It’s been a wild ‘n whacky 3 weeks…first up the National Strom-Meet in Bright, which was mostly a farkle-show’n-tell affair
with only a paltry 35 bikes showing up (and that in a prime riding-location like Bright, which is also easily accessible from the 2 key population centers in AUS).:???::???:
Participants were spread all around town, the only common and organized item was the Sat dinner in the noisy main pub.
Whatever…. Back to some action and Goodie jettisoned the topbox off the back of the Shrek (filled with some semi-essential Tassie-trip items) somewhere between Dargo and Briagolong.
Not on the fairly rocky and bumpy High Plains Road….no…. but somewhere in the tarred twisties south of Dargo.
Went back 70k’s for a slow and methodical search, but not a shred of evidence of where the bloody thing might’ve come off….by now my thou was sucking fumes, abandoned the search and went home.
Now…Tassie!!!
In contrast, the AT-meet in Wynyard rather turned out like this
:
Yup, it was all about the riding, lots of good humour and laughter in company that quickly grew together. Even better to see some of the locals turning up who seemed to enjoy themselves just as much as the imports.
Let’s start at the beginning then…and mostly let the pics tell the story. The ferry ran a bit late, which made for a perfect sent-off…
Next morning in Devonport, Annette, Paul and the rest of the tribe generously knocked up a monster-brecky for the ferry-mob and some locals,
after Jim (Iffy) picked us up from the “Quarantine-Shed”.
Jim thinking: Oh shit, what have I done??
Our hosts:cdle:
Too early for the visit of the little 7Sheds Brewery in Railton
it’s off to the old favourite of Sheffield, the town of murals.
The “Black Stump” post-office.
Up towards the Great Lakes on the A5, the last lot of twisties up the top turned cold, damp and foggy, obscuring the usual prime-vistas.
Despite the last minute delivery of a new topbox just before leaving for the ferry (Thank you, Motorcycle Adventure Products) , Goodie continues the series and scuttles the tankbag this time (the spring-loaded locking pin of the Quicklock-bag buggered off into the greenery, causing a major collective search out the front of the tiny Moina store….FOUND IT!!
).
No pics of the afternoon delights in the NorthCoast backblocks…we’ll keep that one to ourselves for the time being
More faces old & new & all with huge smiles on their dials, at Leisureville Cabins in Wynyard…the dinner at the Wharf Hotel turned into a loud and jolly affair.
Sunday morning turned a sparkler at the Wynyard Table Cape just out the front of the place…
Ready for the traditional “forum”-ride...
Jeff and better half steaming up the Cethana Road….yo, more NorthCoast backblocks! As usual, Mt. Roland stamping its mark in the background.
What a joy to see MickG back in action….it’s been too many years, mate!
Somewhere around Upper Natone/ South Rianna
Over the edge….Preston Falls near Gunns Plains.
A little later, all hell broke loose when climbing the dirt road to Devils Gullet
First, Jeff (Chally) on the BM has a rear-hoop puncture.
While fixing that, a km behind, Andreas’ (DonQx) DRZ400 has cracked and spat off its chain. It’s non-bodge-able, as the side-plates are bent outwards and we haven’t got a chain-breaker to remove the remaining pin.
It’s a towie’s job back to Wynyard.
Catching up with him and the throng of helpers as he tries to roll down the hill, yours truly drops the stationary DLK while looking backwards, gauging for an angle to take some pics.
Bloody 15k’s of mayhem!!....but the views were absolutely stunning!
Pete (V-twin) and Tracey (Canary)
Typical country store….the post office/bank is a hole-in-the-wall.
It all ends with a flying pass at the Cradle Mtn. road towards Warratah, then trying to hang with “The Lightning”, Dave on his Tiger, through Hellyer Gorge and up the A10 sweepers back to Wynyard.
Needless to say, the WTF came 2.best.
No doubt…a REAL meet, with a REAL ride
TBC
with only a paltry 35 bikes showing up (and that in a prime riding-location like Bright, which is also easily accessible from the 2 key population centers in AUS).:???::???:
Participants were spread all around town, the only common and organized item was the Sat dinner in the noisy main pub.
Whatever…. Back to some action and Goodie jettisoned the topbox off the back of the Shrek (filled with some semi-essential Tassie-trip items) somewhere between Dargo and Briagolong.
Not on the fairly rocky and bumpy High Plains Road….no…. but somewhere in the tarred twisties south of Dargo.
Went back 70k’s for a slow and methodical search, but not a shred of evidence of where the bloody thing might’ve come off….by now my thou was sucking fumes, abandoned the search and went home.
Now…Tassie!!!
In contrast, the AT-meet in Wynyard rather turned out like this
:
Yup, it was all about the riding, lots of good humour and laughter in company that quickly grew together. Even better to see some of the locals turning up who seemed to enjoy themselves just as much as the imports.
Let’s start at the beginning then…and mostly let the pics tell the story. The ferry ran a bit late, which made for a perfect sent-off…
Next morning in Devonport, Annette, Paul and the rest of the tribe generously knocked up a monster-brecky for the ferry-mob and some locals,
after Jim (Iffy) picked us up from the “Quarantine-Shed”.
Jim thinking: Oh shit, what have I done??
Our hosts:cdle:
Too early for the visit of the little 7Sheds Brewery in Railton
it’s off to the old favourite of Sheffield, the town of murals.
The “Black Stump” post-office.
Up towards the Great Lakes on the A5, the last lot of twisties up the top turned cold, damp and foggy, obscuring the usual prime-vistas.
Despite the last minute delivery of a new topbox just before leaving for the ferry (Thank you, Motorcycle Adventure Products) , Goodie continues the series and scuttles the tankbag this time (the spring-loaded locking pin of the Quicklock-bag buggered off into the greenery, causing a major collective search out the front of the tiny Moina store….FOUND IT!!
).No pics of the afternoon delights in the NorthCoast backblocks…we’ll keep that one to ourselves for the time being
More faces old & new & all with huge smiles on their dials, at Leisureville Cabins in Wynyard…the dinner at the Wharf Hotel turned into a loud and jolly affair.
Sunday morning turned a sparkler at the Wynyard Table Cape just out the front of the place…
Ready for the traditional “forum”-ride...
Jeff and better half steaming up the Cethana Road….yo, more NorthCoast backblocks! As usual, Mt. Roland stamping its mark in the background.
What a joy to see MickG back in action….it’s been too many years, mate!
Somewhere around Upper Natone/ South Rianna
Over the edge….Preston Falls near Gunns Plains.
A little later, all hell broke loose when climbing the dirt road to Devils Gullet
First, Jeff (Chally) on the BM has a rear-hoop puncture.
While fixing that, a km behind, Andreas’ (DonQx) DRZ400 has cracked and spat off its chain. It’s non-bodge-able, as the side-plates are bent outwards and we haven’t got a chain-breaker to remove the remaining pin.
It’s a towie’s job back to Wynyard.
Catching up with him and the throng of helpers as he tries to roll down the hill, yours truly drops the stationary DLK while looking backwards, gauging for an angle to take some pics.
Bloody 15k’s of mayhem!!....but the views were absolutely stunning!
Pete (V-twin) and Tracey (Canary)
Typical country store….the post office/bank is a hole-in-the-wall.
It all ends with a flying pass at the Cradle Mtn. road towards Warratah, then trying to hang with “The Lightning”, Dave on his Tiger, through Hellyer Gorge and up the A10 sweepers back to Wynyard.
Needless to say, the WTF came 2.best.
No doubt…a REAL meet, with a REAL ride
TBC
