OzSTOC
OzSTOC Ride Reports, Pictures & Videos => RIDE REPORTS => Topic started by: Diesel on September 01, 2011, 08:38:32 AM
-
Well, the day started fantastically, weatherwise, and looked to be the first ever SEQ OzSTOC Ride under clear blue skies.
All the others have been held in overcast conditions – so this was a bonus.
Anyways... headed out to the meeting point at Samford Village and went straight for the heart-starter. I was the first to arrive.
(http://i1298.photobucket.com/albums/ag42/dieselst1300/SEQ%20OzSTOC%20Ride/IMG_1376_zpsbd2e686e.jpg)
Greg soon appeared on his Candy ST13 – then Terry made an appearance on his ST1100 to say G’day and meet some of the people he chats with daily on the OzSTOC website.
He showed us heaps of gadgets on his magnificently set up long range missile. Shared a few funny stories too.
(http://i1298.photobucket.com/albums/ag42/dieselst1300/SEQ%20OzSTOC%20Ride/IMG_1377_zps9cef0787.jpg)
Next – up rocks SkidMark on his 03 ST13 – and he showed us her proud war wound from her last battle of the Mt Glorious Bulge!
It was a big scar from a cracked front ‘middle’ fairing. This was possibly the first time they were to take on the mountain since Skid took her off-roading.
Lastly – up rocks ORSM on his classy charcoal ’09 ST13.
(http://i1298.photobucket.com/albums/ag42/dieselst1300/SEQ%20OzSTOC%20Ride/IMG_1378_zps6d977b70.jpg)
Although this was a small turn out compared with usual numbers, it also made for a great little riding group.
After coffee and all the salutations were over – we set off up Mt Glorious.
(http://i1298.photobucket.com/albums/ag42/dieselst1300/SEQ%20OzSTOC%20Ride/IMG_1379_zps0fb43bb1.jpg)
When we got the other side of Mt Glorious on the Northbrooke Parkway – No Greg! Waiting..... still no Greg! Just then a copper rolls up and says to another group of bikes over yonder “there’s about to be 1300 cyclists ride through here to Esk – so keep an eye out!” – Still no Greg. Hmmm.....
So back we trekked a couple of clicks... there was Greg – fine and coming the other way. He’d taken a wrong turn and was headed for home until he realised we couldn’t have gone that way – so he turned around and that’s when we all met up again and continued across some fine country (and past a few of the front running cyclists) to Esk.
I told Brian we would stop at Esk for a brew and he was all exitameded! Should have seen his face when we were out of time and had to breeze on through!
Next stop was the dam at Lake Perseverence to have a look see.
On the way – Diesel thought it would be fun to practice “Emergency Braking on Dirt Road 101”. I knew we needed to make a 90 degree turn to the right, but we needed to just as I was glancing my mirrors and speedo...
I sailed past the turn. The road continued on alright, just that it headed down hill, and turned to gravel! Funny how the fresh country air isn’t so fresh at moments like this!
Wished I’d got a shot of everyone monstering their STs 180 degrees on the dirt road. We all chuckled about it (I think)!
Anyway – Lake Perseverence. WOW! These pictures show what a difference 2 years can make. I NEVER thought I’d see the day she flowed over the spillway again.
(http://i1298.photobucket.com/albums/ag42/dieselst1300/SEQ%20OzSTOC%20Ride/IMG_1384_zps4ca49ca9.jpg)(http://i1298.photobucket.com/albums/ag42/dieselst1300/SEQ%20OzSTOC%20Ride/P1020243_zps09e4f8ab.jpg)
(http://i1298.photobucket.com/albums/ag42/dieselst1300/SEQ%20OzSTOC%20Ride/IMG_1387_zps5ee46f2c.jpg)(http://i1298.photobucket.com/albums/ag42/dieselst1300/SEQ%20OzSTOC%20Ride/P1020244_zps17fe2fbd.jpg)
(http://i1298.photobucket.com/albums/ag42/dieselst1300/SEQ%20OzSTOC%20Ride/IMG_1383_zpsa5efc6be.jpg)(http://i1298.photobucket.com/albums/ag42/dieselst1300/SEQ%20OzSTOC%20Ride/IMG_1393_zpsc4f0fa30.jpg)
(http://i1298.photobucket.com/albums/ag42/dieselst1300/SEQ%20OzSTOC%20Ride/IMG_1395_zps45126541.jpg)(http://i1298.photobucket.com/albums/ag42/dieselst1300/SEQ%20OzSTOC%20Ride/IMG_1399_zpsc0d8feed.jpg)
Back on the road again and everyone (thankfully) narrowly missed a roo carcass sitting squarely in the middle of the lane. It was in tree shadows and wasn’t plainly obvious until very close.
Next stop was lunch at the Farmer’s Arms at Carbalah. Nice dig!
After Lunch – it was a tour of the ‘scenic rim’ of lower Toowoomba along Murphy’s Creek Rd.
Whenever we crossed a waterway or rode next to a creek, you could see the height of the Feb floods and the ferocity with which soooooo much water thundered though the valley from trees that are still laying over and debris 25ft up in the trees that are still standing.
After one last argument with the lady in my GPS as to which way we should go, we meandered our way through Gatton, Laidley, Lowood and on to our finish point at Fernvale. We replenished our vital fluids and then headed our own ways home.
(http://i1298.photobucket.com/albums/ag42/dieselst1300/SEQ%20OzSTOC%20Ride/IMG_1408_zps8d2bb076.jpg)
Skid and I attacked Mt Glorious one more time and I believe we passed Biggles who was on duty – support riding for all those cyclists mentioned earlier. He’ll know as you tend to notice a pair of ST1300s flash past – especially when you own one yourself.
(http://i1298.photobucket.com/albums/ag42/dieselst1300/SEQ%20OzSTOC%20Ride/IMG_1411_zpsa10082a6.jpg)
Made it home safely to mark the end of a great day out with the Villains. I believe the world record for number of OzSTOC shirts appearing at the same location was smashed! – by one!
Keep this in mind everyone – the Queenslanders hold the record – which currently stands at (drum roll) ............. 3!
The Sandgropers have a great chance to break this record and send it West!
Thanks to all involved – great day, great company, great riding!
Cheers, Diesel
-
Links fixed in this one too.
Cheers
-
Good read thanks mate :thumbsup
-
Great photo's and a great read. :thumb
I think Biggles believes in "karma" Diesel. :crackup
-
A wonderful insight into the former life of my bike & the earlier life of OzStoc ,
both of which have evolved remarkably in such a short time :thumb