Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Canowindra 22 September


Riders:

Coffee stop at Boorowa
  • Garry McCurley  VFR1200
  • Rick Costan  Monster
  • Peter Arday  ST1300
  • Kris Jirasek  GSXR1300
  • Andrew Campbell  ZX14R
  • Trevor McLeod  FJR1300
  • Chris Dietzel  GTR1400
  • Donna MacLean  Streetfighter
  • Chas Towie  ST1300
  • Ian Paterson  GL1800

The main purpose of this ride was to share a great little back road I stumbled across when I was riding aimlessly around the Central West, Riverina and northern Victoria last November. It goes from Mandurama to Canowindra but it also can be done in the opposite direction, in which case it goes from Canowindra to Mandurama. It’s the same distance in either direction.


It was a beautiful, calm, sunny morning after an overnight low of 0° as we set off from Nicholls and took the usual route to Boorowa. The post office was closed so we had coffee and a pie at the Superb Bakery, which has markedly improved the quality of both products in recent months.


I had originally planned to go via Frogmore and Wyangala Dam but there was some concern that the floodways on that road could still be full of water and coated with slippery moss after the rain during the previous week. Instead, we continued north on Lachlan Valley Way to Cowra and north-east on the Mid Western Highway to Mandurama, where we regrouped.


The road from here to Canowindra was only 40km long but it wound around hillsides blanketed with bright yellow-flowering canola and deep green pastures, dipped in and out of valleys and gullies and led us over hilltops with spectacular views over the Belubula valley and the Nangar Mountains beyond it. The road surface was mostly excellent – some sections were being resealed when I passed by last November – and we managed a respectable pace, arriving at Canowindra at 12:30pm, just in time for lunch.

We dined at the How Bazarr Café (yes, that’s how it’s spelled), which is also known locally as the Green Shed even though it’s kind of yellow and purple. It’s run by the ebullient Dot and her staff, and next time you call in there mention that you’re with Canberra Ulysses and she will remember us. Best not to mention Peter Arday’s name though.


 We had a slight delay when one of our party, who I shall call Kris for no other reason than that it was her, misplaced her bike key. After we combed every square centimetre of the café and parking lot, and were on the verge of calling in the SES and PolAir, the errant key was found in a different-from-usual pocket of said party member’s apparel.


Yet another coffee at Boorowa


When we finally hit the road we took the most direct route home, via Cowra and another coffee stop at Boorowa. The whole trip was about 480km.


Ian Paterson


Wednesday, September 11, 2013

New Branch Meeting Place - ACT Rugby Union Club

The Italo Club has told us there is no room available for our meetings.
We have been searching for another venue to hold our meetings and Mick Winters has emailed us all to announce we have found one.

The ACT Rugby Union Club has kindly let us in from the cold - the club meets our requirements to the tee plus more.
The only thing the RUC has asked us to do is ensure each member attending the meetings joins the club - the yearly fee is five dollars. This entitles you to discounts on drinks and meals so you recoup the fee with your first meal.
There is a membership form >>here<<. 
Can you print it and complete and bring it to our first meeting at our new venue along with the joining fee.If you are unable to print the form out, don't worry -  Mick Winters will bring some extra forms to the club for you. 

We will be there from 6pm if you want to share a meal. If you're just coming for the meeting try to arrive before 7pm so we have time to complete the membership requirements.


ACT Rugby Union Club (THE RUC)


51 Blackall St, Barton, ACT (02) 6273 1613 

 

  http://goo.gl/maps/qNuKP 

 Be there for the first meeting in the new home: 17 Sept 2013

 

Motorcycle Awareness Week 2013

 Motorcycle Awareness Week 2013


 The events are:
  •  13 Oct- BIKEFEST - at EPIC from 8:30am
  •  All Week - Joe Rider - Spot Joe - report where and when you saw Joe and you go into the draw to win a prize - tell your friends and maybe a few more car drivers will learn to "see" motorcyclists! joe.rider@internode.on.net
  •  18 Oct - Ride to Work Day, Friday 18 Oct 2013
  •  18 Oct - Bikers Breakfast, East Lawns, King Edward Tce

Tuesday, September 10, 2013

Memorial Ride – 8 September 2013


Michael & Tracey Winters Triumph Sprint ST1050

Garry McCurley VFR1200

Darryl Cullen 1250 Bandit

John Barratt BMW GS800F

Steve Hopkins K100RS

Marilyn Starick ST4S

Pater Arday ST1300

Butch Wills BMW K1800 (?)

Chas & Jen Towie ST1300

Mark Walker NT700V



The fabulous weather on Saturday wasn’t quite duplicated on Sunday – nevertheless a dozen hardy souls gathered early at EPIC on Sunday after a night spent celebrating or lamenting after voting. 

We left EPIC close enough to 8.30 stopping at Marulan for coffee before arriving at Cordeaux Dam around 11am. Our leader “thought” he knew the way, but as we joined a trail of motorcyclists when we left the Hume Highway at Picton Road, we knew he hadn’t let us down.


The full turnout for the day numbered about 200 bikes, but regulars thought this number was down on previous years – perhaps the cloudy weather had deterred them. 
 
Jen Woods and Leo Farrelly had arrived earlier to help the Macarthur Branch set up. The Macarthur Branch President, Ted Schloithe, opened the proceedings with a prayer. He then mentioned that he had hoped to read the names of those who had “ridden on” in the past year but as Natcom confirmed this figure at 56, it would take too long. We had a minute’s silence.
 

With the BBQ fired up we were all served sausage sandwiches, complete with onions and sauce, with some going back for seconds. We finished with cake and coffee/tea and someone needs to educate the ride leader that it helps keep him in his wife’s good books if he doesn’t select the smallest piece of chocolate cake he can find to share.


We headed back around 1pm and after stopping for the obligatory ice cream at Marulan left the group at Goulburn to travel home via Tarago.

A ride I can thoroughly recommend to other members.

Tracey Winters