Halls Gap, Nov 18 2017

[Kev Murphy]

Fun run to Halls Gap. Part 1.

Have been looking fwd to it for many months, as I have become a bit of a hermit without my bike, and while recovering from my injuries.
Awoke early, and put stuff into the car. Was a real pea souper at portland, visibility less than 100 metres and getting worse by the minute.
Hit the road around 7.15 am, very slow trip and it took an hour on the highway to reach Heywood, just 30 Km up the road.
Approaching cars with headlights on were just 'grilles in the mist'.
Once I reached Heywood, it was as tho someone had pulled a blanket off the sun, and it promised to be a great day of warm sunshine.
Stopped for liquid refreshment break.

5 km east of Hamilton was an odd sight. Along the side of the road was shredded toilet paper, and long unfolded strips, and complete rolls?
I mean, ... hundreds of them! Around 5Km further towards Dunkeld was a truck with the whole side and one rear door ripped out, and exposed
pallets of toilet paper. Appeared to be maybe 5 pallets missing from the load.
Police in attendance.

Took a break at Dunkeld for a cold drink as that sun was starting to bite.
Once mobile again, it was a leisurely cruise to Halls Gap. Spotted a couple of early morning road kill, but the live hoppers
seemed to have moved away. Good thing, as I saw a group of 5 bikes, two of two-up, traveling south at extreme speed.

On arrival at the Gap I was amazed by the hundreds of cars already there along the main shopping area.
Had plenty of time up my sleeve, so I grabbed a coke and moved out to where Bodo was at the CPark to await his arrival
back from his morning ride. He arrived within 15 minutes of parking in the shade under the roadside trees.

Not long after, Jd and Vera arrived and booked in. Multiple bikes started arriving and waved as they passed.
'Kev the cabbie' drove my 3 passengers down to the pub, which was only around 300 metres away.
We had around 15 minutes wait outside before staff were ready to serve us, plenty of time for meets and greets.
Fantastic to catch up with you all, and to be able to put faces and personalities to some more forum names. 

Some of the bikes...




There were many animated conversations at our tables.





Oo look! .. a camera!

[Gadget]

Good DR.

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

[Kev Murphy]

Part 2

Most of the group had left the pub by 3pm when I decided to drive into town.
Stopped and had a milkshake, but didn't see any of the group. Had no idea what further plans were to be, so I headed south for home at around 4pm.
Couple of early skippies on the road, but as I was driving leisurely they were not a problem.

I have decided that driving is not my forte, after having ridden bikes for so many years.
On a bike, it is intuitive to avoid potholes etc, in a car there is the width to contend with as well as two sets of wheels.
And then there is that 'caged' feeling. The sheer freedom of nature when moving along that I miss so much.

As I turned west on reaching Dunkeld, there was a booze bus set up taking the whole left lane and forcing all vehicles to stop for testing.
3 very pretty young things offering drivers a tube to puff through.

On the approaches to Hamilton I noticed that the truck that partially lost its load was still pulled to the side of the highway, but that
most of the spilled toilet paper seen on the side of the road had been picked up.
Just a few isolated remnants blown to the south side of the road remained.

The last hundred k's home was familiar roads with unhealthy potholes, but I still had this nagging sense of discomfort from driving a car.
Maybe it is old age attacking, or maybe it is a fear of being in a vehicle after the accident, I don't know.

Arrived home around 6.30 or so. Fed the cats and then retired, but was woken later with massive leg cramps.
Always knew that riding was more comfortable than sitting in a bucket.

Very weary yesterday, spent most of the day in bed. Still having leg cramps as well.

[Jdbiker]

Thanks for the taxi service Kev  . Hope you are feeling better today🤓

[Bodø Glimt]

Thanks for the taxi service Kev

[Kev Murphy]

 

[SteveR]

Great write up, interesting to hear your perspective of being ‘in the cage’!