Wakefield PCRA 1 hour race

Billy had informed me some months prior that he and Stace would be racing in the PCRA one hour in November.  Mick C was also to be Billy’s co-pilot for the race and so I went along to cheer them on 

Got a lift up with Gos (the ride to goulburn is just not that exciting) and we soon found the boys in the garage at the end of the world.  Stace had not been able to make it due to a family matter, but Simmo had Stace’s bike and Nikos was coming down from Sydney to co-pilot with him.  Also in the garage was Kev from KSRC on a ZX9R (which looked to be about four times the size of all the other bikes in there!)

Preparations started and the temperature was rising.

preparation

Rider briefing

Eventually Mick got to head out for his first race…

Mick C

and we all stood on the wall watching him go round… and how was his first race?

fkn awesome

That smile says it all really!

The sprint races continued and I did a fair bit of spectating as well as hanging out in the garage…

Simmo heading out

The one hour race was good - had a Leman’s style start which I had never seen before.  Gos, Stevo and I headed up to the hill to find some seats in the shade while we watched - the boys did good!

Eventually day one was over and although I was supposed to be heading home, Billy said there were heaps of spare beds where they were staying so I decided to stay for the night.  We headed into town to buy some groceries and Billy cooked us all truly awesome pizzas for dinner.  After dinner a few bourbons on the front porch was the order of the evening before we all headed to bed around 11pm.

Up bright and early Sunday morning and back out to the track.  Billy & Mick still had a few sprint races, but the rest still had their one hour races to go.  The forecast was for 40 degrees so the race order was changed around a bit to get the one hour races in as early as possible (some of the co-riders weren’t there yet though which was a problem). 

As someone was very sunburnt from the day before, most of my day was spent in the shade in the garage. 

Simmo & Nikos did well in their race and was good to watch Kev go round, and Nobby was his co-rider. 

The last few races were cancelled and then we went over to the presentations where the boys picked up an impressive amount of silverware 

Then into the Commodore for the trip home.

Oh, now I want to get a bucket and go racing  (but I say that everytime I come home from watching the PCRA guys at Wakefield)

Another Weekend, Another Snowies Ride

Oooh a free weekend!  What to do?  Tee up a ride with a friend! 

Friday saw me leaving work at 4pm for the slab down the Doom to Albury (halfway to Melbourne).  It was unexciting.  It was the Doom.  Got into Albury about 7:30pm, at pretty much the same time as James.  The plan had been to have an early night, get up early and get a full day in on the awesome roads that Victoria has to offer. 

FAIL.

It was pretty hot so we had a swim first of all.  Then we had visit from Mr Beam.  A wander up the road for dodgy servo frozen pizza and coke. 

dodgy servo pizza... it is as bad as it looks

We did a spot of ‘decorating’ (every ceiling needs stars, right?)

stars

after a few hours of sitting outside, talking shit, laughing at the bogan kids in the park across the road and listening to some truly AWESOME music, the bourbon was somewhat depleted and at some stupid hour it was finally bedtime.

Mr Beam

Saturday morning dawned fair (it usually does) and I woke up at stupid o’clock and felt great (actually I was probably still pissed).  After a while I fell back asleep… dragged my arse out of bed by about 10am? and was feeling rather poorly by that stage.

Into town for a coffee (where I was amused by James putting about 7 sugars into his coffee… and then not stirring it because he “didn’t want it sweet”) and then round and round Albury trying to find a servo.  Eventually fuelled up and then I took the lead trying to lead us to some good roads.  I actually had no real idea where I was going so just made it up and we ended up in Mt Beauty. 

Mt Bogong lookout

Filled up, sent James off first and headed up to Falls Creek.  James was promptly out of sight and I had quite an enjoyable run up to Falls Creek (love this road).  Regroup up the top and then it was time to ride the ‘new road to Omeo’.  I had been looking forward to this road for some time as it was supposed to make an awesome circuit… but it was not to be.  So much gravel on the road, it might as well have still been dirt.  I wasn’t impressed and I don’t think I’ll bother going that way again (would much rather go back down Falls Creek, over Tawonga, over Hotham and into Omeo that way  ).

We stopped at the Blue Duck Inn for lunch before heading onto Omeo… I had a moment on this road where, for some reason, I threw the nine into a right hander harder than normal and had the front wheel slide :O but it was all OK just shaken nerves!  Fuel at Omeo and then for the run up to the top of Hotham and down.  We got caught up in another group of riders at the top and then I had something biting me on my neck so I had to do an emergency stop and strip off the jacket to get rid of whatever it was (no idea, but I had some nice blistery things on the back of my neck from it).  The run down Hotham was OK though towards the bottom I got caught up in that group of riders again (and it turns out I know some of them!).

We made our way to the backpackers and after a shower it was dinner time - and an alcohol free night followed!!  Hung out in the park for a bit, before turning in pretty early.

Sunday morning we were up pretty early and feeling good!  Went to get on the bikes and realised that the cafe across the road was open - hurrah! so after coffee (James tried to convince me I wanted lots of sugars in my coffee this time… but I managed to get away with only one extra) and toasted sandwiches it was time to hit the road… Halllloooooooo Mt Buffalo!  Passed a huge bunch of cyclists and luckily got onto the mountain ahead of them :).  James was once again quickly out of sight (though he kept stopping for photos so then I would get in front again) and I had a nice run up to the top. 

This was going to be a special weekend - the 9 was going to turn 100,000km!  Got to the end of the tar at the top of Buffalo and I was 4km short.  Bugger!  So we turned around and James must have got sick of me going so slow watching the odo (on the way up I kept having too much fun and forgetting to look at the odo) and he rounded me up on a hairpin just as she clicked over 100,000km. 

my first 100,000km bike

OK so the odo pic didn’t work out so good. 

The 9 at 100,000km

Pulled up at a pretty spot for some pics - decided to see how my self-portait skills were holding up after the efforts Robyn and I put on at the Border Run…

Not bad for first try!

Stood and admired the view for a while - it is just breathtaking up there…

Mt Buffalo

and because I love having photos of my bike… here is the 9 at the bottom of Mt Buffalo LOL

Mt Buffalo

From Mt Buffalo it was back into Bright to top up the fuel and have a quick break before heading back up Mt Hotham :D  Had a pretty good run up, stopped up the top and James kept going and I turned around and headed back down (damn shame that) then over Tawonga Gap and Redbank Road towards Tallangatta where I would get more fuel.

Not long after I joined the Murray Valley Highway, it was stinking hot and all I could think about was getting a drink of water at Tallangatta… and then I noticed a copper nearly on top of me, coming the other way… I looked down, 130.. bugger.  Sure enough, when I checked in my mirror he was turning around, so I just pulled over and had the helmet off by the time he’d stopped behind me.  He walks up to me and pulls out the breathalyser… apparently they are stopping and putting all motorcyclists on the breatho in Vic at the moment because there have been too many crashes.  Phew!  Finally after about ten minutes he let me go (he wanted to chat) and I got my fuel and drink and had a bit of a rest.

Fuel again at Corryong and then up into the hills - thankfully the temperature was about 10 degrees cooler up there :D  I stopped at Jono Corner and took some pics - it’s a bit faded now but definitely still there.

Jono Corner

Jono Corner

Jono Corner

I really enjoyed this stretch of road - there was hardly any other traffic (I think I saw maybe five cars all up??) and it was just heaven.  Stopped (as tradition dictates) at Tumut Ponds and it was a bit strange to not have Stevo & Tess there waiting for me.

Tumut Ponds

 From here, onto the Awesome Road (and it was AWESOME) and into Adaminiby where the usual dude at the servo wasn’t there (I still haven’t seen him yet this season).  From there it was a straight run home to Canberra.

I love riding the snowies.

Snowy Ride 2009

After the 4M’s ride I came home with a killer Victorian flu… knocked me on my arse and I was just praying that I would be better in time for the Snowy Ride!  A trip to the doctor saw me with the rest of the week off work and come Friday I decided perhaps the best course of action was to simply try and drown the flu with bourbon.

So… 3pm and Tess and I met at Hume ready for the bore to Cooma.  A late lunch for me in Cooma before topping up the fuel at Jindabyne then onto Thredbo.  As we got closer and closer to Thredbo we had some moments with the idiots on R1’s who just have to be faster in a straight line *roll eyes*.  My favourite though, heading towards Thredbo, a CBR600F something had come up behind and was sitting fair up my arse, that was fine an overtaking lane was coming up and he soon went round, followed by the ducati who was following him… until the first bend where I, still in the left lane got to go round the ducati round the outside  but then it was Tess, CBR600 dude, me and then the Ducati… the CBR guy couldn’t ride for shit… luckily Thredbo wasn’t far away.

We found our accommodations (Stevo had kindly draped a CR tshirt out the front) and OMG luxury!  It was a 5 bedroom penthouse and it was niiiiiiiice. 

CR penthouse

Tess and I were sharing the master bedroom… it was HUGE.  We quickly got out of the riding gear and into the drinking gear and joined the rest of the crew out on the balcony.

CR Crew at the Snowy Ride

Jess had brought along heels (!) which Dazzabee kindly modelled for us…

Dazzabee and the heels

Before long, the drinks were kicking in nicely and we were joined by some of the KSRC Crew - Seiko (psycho), The beautiful Gig and The Awesome Robyn

KSRC crew at the Snowy Ride

More drinks were had - the rest had dinner (probably a smart move) until we heard the sounds of the band starting up…. YAY.  We moved the party upstairs and hit the dancefloor.

The girls rocking the dancefloor

The band were totally AWESOME, playing all classic pubrock songs 

Eventually they had a break and Tess and I looked at each other, yep time for some cool air… we got outside and the pavers looked so inviting in the cool Thredbo air… so…

stars, angels or something

… we decided to get as much of ourselves in contact with those cool pavers as possible.  We caused quite a commotion.  Some random dude took possession of my camera and there are heaps of photos of us being stars or angels (as passersby referred to us as).  Eventually the band started up again and we were straight back into it… after the second break we decided it was perhaps time to call it a night and we hiked back up to the Penthouse.

Saturday morning dawned bright and fair - the beautiful penthouse room we were in didn’t have curtains on all the windows so we were awake at stupid o’clock (even after a night of barely being able to breathe with the stupid flu - drowning it in bourbon didn’t work).  Eventually everybody dragged themselves out of bed and Stevo & Gypsy concocted a fantastic breakfast for everyone.  Eventually everyone was ready to go riding - except for me… I gave my ticket to Avartie to collect the stamps for me :o) 

Jess decided to forego the ride as well and stayed to keep me company.  We had a really nice morning lazing around on the couches and sitting out in the sun on the balcony just chatting.  Eventually we decided it was time to go down to the village where we wandered around the shops and looked at the bike displays… and I fell a little bit in love with a Ducati (this has never happened before!  Seriously!!)

Streetfighter!

We then went and had a picnic by the river (well I did - the buns had sesame seeds on so Jess couldn’t eat them) and found a friendly duck which wasn’t quite brave enough to eat straight out of Jess’s hand, but close!

Jess & the duck

We then decided to stick our feet in the river - mistake it was fkn cold!  Had a good laugh over that.  We then treated ourselves to ice cream before wandering back up the hill to the penthouse (we took the ski slope instead of the stairs… it is really much the same).

More lazing around and eventually everyone came back buzzing from their ride and then… whaddya know, it was bourbon o’clock again!

A couple of drinks before heading down to town, meeting with the KSRC crew (who had now expanded to include Billy & Stace) on the way.

Dizzzy - stayin' alive or directions to the pub?

We had pizza for dinner before heading down to see the band (Hoodoo Gurus this year).. and we ran into an old friend!! anyone remember Baaaaawb?  from Ohiiiiiiiiiiooo?

Baaawb from Ohiiiiio

More drinking, more dancing, though I didn’t really rate these guys - but we knew the band from the Friday night was playing at the pub later so at least we had that to look forward to! :o)

Oh… and this was the weekend that MESS was created - arising from Stevo’s confusion (always calling me Tess and calling Tess Mel) - now we are just collectively known as MESS (strangely appropriate).  So….

Introducing... MESS

MESS had decided that this was an appropriate evening for the “chicken strip inspection squad” to come out… good decision.  We made lots of new friends and featured in a fair number of photos! 

Finally the Hoodoo Gurus finished and we set off to the pub for the good band.  We were chilling outside for a bit when the band started in, and when MESS entered everyone was kinda just standing around… now we can’t have that so we dived straight onto the dancefloor and straight into it and by the time the band finished that song that dancefloor was rocking!  (and they remembered us from the night before).  We danced and danced and danced until the band stopped playing… then it seemed like a good time to go home.  We were escorted by some of our new friends and we hung around outside the penthouse for some hours talking away… eventually they left and we were in bed at some ridiculous hour.

Up again at stupid o’clock on Sunday.  Those who were heading home did so, some others went for a ride.  I found a My Little Pony Puzzle to do and Ben only helped me a little bit (I was very proud).  Pity it was missing a piece.

Puzzle

Tess and I were eventually left to our own devices and after some snoozing decided to head “hero” style into town… but everyone had gone! (we did get spotted by the KSRC crew at least).

Back to the penthouse after gathering some supplies and more relaxing ensued…

Tess knows how to relax

and eventually, once again, it was bourbon o’clock and time to head back down to the pub.  We caught up with our new friends from the night before for a few games of pool, watching the 125’s and 250’s on the screen.  Missed the main race walking back up (kept stopping to admire the stars etc) but just caught the highlights.  Another night passed without much sleep and then Monday it was time to ride home 

4M's 2009

Well… it has been a while in between rides.  Very unusual for me, but these are unusual times!  I had been very busy trying to get my house ready for sale so I basically did nothing but commuting for the whole of October… in fact, I had thought about pulling out of the 4M’s ride altogether but decided I could really use a bourbon or three so headed off for Bombala late Saturday with Tess with the intention of getting up Sunday morning, hoping the ride home would cure the hangover so I could get stuck back into it…

Tess and I left Canberra under threat of thunderstorms… there were storm cells to our left and to our right and we were riding down this path of sunshine between the two… at least until Cooma, it all turned to shit after that!  Before Nimmitabel it started raining… hard.  It could have been hail, it fkn hurt!  We pulled up in Nimmitabel, decided we couldn’t be bothered with wets so pushed on… arrived in Bombala and the Sydney crew were already there so a quick hello, then we sourced some coke for our bourbon and got stuck into it and then got into our costumes… one bourbon wasn’t quite enough dutch courage and when we walked downstairs and all the locals in the bar laughed we quickly fled outside - smoke time!  We got a few more bourbons into us and caused some havoc by having our photos taken on the roundabout on the mainstreet ;o)

Eventually everyone else rocked up and the night got under way… we were hanging out for the karaoke but when they started it up… they had taken off everything since 1990… Tess and I did “I love rock n roll” and that was about the only thing we really knew.  Luckily Andy and Billy love to sing so they were our entertainment until it was time to go chill on the balcony for a bit before going to bed.

I woke up Sunday morning, looked out the window and saw a hint of light in the sky and had a little tanty in my bed… “I WANT TO GO TO TINTALDRA!!!!!”  So I decided fuck the garden, I’m going to Tintaldra.  Problem.  The only thing I had brought with me was my halloween costume, which Matt assured me would be fine to wear at Tintaldra but I thought not… LOL

So the group headed off without Bubba and I (his chain was completely stuffed, I could hear it from 100m behind him) headed for Cooma and while Bubba went in search of a chain I went shopping for a new outfit.  I made my purchases but unfortunately there was no chain for Bubba so we headed on to Jindabyne where we fuelled up and then hit the Alpine Way.  As Dad was nursing the chain I actually got to ride with him for a bit which was nice.

Lunch at Khancoban… note that if anyone ever goes to Khancoban, take care not to overwhelm the poor lady in the cafe at the servo!  The poor dear… she was really lovely though, even though she forgot about my burger being ordered without lettuce (I’m good at scraping lettuce off though) and she forgot all about Dad’s coffee!

From there it was onto Tintaldra :o)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))

We got into town and pulled up at the pub where we were warmly greeted by Alf and Maija, it was soooooooo good to be back there.  A couple of bourbons and it was down to the Caravan Park to see Ailsa and Rick and meet the new family member (Yowie!).  While we were still at the pub Minna, Ratty, Faye and Jim had arrived, Faye and Jim were staying at the pub and Minna and Ratty had claimed a cabin… but as everything else was still available I claimed a double bed in a cabin again (YAY).  Showered and changed and it was down to the BBQ area to relax with Ailsa and Rick for a bit before eventually everyone else rocked up.

It was a great night!  The bourbon flowed beautifully and there was much talking going on. 

Much later, I was walking back past the pub which had closed and there on the verandah sat Alf and Maija, hand in hand, bathed in moonlight sitting looking at the moon over the hills.  It was a really beautiful sight.

Anyway I ended up staying up most of the night, watched the moon set over the hills (I have never seen a moon set before!) and eventually fell into bed not long before the sun came up. 

Breakfast was cooked but I was too tired to eat!!! Hung around and watched everyone else go until there was just Tess, Andy and I left.  I had told Tess that I was way too tired to try punting the barge up the mountains so was gonna slab it home and she was going to join me… but then Andy decided he was going to stay another day and Tess decided that she was too so i kitted up and headed off home alone.  Slabbing it was the worst decision ever it was so hot and boring.  Eventually got home and fell into bed!

Of course it was an awesome weekend, it was the 4M’s!

(I had no idea where my camera was so no pics!)