Well here we go, Streaks Nambucaa FarRide Round 2...
For those of you not informed last Year, Diesel and I did the same ride but we how you say....had some timing difficulty's....that resulted in myself missing out on my Far Ride Number (I am sure the blanks will be filled in lol).....anyway....
For a quick Fill in for those who dont know, the challenge is to complete a certain amount of KM's in 24 hours, this one is a 1,000km you cant start before 12.30pm in the timezone the ride is held in, and you have to check in by 12.30pm the following day.Packing like a madman on Thursday night as i had worked late, and had to work on Friday morning, so running around looking for my bike keys in the dark was somewhat entertaining to the kids and teela for some reason, i was trying out a couple of new things this trip, using my 2L CamelBak, with Rehydration, and also using the Zen Motorcycle Gear Summer Gloves (I will do reports on these properly later)
This year we Started from separate points, so after i floated in from work, and scooted onto the bike at 11.25am and headed to BP on tor for fuel, triple checking the docket (of course), 11.35am and it is off to Toogoolawah to meet Diesel, and get my first 100km out of the way, saw some of the damage caused by the rain with some flooding damage, and small land slips between Highfields and ESK. This was the easy bit, met up with diesel after riding past him first and we where on our way!
So we powered through Toowoomba, Men on their bikes the wind and the sun with them......errrr STOP, with the flooding we spend quite a bit of time stick in road works and traffic lights and stop go men between toowoomba and Warwick, which put us behind (which actually did us a favour further down the road).
but we filtered our way though, stopped for a quick coffee in Warwick, at this point i thought Diesel and early on set of alzheimer's as he could not find his walled (in his jacket), and leaving his kidney belt in the coffee shop.
Everything was awesome, weather was perfect, bike was on song, scooted through Stanthorpe, Tenterfield, our comms working perfectly as we where chatting about all the Granite in the hills, we started to notice some black cloud as we where getting towards Glen Innes, and then the hills parted, and there is was, lightning, thunder and a bloody huge wall of RAIN, and not the kind stuff!
We flew into the united fuel depo, had to fuel as the bikes we where low, we clicked off the pumps and the Sideways Rain just poured in, we had to quickly side the bikes around the side of the service station, this was about 6.30pm.
and this is where we stayed until about 9pm, sitting there watching the rain fall, as we had accomodation booked in Inverell, and needed the distance so the next day would not be so hard, below is us sitting in the Truckies lounge waiting...and waiting.....
The rain cleared no problem, which was good as we where making plans to sleep at the servo, as we suited up to go, not 1 but 3 truckies approached us to check where we where going, and if we were going to be ok (thank you gents).
into inverell, could not find an open bottleshop or pub for even a small drink to knock us out, so it was into the Fossickers Rest Caravan Park, into bed about 11ish, and then it was up at 3.20am and heading to Tamworth via Barraba, Diesel and I came up with the idea of me sitting behind with and running both our sets of HID's to make it easier to see, it was like Christmas! my photo does not do it justice!
but we saw very little wild life, so our average speed kept up nicely as we scooted through, we where running that well we even pull up for thermos coffee in Barraba at about 4.30am
Then we Cruised into Tamworth for fuel and a quick photo in front of the Golden Guitar
Breakfast at Maccas and Meet up with Saaz
then it was off to Armidale, picking up Kimmy and Karl (Far Riders) along the way, with Chris (ST2UP) coming on board at Armidale.
The riding was sensational, doing the waterfall way, you can ride up and down that hundreds of times and not get bored!
and then to make it better there a great little stop called Fusspots for a quick break
then it was the run into Nambucca, by this time, the 3 hours sleep was starting to kick in a little, but the comms with diesel, and the good riding kept me buzzing!
Before we came into Check in as we where a little early, Chris took us up to a great lookout, and i got this great shot of the bikes and the sea..this is what you all missed out on
all in all there where 7 ST's there (Diesel has the group shot photos)
put the Helmet on the back seat the same as everyone else, we walked up to check in everyone kept stopping me and asking about my docket, was it right this year
, do you want us to check it for you
walked up to clint and handed over my docket, and even he had a big grin, wanted to make sure this one was doubly right! but it was, and i had done it, easier than i thought i would have, but i got the tick, and i got my completion, bought my cap and sticker, and headed off for a very satisfying lunch!
needless to say lunch and afternoon consisted of many conversations and story telling and the odd beverage, we went to get the bikes to check in and i got my one really sour note of the trip, my brand new evoline 3 had fallen off the bike
but screens can be replaced
I was in bed early as i was shot, and left the rest with the drinkies, someone ask diesel about low doorways by the way, i crashed for 10 hours!
This Morning we packed up and the ST brigade headed for Breakfast at Anchors Wharf Cafe, Urunga (if you are near there you have to go, talk about sensational!)
we bidded goodbye to Saaz and Chris, added Fuel and it was turning the STeads for home, on some exellent advice from chris we came home up the Orara Way (Great Piece of Road), to Grafton and Summerland way to Casino where it was time for a stretch and break.
This is the last of my photos, but what i can say is the run home was sensational! Kyogle to Boonah Mt Lindsey Road, if you have not done it do it!
Boonah for lunch, we parked with a large group of Harleys and we marveled at the Roses Amonst the Thorns
(tongue in cheek of course)
all in all fantastic 3 days, around 1600km covered, great people, great roads, when can we go again!
