Port Stephens Ulysses Branch

Transcription

1 July 2015 Port Stephens Ulysses Branch President: Kerrie Skinner Ph , Mob Secretary: Anne Crowley Mob Treasurer: Jackie McCallum Mob Committee: Brett Davis, Brian McCallum, Bob Lucas Ride Liaison Officer: Brett Davis Ph , Mob All sensible correspondence to: PO Box 356, Salamander Bay 2317 ewsletter correspondence to: Bob , Member of the Month President s Report Sorry... couldn t get a President s Report from the boss this month. Probably didn t give her enough notice to get one together... You see, the poor old Secretary and President only get one month to prepare their reports and get em in to me in time for the newsletter... guess that s a bit rushed... Father Murphy walks into a pub in Donegal, and asks the first man he meets, 'Do you want to go to heaven?' The man said, 'I do, Father.' The priest said, 'Then stand over there against the wall.' Then the priest asked the second man, 'Do you want to go to heaven?' 'Certainly, Father,' the man replied. 'Then stand over there against the wall,' said the priest. Then Father Murphy walked up to O'Toole and asked, 'Do you want to go to heaven?' O'Toole said, 'No, I don't Father.' The priest said, 'I don't believe this. You mean to tell me that when you die you don't want to go to heaven?' O'Toole said, 'Oh, when I die, yes. I thought you were getting a group together to go right now.'

2 MI UTES OF SOCIAL MEETI G 26 June 2015 (at Soldiers Point Bowling Club) Meeting Opened: 7.50pm Apologies: Brett & Jennifer, Paul Mulvay Attendance: 15 President s Report: Kerrie welcomed all members present Wishing Al Ford all the best as he is unwell Billy from Coalfields visiting tonight he s to chair AGM Kerrie thanked all for their support during the last twelve months At this time, nomination for Treasurer, but no nomination for Secretary. Reminder for Christmas in July 25 th July 2015 at Kandos. Leaving Paul s corner at 8.30am, morning tea Sandy Hollow 10.30am. Dress for Christmas. Breakfast at Rylstone s Café on Loue on Sunday before departing for home. Secretary s Report: No Correspondence received or sent Treasurer s Report: General Account $1, Meet & Greet Account $1, General Business: Barefoot bowls to be considered in spring Kerrie suggested breakfast ride to Macadamia Farm at Medowie Girls lunch Friday 10 July 2015 for Jennifer s 60th Billy suggested ride to coffee shop at Kearsley Crossing Jack suggested the branch get back to doing Sunday rides Ride Report: John organised Ride to Canton Beach on 21 st June 2015 a few members turned up on the day Fun Things: Birthdays July Chris McCarthy, Brian Crooks, Phil McTaggart, Jennifer 60 th Davis, Ross Marlin, Julie Bellott, Renate Morris, Doreen Easthope Fines $5.70 Dave, Bob Lucas Raffles - $75.00 Glenys Ingall won Port Performance Service Voucher

3 Next Meeting 31 July 2015 Soldiers Point Bowling Club Meeting Closed 8.29pm FROM ANNE Anne was sending me pix from the Kandos Christmas in July weekend, and from Jennifer s 60th Birthday luncheon. My guess is these are the Christmas shots, and that Jennifer s are still floating around out there in cyberspace... Thanks Anne, and I m sorry if my bounced your further attempts, but we re pretty slow out here in Outback Queensland! SYD EY BRA CH ODYSSEY YOU G, SW Please note that I attached accommodation and registration forms for the above event (in September) separately to the June newsletter. For those who need to know why, it s because dragging.pdf documents into MS Publisher (my newsletter editing program) causes huge increases in file size and renders the newsletter untransportable via . ote also that this event is actually on this year, OT 2014 as advertised in the flyer!

4 A elderly gentleman walks into an upscale cocktail lounge. He was in his mid-seventies, very well dressed, hair well groomed, great looking suit, flower in his lapel, and smelling slightly of a good after-shave. He presented a very well looked after image. Seated at the bar was an elderly really classy looking lady, (mid-sixties). The sharp old gentleman (like me) walks over and sits alongside her. He orders a drink. He takes a sip. He slowly turns to her and says, "So tell me, do I come here often?"... thanks to Brian for this one. Probably a personal experience...

5 Meet and Greet Pix from Mick in Orange... at long last! I d sure hate to be hangin by the short n curlies waiting for Mick, but he DID finally cough up his pix from our Meet & Greet! Not bad Mick, only took you 7 weeks... And I dunno how much Malu paid you, or whether you harbour some sort of unashamed (and unhealthy) attraction to him, but he sure featured well in your collection! Thanks anyway mate - good shots. Pix by Mick Breen, words by Bob

6 OK, last month s newsletter saw us in Cairns in good spirits, but that s about when everything started to go pear-shaped! About 2am after you guys had enjoyed the AGM, we were getting bombarded from the 3rd story apartment balcony above the van park. Yep, Coronas, tomato sauce bottles, electric irons... Bob s Blurb show the hole where the iron went through our awning! So much for our first big trip in the new caravan... and sadly the QLD Police seem to have let it go, despite my chasings. Apart from the trashed van, more broken teeth, computer virus, and a blown motor (see P8), some of the adventure (or is it The Holiday From Hell ) has been quite enjoyable... I think... I ve prepared this newsletter mostly in Karumba on the beautiful blue Gulf, in between catching fish. But as we have no service here (or most places we ve been since Cairns), I ll be unable to distribute it till we get nearer to civilisation, maybe down Cloncurry way... but I WILL get it out. OK, I seem to have missed that opportunity, and have been stuck at Longreach with turbo shut-down problems on our new motor, but we re about to head for Stonehenge and Jundah tomorrow... hopefully... Thought the McCallums had followed us, for a moment... We ve enjoyed a coupla Beddoe-type meals, and I think I ve found one of my long-lost Scottish cousins, in Cairns ;-). Not quite sure how to break it to her diplomatically, but methinks the ol girl has whacked on some extra inches during our travels... And the results are as in the attached pix... which don t even

7 Final reminder (and probably too late, now!), USA Sturgis, August 2015 From: Rod & Fiona Kelly Sent: Tuesday, 12 May :22 PM Subject: Sturgis USA tour - August 2015 This may be of interest to your members:- A couple of spots are still available on a social, non-profit, small group tour to the 75 th anniversary Sturgis rally, South Dakota USA in August 2015 USA Bucket list ride across 8 States over 2 weeks, touring Las Vegas, Hoover Dam, Route 66, Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, Mesa Verde, Million Dollar Highway, Black Canyon, Colorado Rocky Mountains, Sturgis Rally, Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Bad Lands, Devils Tower, Cody Rodeo, Bear Tooth Pass, Yellowstone, Old Faithful, Grand Tetons, Jackson Hole, Bear Lake, Bonneville Speed Week and back to Las Vegas. Call Rod Kelly for details: Treasurer, Hills Branch NSW Ulysses Member # Lady Dentist A bloke goes to a female dentist to have a tooth extracted. As she produced a large syringe to give him an anaesthetic shot, the bloke protested, "Sorry, no way, no needles! I just hate needles!" So she started to hook up the nitrous oxide tank, but again he said, "No, no, I can't do the gas thing either. Just the thought of having a mask on my face suffocates me! The dentist then asked if he had any objections to taking pills. "No problem at all," he said, "I'm fine with pills." So the dentist gave him two little blue pills which he swallowed promptly, "What are those?" he asked. "Viagra," she replied casually. "I'll be damned," said the patient, "I didn't know Viagra worked as a pain killer." "Actually it doesn't," said the dentist, "But it will give you something to hold on to while I pull your tooth out..."... thanks, Dangus

8 THE LUCAS ORTHER ADVE TURE Tonguies in Townsville Well, we ve been gone from home around 6 weeks now, and we certainly Us & our Dutch mates, Rosedale, QLD have had some great moments, and some pretty soul-destroying and terribly expensive ones. All in all, a true adventure I guess, and hey, what s a holiday without adventure? Frosty Mango, near Bowen, QLD Threw a few of the earlier pix into Page 7 last month, and this month we travel from Rosedale (a little village in QLD) to Cairns, Cape Tribulation and Cooktown, then westwards to Mt Garnet and Karumba, then down to Longreach to visit our son s sculpture at the Stockman s Hall of Fame. Lake Placid, FNQ Unfortunately we spent a greatly extended time in Cairns, quite apart from the early trashing of our caravan. The extra time was due to a major car service initially, and then catastrophic engine failure only 220Km later, just past Mt Garnet... Yep, we holed a piston and blew all our oil out, and had to be transported back to Cairns, source a new motor, then have it installed. Cost us a Disaster strikes, SW of Mt Garnet, FNQ fortnight in time, and a HUGE amount of money. The old Pathfinder had never given an ounce of trouble until we had it serviced in Cairns... but there s no way (at this stage) we can prove the failure is due to their service... but we will try! But in the meantime we did our best to make the most of our bad situation, and Marilyn with Dim & Sas Cape Tribulation, FNQ Couldn t resist this one, Anne! Better fuel economy this way... A shocker, Capt Hitler... I mean Cook! Cairns Great little hire car, Cairns

9 did heaps of walks, and all the gorges around the Cairns area, and a few out-of-town trips while we had our little hire car. Also caught up with old Lithgow mates who were here vis- Pt Douglas Marina, FNQ Mossman Gorge, FNQ iting their daughter, and made new friends with other Nomads at our many enjoyable (and free) bush camps along the way. Mossman Gorge, FNQ To get heaps of Kms on the Bloomfield River, FNQ new engine before we left, we also did trips down to Tully Heads where we caught up with old W ang mates who have moved there, and up to Cooktown and back down the rough and rattly Bloomfield Track, our first revisit since 98. Davenport Range, FNQ Finally headed up the mountains to Atherton with van in tow once again, and enjoyed a pretty trouble-free 800Km run along the Savannah Way through Mt Surprise to Normanton and up to Karumba. Marilyn out-fished me while there (I caught more toadies though!), but as usual I did all the cleaning, filleting and cooking of her catch. Millaa Millaa Falls, FNQ From there we ve copped strong head-winds down the Matilda Highway to Cloncurry, and almost gale-force from there down to Longreach. Between Croydon & Normanton, FNQ Even the V8 Landcruisers have been unable to get into top gear with their vans in tow, and I m thinking of getting a 400 litre tank fitted to increase our range! Just as well the diesel s only $1.69.9/litre at Normanton... Gotta watch the drop-offs up here!!

10 Cumberland gold mine remnants, FNQ Purple Pub, Normanton FNQ Inquisitive local, FNQ Karumba Beach, FNQ Sunset over the Gulf, FNQ Norman River giant, Karumba FNQ WOT bloody tree...?? More diesel for the trip south... Burke & Wills Roadhouse, FNQ Between Kynuna & Winton, QLD Longreach, QLD

11 TRAVELLING TO TASMANIA FOR THE 2016 AGM EVENT IN LAUNCESTON. 29th February 6th March Most Members will travel to Tasmania via the Spirit of Tasmania, which operates daily sailings across Bass Strait between Melbourne and Devonport. The twin ships depart from both ports at 7:30 pm, arriving at 6:00 am the following morning. During periods of high demand, Spirit of Tasmania also operates day sailings, departing from each port at 9:00 am and arriving the same day at 6:00 pm. Think of this voyage as another day s travel to the AGM, part of the journey, part of your adventure, part of the experience. You will be sailing over 420 km, and if on an overnight sailing you will be sleeping in a bed, in a cabin. It s another night s accommodation. When trying to book, some members have commented they found motorcycle space is sold out for two weeks prior and for two weeks after the 2016 AGM Event dates on the Spirit of Tasmania. We believe they are accessing their booking via the normal Spirit of Tasmania general public website and therefore getting the sold out message. Apparently quite a few members are trying to book via this site. VERY IMPORTANT. PLEASE NOTE Ulysses Club members absolutely have to book via or they will get a sold out message and also they won t receive the 5% discount. Bookings, at the discounted rate for this event, are valid for travel between 15 January June Limited motorcycle and passenger space has been protected for: Departures Melbourne to Devonport between 21 February 29 February 2016 inclusive. Departures Devonport to Melbourne between 07 March 13 March 2016 inclusive. Protected space will cater for motorcycles and for motorcycles with sidecars and/or trailers (all under 2.1 metres in height) until sold out. Protected space for accommodation is based on Cabins and Ocean Recliners (and Day Tickets where applicable on 0900 departures) until sold out. Alternative accommodation styles & vehicle dimensions will be subject to availability at time of booking. Protected space will be held until close of business 11/12/2015 or until sold out. However protected space may be reviewed prior to this date and adjusted to match member interest and bookings to-date. All vehicles, including motorcycles, motorcycles with sidecars and/or trailers, and trikes are expertly accommodated on the vehicle decks. There are a variety of accommodation options available including Deluxe Cabins, Twin/Four Berth Cabins, and Ocean Recliners. All cabins come equipped with a private ensuite, air conditioning/heating, bedding, towels, soap, and a 220-volt socket. Dining and entertainment options include The Leatherwood Restaurant showcasing Tasmania's finest produce, The Captain's Table, The Lavender Cafe, The Spirit Bar, a games arcade, a children s playroom and a cinema showing the latest movies. We look forward to welcoming everyone to Tasmania in Regards Mike Meyman Director 2016 AGM Event Launceston Ulysses Club Inc. Event website;

12 PROPOSED RIDES & EVE TS Port Stephens Branch Rides:-??? - Ride to Gunnedah??? - Breakfast ride to Medowie Macadamia Farm (Kerrie)??? - Ride to Kearsley Crossing Coffee Shop (Billy) August?? - Ride to Grey Gum Café to christen new flag (Bob) For further information about rides, refer to website:- NOTE Brett is still chasing ride suggestions for 2015:- If you ve not made a contribution recently, please give him your ideas for a ride on any of these dates. Upcoming Events:- Spring Barefoot Bowls??? Tahlee Bible College morning tea (Merilyn)??? Hunter/Raymond Terrace cruise (Merilyn) Sept Camping weekend at Dunn s Swamp near Rylstone (Billy)

13 FOR SALE Richo s Honda ST1300 is up for sale. About an 05 model, I think. Asked him for photos last month but nothing yet, so had to scrape up an old one of mine Bloody good tourer (can t kill em!) in great condition, and deep blue in colour. Seeing he won t talk to me, call the man at home on , or his mobile on , or at the Golf Club on (the most likely place). These people support us.. Do the right thing and support them! John Beddoe financial services & advice Ph Jack Johnstone security system installation & service Ph , mobile Dennis Mahoney leatherwork Ph Doreen Easthope seamstress Ph Jacqueline Scocco Champagne Colours Shop 12, Austral Street Shopping Centre NELSON BAY Ph % off all hair services to Ulysses members and their guests. Always service with a smile. JUSTICES OF THE PEACE (within the Branch) John Beddoe Anne Crowley Laraine Howes John McGrath Paul Mulvay 150a Salamander Way Salamander Bay merilynevans@ex .com.au % off for all Ulyssians! and Kim s the boss Yep, Scottie & Karl