Monday, July 23, 2012

Christmas in July Ride Report

Ride report with a difference – we didn’t ride with anyone!

The Must Attend social event of Ulysses Canberra calendar was run and won last weekend 21st July.


Attendees;
  • Mike & Sharon Kelly – Yamaha FJR1300? Not sure of that.
  • Kerry & Janet Mulgrue – Yamaha FJR1300? Or that.
  • Michael & Tracy Winters – Yamaha FJR1300? Or that.
  • Scott & Linda Preston – Yamaha FJR1300? Or that one too.
  • Derek Holeoyke – Vespa, nice red one!
  • Denis Appel – BMW, can’t remember what sort.
  • Leo Farrelly – BMW, mostly blue from memory. (Leo’s Photo’s)
  • Butch & Jan Wills – Honda DNR & BMW.
  • Andrew & Catherine Campbell – Goldwing, mostly blue from memory.
  • Mick & Kyla Harvey – Ford Ute, but could have been Yamaha FJR1300.
  • Judy Perry & Di Sommerhayes – Nissan Pulsar.
  • Nebiat & Amhara Perry – see above.
  • Laurier & Linda Williams – Millthorpe blow ins.
  • Steve & Trish Adams – Yamaha FJR1300.
Trish & I left from home (Naradhan NSW) on Saturday morning, perfect riding weather. First stop Lake Cargelligo for fuel then onto Condoblin for morning tea. A ride weekend suggestion would be to travel through this now verdant landscape, it’s been a long time since it’s been like this! Utes at Ootha and Ben Hall memorabilia ad nauseum to be enjoyed or endured (you choose) all within easy riding distance. 

Next stop Forbes after riding through what must be the wettest landscape we’ve experienced, it’s midday and we’re still wiping visors from the thick fog we’re travelling through! Forbes to Eugowra then to Orange, stopped at Cudal for coffee and to confirm we had not been mistaken to see a farmer ploughing with horse drawn implements (wish now we had stopped for photos). Arrived in Millthorpe to catch up with the Canberra contingent, a pleasant afternoon chatting ensued.

Judy Perry deserves a mention in the next Queens Birthday Honours list for the choice of evening repast! The Old Mill at Millthorpe will be highly recommended by all that attended the evening. The dinner was nothing short of exceptional. Dinner progressed smoothly interrupted only by a rousing Chris Kringle present swap (Butch Wills winning the spoils of the evening - a boomerang and a pair of clappy hands, certain to provide many hours of gleeful enjoyment!).

 Other entertainment for the evening included pass the baby, tall tales (as usual) and chicken hunting. Laurier & Linda Williams won the award for shortest distance travelled (they live over the road), both walked away happy with their Chris Kringle spoils - Laurier a tyre pressure gauge, he rides a sports bike, Linda will spoil herself one evening with the bath salts and body scrub. Andrew Campbell was heard muttering in his beard that had he known the evening was going to be fancy dress, he would have put in an effort to do so! Breakfast for many saw the return to the Old Mill for another meal to remember.

Sunday dawned with another perfect day for riding, as we all saddled up for the return trip. Catherine Campbell was seen with the spoils of her Chris Kringle experience (a waterproof struggle rug) draped across her legs for the cool start of the trip home.
Trish & I followed the crowd as far as Manduramah where we turned off to Canowindra. The MG & Triumph car clubs were meeting in Canowindra and many fine examples of these cars were turned out on the main street, riders note, possible oil hazard on the main street! Our trip home went smoothly enough through Eugowra and Forbes, just before Condoblin the Check Engine light came on. 

Riding into Condoblin a whining noise was heard, whilst parking in Condoblin the engine stopped, only to fail to start again. I think the starter clutch engaged which fried the starter. Panic not Dear Reader, another starter has been sourced from Lithuania (thankyou Ebay) – the mighty FJR will be up and running soon. 

Special mention must be made of Trish’s efforts to engage with Local Culture in the main street of Condoblin, you will probably read all about the race riots that followed in the Condoblin Argus!

A brilliant weekend in all – thanks again to Judy Perry for organising yet another highly memorable weekend. By the way Al Munday – it didn’t snow. 


Steve Adams