Ride to National Motorcycle Museum in Nabiac. By Rob Biggin

Transcription

1 Issue 27 November at a glance. Sat 1st - Snowy Ride Wed 12th - Tomakin ride Wed 12th - Branch dinner Sat 15th - Bombala Bike Show Sat 22nd - Dirt ride to Tharwa Sat 22nd - Branch picnic Pipers Lookout, Brown Mt. Tues 25th - Penelopes at Café Evolve, Bega Wed 26th - Ride to Eden editor.all.torque@gmail.com November-December 2014 Ride to National Motorcycle Museum in Nabiac. By Rob Biggin Inside this issue: Nabiac, continued 2-3 Miss November 3 Bombala Bike Show 3 2-minute funny 4 Mystery Dirt Ride 4 November Calendar 5 Committee Contacts 6 For Sale 6 Thank you to Andrew D Arnay for your assistance with the last edition of All Torque. Your help was greatly appreciated. Editor. L-R Rob Biggin, Dan, Allen, Rob Wright and Bruce Fenney somewhere on their Nabiac adventure It was a small group who gathered at the Whistle Stop Cafe in Cobargo at 9:30 on Thursday 9th October, Bruce F, Rob W., Dan, and Rob B. Syd came to see us off and to wish us farewell. The weather was glorious as we made our way up the coast to Batemans Bay, then up the Clyde to Braidwood for fuel. It was then on to Goulburn for lunch at the Big Merino. From Goulburn we headed to Oberon, across the Blue Mountains then down the Bells Line of Road into Windsor for the night. A motel was found within walking distance of the pub. It had been a good start to the trip. Friday morning saw us up and away to Wisemans Ferry. Having crossed the Hawkesbury on the ferry, we enjoyed a pleasant ride encountering little traffic. We stopped for a late breakfast before continuing around Wyong then up to Gloucester. It was another glorious day's riding, [continued page 2]

2 however we were a little surprised when the Gloucester caravan park advised they were fully booked. Apparently there was a country music festival in town. They kindly directed us to the Roundabout Hotel in the middle of Gloucester which was able to offer us both accommodation and good food. John Dean joined us in Gloucester, having ridden up from Canberra. On Saturday the five of us departed Gloucester for Nabiac. The National Motorcycle Museum houses some real gems. Whether one is into Lambretta's, Triumphs and Nortons, or old Hardley's there is something to interest every taste. There is an extensive range of speedway, motocross and trials bikes including one ridden by the famous Sammy Miller during a visit from the UK. From Nabiac we rode into Forster / Tuncurry where we had lunch at a local pub. The attractive scenery on the river made it hard to drag ourselves away. We headed south to tour both the Wallis Lake and the Myall Lake before heading up the freeway to Nabiac to return to Gloucester. Another good day's riding in glorious weather. Sunday morning John left early to return south. We set off to head up the Thunderbolts Way to Walcha for coffee before tackling the Oxley Highway. What a road. The road surface is excellent, the corners are great and the weather was warm and dry. What more could one ask for? We stopped at the bottom of the mountain, before we reached Wauchope. It was too good an opportunity to not repeat the whole experience! Rob W. left us at the bottom of the mountain to visit relatives in Tuncurry. Having said our farewells we turned around and headed back up the Oxley to Walcha. Halfway up the mountain we stopped at the Gingers Creek Cafe for lunch and to listen to other bikes heading up or down the mountain. What a sweet sound! On return to Walcha we refuelled before heading back down the Thunderbolts Way. Half way down the Thunderbolts Way, on our way back to Gloucester for the third night, we stopped at a scenic lookout and spoke with a Canadian couple on their way to Armidale for the night. They had not planned on riding the Oxley Hwy but were advised it would be well worth the detour. Monday morning the three remaining left Gloucester to head south to Singleton to tackle the Putty Road. Oh what fun! However, dark clouds appeared on the horizon as we had a late lunch at the Grey Gum cafe half way down the Putty Road. After lunch we continued down through Windsor and Richmond then up through Hawkesbury Heights and Winmalee. Bruce was able to apply some local knowledge of the Blue Mountains to ensure we enjoyed the great lookouts on offer. The scenery was stunning, but the by now dark clouds had turned black. Standing in the car park of a Blue Mountains look out we were suddenly struck by a hail storm. The car park turned white and the traffic on the road stopped. It was clearly unsafe to proceed. We waited and watched as the storm passed over and the hail melted. It was an easy decision to realise we'd gone far enough today. Fortunately Bruce knew of a hotel only a few kilometres up the road in Blackheath. That was it for the day. We watched on the evening news of the damage the storm had created across Sydney. [continued page 3] 2

3 Page 3 Pin-up Tuesday morning we left Blackheath in bright sunshine, but under the threat of more storms. The weather forecast indicated we would be in for a wet day as we headed south towards home. It was a pleasant ride to Oberon for coffee before heading towards Goulburn. The clouds threatened and about 20 kilometres out of Goulburn the skies opened. Down it came. We made it back to the Goulburn bakery for lunch and chatted with other motorcyclists heading towards Phillip Island. Departing Goulburn, towards Braidwood, we encountered the full force of the storm. Strong cross winds and heavy rain made riding quite exciting. Reaching Braidwood, Bruce declared he'd had enough for the day as he was drenched to the bone and cold. Dan s next project? Dan and I crept down the Clyde quite gingerly, carefully avoiding the slippery leaves and fallen branches. On reaching Batemans Bay Dan, who was by now also cold and wet, stopped to take a break. So I continued to Bermagui having enjoyed a brilliant six days' riding covering approximately 2,550 kms. Many thanks to Bruce for organising the ride and for his navigation. It was a great trip and it would have been incomplete had we not got drenched at least once! Thanks Bruce. Sapphire Coast Branch is hosting the Ulysses stall. Any members able to do 1 of 3 half hour stints please call Kate on Just because I can This edition s page 3 beauty is not your President/Editor, rather, her 40-minute old first grandbaby a healthy little girl called Klovah, born 3 weeks early but still weighing a nice 6lbs 6oz. Nanny Kate wonders how small they make helmets? WIN A YAMAHA MT 09 3

4 And now for joke from Peter Faulks... An elderly couple was having dinner one evening when the husband reached across the table, took his wife s hand in his and said, Martha, soon we will be married 50 years, and there s something I have to know. In all of these 50 years, have you ever been unfaithful to me? Martha replied, Well Henry, I have to be honest with you. Yes, I ve been unfaithful to you three times during these 50 years, but always for a good reason. Henry was obviously hurt by his wife s confession, but said, I never suspected. Can you tell me what you mean by good reasons? Martha said, The first time was shortly after we were married, and we were about to lose our little house because we couldn t pay the mortgage. Do you remember that one evening I went to see the banker and the next day he notified you that the loan would be extended? Henry recalled the visit to the banker and said, I can forgive you for that. You saved our home, but what about the second time? Martha asked, And do you remember when you were so sick, but we didn t have the money to pay for the heart surgery you needed? Well, I went to see your doctor one night and, if you recall, he did the surgery at no charge. I recall that, said Henry. And you did it to save my life, so of course I can forgive you for that. Now tell me about the third time. Alright, Martha said. So do you remember when you ran for president of your golf club, and you needed 73 more votes..? Myst_ry (^irt) Ri^_ 17 S_pt_m\_r L_ssons L_[rnt... What a ride we had that Wednesday! I was accompanied (lead/mislead) by Dan, Ross and Syd. Dan had devised a pleasant but interesting ride along Goats Nob Track and Dr George Mountain Road. There was a variety of road conditions that were in the most part manageable by competent riders. A highlight was that Syd was still with us right to the end. I did learn a few lessons from the Ride that I thought worth sharing: Following Ross s Ural is infinitely more relaxing than trying to keep up with Dan; even when Dan has a gammy leg and is riding a 250cc cruiser with road tyres, The best line for an outfit is NOT necessarily the best line for a bike. When Syd has a small moment in rough going, you will not be unscathed, Even innocuous looking puddles merit a reconnaissance, and Pressure Washers will clean crusted mud off bikes AND clothing. Such a shame no one had a camera. There is no evidence to suggest that anyone fell in the mud. Bruce F 4

5 Ride and Event Calendar NOVEMBER date time what's on Saturday 1st 10am Bemboka Pie Shop - coffee & chat Snowy Ride - own arrangements Sunday 2nd 10am Stonehouse Café, Tura - coffee & chat Wednesday 5th 10am HoWeRoll Café, Tathra - coffee & chat Friday 7th 12pm Drovers' Rest Café, Bemboka - lunch Saturday 8th 10am Bemboka Pie Shop - coffee & chat Sunday 9th 10am Stonehouse Café, Tura - coffee & chat Wednesday 12th 10am HoWeRoll Café, Tathra - coffee & chat 11am depart for lunch in Tomakin 7pm Branch Commercial Hotel, Bega Friday 14th 12pm Drovers' Rest Café, Bemboka - lunch Saturday 15th 10am Bemboka Pie Shop - coffee & chat 10am Bombala Bike Show - own arrangements Sunday 16th 10am Stonehouse Café, Tura - coffee & chat Wednesday 19th 10am HoWeRoll Café, Tathra - coffee & chat Friday 21st 12pm Drovers' Rest Café, Bemboka - lunch Saturday 22nd 9.30am Dirt Ride to Tharwa - details TBA 10am Bemboka Pie Shop - coffee & chat 12pm Committee Meeting - Pipers Lookout 12.30pm Branch Picnic - Pipers Lookout, Brown Mt. Sunday 23rd 10am Stonehouse Café, Tura - coffee & chat Tuesday 25th 12.30pm Penelopes Lunch, Cafe Evolve, Bega Wednesday 26th 10am HoWeRoll Café, Tathra - coffee & chat 11am depart for lunch in Eden Friday 28th 12pm Drovers' Rest Café, Bemboka - lunch Saturday 29th 10am Bemboka Pie Shop - coffee & chat Sunday 30th 10am Stonehouse Café, Tura - coffee & chat 5

6 Sapphire Coast Branch Committee Contact Details Position Phone Mobile Address President Kate Spears Secretary Bruce Bearman Treasurer Peter Faulks Ride Coordinator Bruce Fenney Webmaster Ross Slade All Torque Newsletter Editor Kate Spears Historic Vehicle Inspectors Bruce Bearman Gary Smith Penelopes Contact Monnica Smith Quartermaster Hans Wiederman Social Coordinator vacant For sale Now this is shopping in style! Size 16 Size 8 Contact Bruce B