Friday, April 29, 2016

Dinner with NatCom - 30 April

A Canberra dinner with NatCom will be on 30th April at the Eastlakes Club in Griffith, at 6.30.

Its a great opportunity to meet and greet our Natcom members.

If you haven't yet, please let Jen know  - there's a final call for numbers. (helps with the catering!) (0448 336 111)

Saturday, April 23, 2016

First Aid for Motorcyclists (Oct & Dec 2016)

Hi Folks - for those who are interested in a first aid course for motorcyclists there are two courses in Canberra one in October and the other in December this year (2106) - plenty of time to plan ahead! Follow this link to find out more and book ahead!



Tuesday, April 12, 2016

Ulysses ladies take part WITH FRoC - 8 April 2016

On Friday 8th April 2016, 35 women on bikes, 2 support vehicles, plus additional supporters in cars and on bikes, took part in a road trip to Dubbo in an attempt to regain the title of Most Women on a Motorbike Ride.

Congregating at our meeting place of Maccas, Gold Creek, saw a happy gaggle of excited ladies, some who had never ridden a long ride, over 100km/hr or in the rain before. All of what we were about to experience. So,
after our photographer Brendan Maunder took pics of all with their bikes, and the WIN News delaying our departure for an interview, we set off.


Ulysses was well represented in the FRoC (Female Riders of Canberra) numbers, with Julie Hyland, Kim Moorey, Genelle Mills and myself. Marilyn Starrick also attended the event representing CDDC (Canberra District Ducati Club).


We arrived in Dubbo without incident, however still full of excitement. This excitement did not wane for the entire weekend and we all arrived home quite exhausted on Sunday afternoon.


Our Canberra group of FRoC-ers were a well-organized, tight team. Easily identified by our colourful FRoC shirts and flags waving proudly from our bikes, we were notably one of the biggest groups all travelling together.



Standing in the queue to register for hours in the hot sun was taking a toll on everyone,……. Until one of our supporters dragged over the esky to the middle of the crowd. 


Women from all over Australia surrounded him and were about to jump on him for the cold bottles of water the esky contained,… until they were warned by a
voice from the crowd “FRoc-ers only”. 


If you didn’t see us, you sure would have heard us. When we took off on the parade our engines revved and our horns tooted constantly.


I pillioned one of our girls who was unable to ride, so that she could still take part. The Boulevard loaded with moon-booted pillion and crutches we exited the arena. 


Dubbo put on a great show of support and we were surprised at how many older people had come out to cheer the procession through. A favourite memory was of a little girl of about 5 who was waving a big sign she had made saying – “Girl Power”.

With 1002 women on 880 bikes, ranging in age from 16-74 years, Australia regained the title of “Most women on a motorcycle ride”, stealing it back from the Poms who took it from us in 2015.


Our group had no break downs, no bike drops or spills and no injuries,…….except the torn ligaments caused by a jumping pillow when adults forgot to adult.


Lovely weather for our ride home saw our amazing weekend away come to a close. Of course, what happens on tour, stays on tour,……………..;-)



Andrea Lanagan     Suzuki BoulevardKim Moorey           BMW GS
Julie Hyland           Honda CBR500
Genelle Mills          Triumph Bonneville
Marilyn Starrick      Ducati


Andrea

Monday, April 11, 2016

BBQ @ CMC 16th April 2016 - Call for Volunteers

Jen Woods has called for volunteers to provide assistance at the CMC BBQ this Saturday 16th, from 8.00am. 

They will need helpers until around 2.30 – 3.00 but volunteers needn’t be there the whole time.

Call Jen on  0448 336 111

Tuesday, April 5, 2016

Club ride – 20 March 2016 – Taralga (via Crookwell)

The sun rose to a crisp clear day with Autumn finally starting after the finish of a long spell of hot weather. I headed up to Watson to greet the travelling group for the day. 

We fuelled up and after delivering the ride brief we rode up the highway to travel through Sutton. The fields reflected their rejuvenation after receiving some much needed rain following the long dry season. 

We travelled through to Gundaroo before reaching Gunning where we stopped at the Merino Café to recharge our batteries. Then we headed off to Crookwell via Grabben Gullen Rd travelling along the winding roads and enjoying the road flowing along the way with its sweeping bends. 

We reached Crookwell and then headed off towards Laggan enjoying a beautiful section of road sweeping heading off to Taralga when we came across an injured sheep with green pieces of fairing littered over the road.  

If only they had a Kawasaki!
A short distance away we found an unharmed Andrew accompanied by Garry who had stopped to find Andrew’s ZX14R with missing sections of fairing. We were amazed at Andrews’s display of skill - hitting the sheep and keeping his bike upright without coming off.  

We spent some time looking for the sheep’s owner before removing it from the road as it did not survive the accident. With a bit of roadside temporary repair to Andrews’s bike we continued on our way to The Tangled Vine Cafe in Taralga where we found Tracey waiting for us as she was travelling back from her parents’ home in Medlow Bath. Both Tracey and I always call into this café as we travel this way when heading to the Blue Mountains - we have always found a warm welcome with terrific food and coffee. 

We sat down to some great food and drinks having a break from today’s proceedings. After lunch we headed back to Goulburn were Garry, Terry and Manfred pulled off with the rest continuing to Bungendore where Tracey and I said good bye. 

Peter, Chas and Rick followed Andrew back to the ACT. (Mrs C later advised that Andrew arrived safely home but he wasn’t in the mood for a roast lamb dinner that night)
 
Thankfully we all made it home in one piece and it shows some of the benefits of travelling in a group - if you need a hand we are there for you. 


Mick Winters


List of riders

Garry McCurley  VFR1200
Terry  Mills  VT750
Peter Arday    ST1300       
Chas Towie    ST1300       
Michael Winters    Triumph Trophy       
Manfred Halton    R1200R       
Andrew Campbell    ZX14R       
Rick Costan    Ducati Monster       
           
Tracey Winters                      Tail end Charlie from Taralga in a Subaru Forester (alias Blob).