunday ride completed.
Thank you all for another
memorable day.
Cheers Thommo and Valerie.
Joke
Break
Computers are like air conditioners. They work fine
until you start opening windows.
A tramp goes into a
hardware shop and asks for a bottle of turps , “I’m not selling you that”
says the owner . “All you’ll do is sit outside , get drunk and be sick all
over my step.”
“How dare you”, says the
tramp . I live in a flat now and I’m doing some redecorating. I need the
turps to clean my paintbrushes.” “Oh I’m really sorry,” says the shopkeeper
, taking a bottle of turps from the shelf and putting it on the counter.
“That’ll be $3, please”. The tramp stares at it . “Haven’t you got one out
of the fridge”
|
|
Post AGM Ride home
On leaving the AGM, which
Julie and I both enjoyed immensely (could the Queenslanders do something about
the weather please – and they have a
go at Melbourne!), we spent a great day cruising around the Tamborine mountain
area.
We headed over to
Murwillumbah then stopped for coffee at Chillingham. There was quite a bit of
water over the road on the causeways along here and I have never had to take
the Wing through water before. Julie offered to get off, but I knew what would
happen then. I would be expected to carry her over!
It would have been better if
everything we went to look at wasn’t closed. Stopped at Fullingbrook Falls but
they had barriers everywhere to stop you going down. Some were ignoring it, but
with the non existent grip on our bike boots we weren’t going to try it. Next
stop was Hinze Dam – sorry, closed. We then headed for O’Reilly’s guest house,
but the narrow little road with three cars in front doing about 50 put us off
so we retired to Canungra for lunch. We had to fly out that afternoon for
Melbourne so we then headed off to Brisbane airport. Decided to leave the bike
at Budget Airport Parking. $28 for 3 days, take your keys with you, and
transfers to/from the airport. Great deal.
I flew back on Wednesday
morning to collect the bike, then had a great ride down Mt Lindesay Highway
(almost collected by a logging truck). Turned south at Woodenbong after a late
lunch and down through Bonalbo to the Bruxner Highway and on to Tenterfield for
a coffee. Made Armidale about 5.30pm so decided to call it a day there. Stayed
at Cameron Lodge Motel which advertised dinners, but didn’t actually do them.
Off to the pub instead.
Awake early so headed off at
6.15 foregoing the free breakfast which you couldn’t get before 7am in the
dining room (the one you can’t have dinner in). I wanted to try at least one
alternative on the way home (anything but the Newell!), so headed over to
Walcha and down Thunderbolts Way. Really wished I had Julie there so she could
have been taking heaps of photos as scenery was excellent. Stopped at
Gloucester for breakfast, then along Bucketts Way. This road would have to be
the worst case of government road upgrade advertising I have seen. There were
signs every few km’s telling you that you were now in another section that was
being upgraded, and then a bit later another sign saying end of section, and
the obligatory big sign claiming credit. I did not see one shred of evidence
that they had actually spent our taxes on anything, except for the signs
telling you how good they were. Oh, right of course.
I had forgotten that there
are very few service stations on the Newcastle freeway (we must be spoilt in
Victoria) so had to go looking for fuel at Toronto, which wasted a bit of time.
There had been quite a lot of
people heading out from Sydney early that morning so I wasn’t looking forward
to going through Sydney, sure that I would get caught in Easter traffic. I had
planned to stop at Goulburn that night, maybe Gundagai if I was really lucky. I
was amazed that I only stopped at 3 sets of lights along Pennant Hills Road.
Before I knew it I was on the M2, then the new M7 and out to the Hume in about
45 minutes. I was planning to stop after I got through Sydney, however all the
service centres were full so I just kept riding to Goulburn. That was the
longest stint I have had on the Wing at 340km’s but felt great. Since it was
only 2.45pm, my plans changed and I decided to push on for Albury, where I was
spending Easter, though hadn’t planned to get there until Good Friday. I normally stop every two hours but I felt
great so just rode straight through, another 380kms. All up 1100 kms for the
day. Not something I had planned to do, or may do again, but I was pleasantly
surprised at how good I actually felt. Must be all that comfort.
Headed home Easter Sunday,
straight down Hume Freeway, so I won’t waste any space on that trip.
As always, ride safe.
Craig Dixon
A couple, desperate to conceive a child, went
to their priest and asked him to pray for them. "I'm going on a
sabbatical to Rome," he replied, "and while I'm there, I'll light
a candle for you."
When the priest returned three years later, he went to the couple's house
and found the wife pregnant, busily attending to two sets of twins. Elated,
the priest asked her where her husband was so that he could congratulate
him.
"He's gone to Rome, to blow that candle out" came the harried
reply.
|
|
Do you know this person ?
Social
Ride - Sunday 26 July 2009
It
was Saturday 25 July 2009 at night and the rain started. I said to Wayne,
"Glad we didn’t go for the ride tonight there would be some mighty wet
unhappy people, let’s hope it clears by tomorrow".
Sunday morning proved to be a clear beautiful day. Just as we were about
to leave, our neighbours cows were out on the road, being such nice
people that we are, we rang our neighbours and told them and then waited
until the cows were put back into their paddock before proceeding.
We arrived at Shell Nudgee (a little late 9.40am - sorry everyone), and there
were people waiting and wondering if the people who had organised the ride were
going to show up. Well, after watching people just miss poles, reversing
back and just missing each other, and not to mention the young lady who
couldn't turn her alarm system off on her car, we all came to the conclusion
that it must be coffee time (mind you we hadn't gone anywhere but hey ,coffee's
coffee).
Well we finished our coffees and started to head off to Beerwah Hotel, the
directions if anyone got lost were: out here, up the road, left, up the
road, wiggle wiggle, up the road, right, squiggly bits and then you were
there. Everyone was happy with these directions so we set off.
The freeway wasn't too bad until we got near Burpengary where it slowed down,
but we were still moving forward which is always a good sign. We took the
D'Aguilar exit and it was smooth sailing from there.
The weather was beautiful and the roads were clear which made it for a very
enjoyable trip.
We got to Beerwah Hotel and had great seating outside under cover.
Service was quite quick and the meals were enjoyable (it is a place that will
be visited again).
If anyone has any opinions on Telstra, Optus, AAPT and the wonderful English
service that they have received please pass your thoughts onto Winston and/or
Eric as they speak quite highly of the professionalism that they have received
- NOT!!!!!!
Oh also, the great service that RACQ provide - again there is extreme
sarcasm here as well.
It was also Wayne and Liz's wedding anniversary on the Sunday and glasses were
raised and we were wished a very happy anniversary. It was a great day
and an absolute pleasure to be surrounded by such great people, stimulating
conversations (which at most times was quite hilarious) - an absolute memorial
day.
Thanks to all that came.
Wayne & Liz |
What about this person ?
