Monday, April 28, 2014

For our aircraft buffs:Spitfire 944

For those who enjoy our rides to Temora to view the air shows of historical aircraft here is a great historical video on Spitfire 944,

Here is a WWII pilot telling of an experience and gets a surprise...worth watching....


Monday, April 21, 2014

Ulladulla Blessing of the Fleet, 20 April 2014

  • Michael and Tracey Winters             Triumph Trophy SE
  • Alan and Lyn Munday                Yamaha  FJR 1300
  • Michael and Kipper                Victory  XC
  • Daryl Cullen                    Suzuki 1250 Bandit
  • Garry McCurley                    Honda VFR1200
  • Rob Lillie                               Yamaha  FZ1
  • George    Attard                    Triumph Speed master
  • Neil Goldfinch                     Honda CBR1200 Blackbird
After finding the Easter Bunny had once again “forgotten” me I set off with Mick determined to make the most of Easter Sunday. The weather was superb – a little chilly at 6 degrees as we left Bungendore but the sky was blue and the forecast for the day good. 

We arrived at Watson a little after 8.30 to find some hardy souls already there and eventually there were eight bikes with three pillions ready to ride at 9am. After a short safety warning about double demerits we left Watson and found our first radar just over the border – a policeman with a radar standing at the overhead bridge near Eaglehawk. Very cunning.


We travelled through Bungendore and arrived at Braidwood to park across the road from the bakery at the NRMA garage. At the last corner at the bottom of the main drag through Braidwood we passed police conducting roadside stops and thought how good it was they were on the other side of the road. After coffee and hot chocolate we took to the road and arrived at Ulladulla shortly before noon. Disaster! – parking was impossible. 


Who knew the festival was so popular and we would have a mile long hike to the harbour to watch the festivities?  But Al and Lyn came to the rescue and spoke to a marshal who said we could try and find some spaces in Woollies’ car park – just behind the highway and the parade.  By the time we’d removed outer garments and inner jacket linings (it was much warmer on the coast than sunny Watson) we were just in time to see a fire truck - the last vehicle in the parade. 

Oh well – on to lunch. Again luck was on our side – we found some tables and chairs in a small arcade and sat there to eat fish and chips – although Garry put us to shame choosing a healthy salad roll. Really – who goes to the coast and doesn’t have fish and chips?  


To walk off our lunches we headed to the harbour.  There we saw a statue of St Peter, patron saint of the Fisherman and watched the fleet being blessed. Daryl was accosted by two lovely young ladies wandering through the crowds.

We decided to retrace our steps to Braidwood via the Clyde to indulge in ice-creams and coffee. We left Braidwood in dribs and drabs and Mick and I left with Garry and Neil only to be stopped by police STILL conducting roadside breathalysing tests five hours after we first saw them.  Spending the day beside the road stopping happy holiday makers had not put our officer in a cheerful state of mind and he was decidedly humourless. Perhaps if one of us had tested positive he might have been happier? I wondered if Daryl had been stopped?  He had already described his trip home from Young the day before where he was breathalysed in Harden and Binalong. Did Braidwood make it a trifecta?


We waved Garry and Neil goodbye at Bungendore as they travelled on to Canberra.  


A weekend of double demerits made everyone behave on the road and while this may have made our trip a little slower, it also curbed the bad behaviour of many motorists.  The glorious sunny weather, fabulous company and safe travelling made today one to remember.

Tracey Winters


Words fail me ....



NEWS - Industry Cafe has CLOSED - New Venue TBA

For those keen on the Saturday "Get Togethers":

The  Industry Cafe has CLOSED - A new venue willbe advised shortly!

CHRISTMAS in July

 Celebrating CHRISTMAS in July
Saturday 26th July
@
The TUMBARUMBA MOTEL
Elms Restaurant & Wine Lounge

Celebrate Christmas in JULY at Elms Restaurant &Wine Lounge
Where fantastic festive food, great wine beer & local cider along with a relaxed atmosphere, and fabulous service makes for fun weekend, our massive fire will be on and we may even be able to arrange some snow…….
Traditional four course Christmas menu with all the trimmings,
(Hors d’oeuvre, soup, Christmas dinner, Pudding)
Accommodation in **** star rated Room.
Also a full hot & cold buffet breakfast will be
served in the Restaurant the next Morning.
Christmas Theme decorations maybe even a visit from SANTA.
Dinner/ Bed/ Breakfast
$125.00per person twin /double share
$175 per single.
Dinner/ Bed
$115.00 per person twin/ double share
$165 single
Limited Numbers so Book Now - Phone: 69482494
Don’t forget to bring a Secret Santa Gift to the value of $15.
What to know more?
Departure times from Canberra will appear in the Ride Calendar
Or Contact Maritta on 0417 633 000.


>>See the Flyer here<<

Last calls for ANZAC "DAY" RIDE and the Long Weekend Ride

A Reminder from Mick that there are two rides on over the long weekend - both to Temora, one just for Anzac Day or the longer whole weekend ride! See below or check out the "Whats On" for more details.

Hi All,

I am just letting you know if you would like to go to Temora for the day I will be going out to Temora and returning back to Canberra in the afternoon.
Everyone has to be fueled up and ready to ride by 7.20 for the ride briefing.


Regards
Mick

ANZAC Long Weekend Three-Day Ride to Lake Cargelligo and Narrandera
We’ve organised a three-day ride from Friday 25th to Sunday 27th April, staying overnight in Lake Cargelligo and Narrandera. This is an extension of our usual one-day ride to Temora to take part in the Anzac Day march and a great chance to see parts of inland NSW we rarely get to visit.

Friday 25th April

Leave: Caltex Nicholls 7:30am sharp
Peter Arday will lead the combined ride to Temora and return. Those of us continuing on the three-day ride will leave Temora after lunch at the Ex-Services Memorial Club and ride via West Wyalong to Lake Cargelligo. 

We’ll be staying in the Lachlan Way Motel, 2 Foster Street, Lake Cargelligo, (02) 6898 1201. It’s right across the road from the lake and I think the deluxe rooms have a nice view of the park and lake. Book your own accommodation. As of 8th April they had 5 rooms left. If the Lachlan Way Motel is full, there are also the Lake Cargelligo Motel and a couple of pubs. Dinner will be at one of the pubs, a short walk from the motel.

Saturday 26th April

Brekky at the motel (not much else available on a Saturday morning in LC). We'll ride west on Lachlan Valley Way to Hillston for coffee beside the Lachlan River (the road is all sealed despite what your map might tell you) and then head south on Kidman Way to Griffith for lunch. We’ll probably call in at Darlington Point on the way from Griffith to Narrandera, where we’ll be staying in the Narrandera Club Motor Inn, 38 Bolton Street, Narrandera, (02) 6959 3123. Book your own accommodation. The RSL Club is right across the road and it’s only a short walk to other restaurants.

Sunday 27th April

We’ll return to Canberra via Coolamon, Junee and Cootamundra.

In summary:

Skill Level: 3 (suitable for most riders, though the first day is fairly long at 400km)
Leave: Caltex Nicholls Friday 25th April at 7:30am sharp 
Leader: Ian Paterson 0427 291 728

Book your own accommodation (did I already mention that?) and let me know you’re coming.

Cheers,
Ian

Ian Paterson
Ride Coordinator
Ulysses Club Canberra Branch
0427 291 728

Thursday, April 10, 2014

Doohan fans might like this!

Odd things appear on the webmasters desk from time to time: this one is for Mick Doohan fans:

 >>click here<<


Club Ride to Tumut via Snowy Mountains Highway, 6 April 2014

Weather report ‘Mostly fine; 30% chance of rain’. This morning was the first day back on ‘normal’ time, with daylight savings done for another year. Arrived at Caltex Hume at 0815, to find that there is no 95, and of course, no ’98 Octane fuel. Gary McCurley arrived early as usual and tried to text as many as possible with this news. We waited till 0840 to pick up stragglers that may be fuelling elsewhere, then at Lorne Thurgar’s suggestion rode in to the BP at Chisholm shops.

Fuel tanks fed & watered, we took a very casual run down to Cooma; on the way it was getting colder & a bit damp. Looking to the right in the direction of the Snowy Mountains Highway and Adaminaby (our morning coffee stop) the weather was looking decidedly bleak. Never mind, ride through it for now. By the time Lorne dropped off just through Cooma (he had to head back to Canberra), it was starting to drizzle, so at the corner of the Snowy Highway, we donned the Wets (for those of us that had them along, Jeff!). Between here and Adaminaby, the temperature had dropped to 8C. Push on…. 


Chas reports back to base that he has found something fishy.
 Arrived at Adaminaby, and had coffee at the first shop we see – not the Bakery for once! Should have taken the Bakery - the lovely lady was struggling to keep up with our orders, but did make amends with the offer of a free piece of cake. Why ‘free’ you ask? – Well, she did say it’s on the 3rd day. No wonder it was a bit on the chewy/dry side. 

Bikes and Riders at Adaminaby
 After replenishing ourselves and the tanks, we  rode on through Kiandra where the weather had cleared for a wonderful, open and spirited run along the Highway, and down to the plains again, turning into Talbingo for a quick stop. Had to take off the Wets as the temperature was now about 24C. Continuing on, we made Tumut for lunch, more coffee and pies of course.

From here, I asked Chas to lead as the intent was to take the back roads from Tumut (beginning on Wee Jasper Road) through Brungle, Darbalara, and then onto the Hume Hwy near Coolac or via Jugiong, and I’m not too familiar with it). Chas knows it, but turned across the river too soon after Brungle and we ended up in South Gundagai instead. Never mind, it was a nice enough detour away from the ‘Ho-Hum Highway’ for at least some of the way. 


Eventually after a bit of boredom on the Hume, we turned into the Highway rest stop just outside Yass, had another coffee, bade farewell and made our own way home. Once again, another great day on the bikes with good company.
Chris Dietzel

Chris Dietzel, Kawasaki GTR1400 (Ride leader)
Gary McCurley – Honda VFR1200
Lorne Thurgar – Suzuki GSXR1000 (only time to go as far as Cooma)
Neil Goldfinch – Honda CBR1200XX (??) ‘Blackbird’
Chas Towie – Honda ST1300
Jeff Heiler – Triumph Rocket III
Les Brien – Triumph Storm
Graham Williams – Kawasaki ZZR600