Author Topic: Glendambo FarRide  (Read 1856 times)

Offline StinkyPete

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Glendambo FarRide
« on: May 06, 2018, 09:02:03 AM »
Glendambo FarRide – Riding with the Shadow Riders

I left home at 3.30am for the Glendambo FarRide, and there's something very special about riding through the night and into the dawn.

As I rode the country roads in the cool and dark, I saw the evocative sight of farm houses with light shining from their kitchen windows as their days began.  And then, there's the first glow in the east, heralding the beginning of the new day.   The dome of light in the east slowly gets brighter and bigger, stars fade, and the landscape slowly reveals itself in the dim, grey light.  My anticipation of seeing the sunrise and feeling warm again grows.   The dome of light, creeps up to cover the whole sky, and ever so slowly my headlights loose their impact.   But still the sun has not appeared from behind the Flinders Ranges as I ride north.   And suddenly, shafts of light burst out from the gaps between the mountains to my right, and the new day has begun.   I am keenly aware my own shadow, dancing along the roadside beside me, like the ghost of motorcycling friends and companions that I have lost.   My thoughts turn to my wicked old pommy mate Jeff with whom I rode many miles, I think of Saaz and Hendo, and nameless others who have Ridden On.   These are my shadow companions for a while, and I know I am not riding alone this morning.

We gather at Glendambo, and and after a time, riders drift away to continue their own journeys.   JohnnyYTED rides towards home with me, and peels off at Crystal Brook to head for Barmera for the night.   Again I am alone on the road, but no....  As the sun dips towards the western horizon and the shadows lengthen, my friends are back, riding with me again, flickering through the trees and bushes on the side of the road to my left.   It's good to see them again.  They slowly drift further and further away from me into the fields, and then, as the sun sets, they are gone.  My world begins to shrink into the cone of the headlights, and it seems a little less friendly and colder due to absence of my shadow riders.   I rejoice, because they'll be back some time, somewhere, and I plunge on into the growing cold and dark, knowing that at the end of the road is home and a warm fire.

I had a great day.....
« Last Edit: May 06, 2018, 05:01:46 PM by StinkyPete »
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Offline Brock

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Re: Glendambo FarRide
« Reply #1 on: May 06, 2018, 09:58:15 AM »
 :like

Very poetic..
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Offline richo

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Re: Glendambo FarRide
« Reply #2 on: May 06, 2018, 10:05:27 AM »
Well written and thought invocing. A ride for
Yourself and those who accompany in
Spirit
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Offline Shillas

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Re: Glendambo FarRide
« Reply #3 on: May 06, 2018, 10:29:57 AM »
 :Like:
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Offline alans1100

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Re: Glendambo FarRide
« Reply #4 on: May 06, 2018, 12:11:26 PM »
Not quite the same feeling I had in the early hours of the morning between 5am and around 6:40

The sun couldn't rise above the horizon quick enough and when it did the roo count (lost count after 20) suddenly dropped off to almost zero.

We saw you leave Glendambo while we were at the nature stop - glad you made it home on the day.

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Bodø Glimt

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Re: Glendambo FarRide
« Reply #5 on: May 06, 2018, 01:12:06 PM »
I would love to have gone to this.  Timing didn't suit this time but I'll get there one day.  I was watching JohhnyYted's spot for most of it.  I shuddered a bit at seeing him ride from Burra to Morgan in the dusk given that was where the kwaka hit a kangaroo in 2015.
 

Offline alans1100

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Re: Glendambo FarRide
« Reply #6 on: May 06, 2018, 01:56:56 PM »
I would love to have gone to this.  Timing didn't suit this time but I'll get there one day.  I was watching JohhnyYted's spot for most of it.  I shuddered a bit at seeing him ride from Burra to Morgan in the dusk given that was where the kwaka hit a kangaroo in 2015.
Sometimes we don't see any along there but get more on the Terowie to Peterborough road and from Monash to Morgan can be the worst at times too. Monash to Burra is a high risk zone most of the time though.
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Offline Gadget

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Re: Glendambo FarRide
« Reply #7 on: May 06, 2018, 02:01:29 PM »
A very engaging read Pete and gave me a lump in the throat.

(You just need to correct the spelling of FarRide in the first paragraph)

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Offline Shiney

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Re: Glendambo FarRide
« Reply #8 on: May 06, 2018, 07:52:05 PM »
Awesome write up mate, thank you for sharing :-++ :-++ :-++
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Offline johnnyYTED

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Re: Glendambo FarRide
« Reply #9 on: May 07, 2018, 09:14:44 PM »
 :blk13 :dred11
excellent RR Pete, It was a privilege riding with you on your first FarRide on the BMW, its also great to see your recovering well. You looked great for such a short time since treatment. As I said as we farewelled each other, keep on keeping on getting stronger and stronger.
I'll happily ride with you for support on any ride Pete.
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Offline Biggles

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Re: Glendambo FarRide
« Reply #10 on: May 08, 2018, 10:08:14 AM »
Well thought out and written.  Riding does that to you...
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Offline Knave

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Re: Glendambo FarRide
« Reply #11 on: May 12, 2018, 07:09:23 PM »
Thanks for your insight StinkyPete. A great report that we can all relate to.  :thumbs