Was on the road this morning 10 mins after sunrise. Dry roads and a promise of a great days travel ahead
When I started the bike, only had 3 cylinders firing?... its been standing for about 3 weeks, I guess the fuel in the carbys had gone off. Had 4 cylinders again before I had gone more than a block from home.
Pic below is 5 km up the road from home, light overcast, with a trace of frost on the grass paddocks, dry roads all day.
New Oxfords had a workout for the first 45 minutes of todays trip
Followed a truck all the way to Hamilton until he turned off just south of town. Sun glare flashing through the trees as I progressed until I was around halfway to Hamilton in rapidly improving conditions,
clouds were gone by the time I arrived in Hamilton at 8am. As I didn't have a meal yesterday, I stopped at Maccas for a bacon egg and cheese muffin and a medium sized brain-freeze (coffee frappe)
Wandered around town for about another 30 minutes before heading on. Police were cleaning up an accident scene just north of the town centre, sweeping up broken glass on the road, and 100 metres further on, were doing breathos.
Mr plod with the tube was in a foul mood, and snapped at me "Had anything to drink?"
I replied "Yep!.. two coffees and a fruit juice!" Oh boy! Wrong move! "Oh, you're a smart arse, are you?" he snarled!... Hey! I only answered his question? I'm not a camel?
His attitude really annoyed me, so I snapped back with "Who crapped in your cornflakes this morning?" His offsider cracked up at that, and slapped him on the shoulder.
Dogs breath thrust the device at me, and demanded "Blow in the tube til I tell you to stop!" I complied, and he was really slagged that it didn't register. (I don't drink alcohol, has been over 11 years since my last alcoholic drink) As he turned away to discard the tube, the other cop said to me quietly "Sorry mate... he's been a real pain since his missus walked out on him last Tuesday!" I replied "With that kind of attitude, it's no bloody wonder she left!"
He grinned and nodded. I rode away....
Anyhew.. back to the trip. Light traffic, onwards to Linton, just short of Ballarat. Called in to see my mate Curly at about 10.45.. been about 3 years since we got together, altho we chat every couple weeks on the phone. (he got the nickname 'Curly' way back in mid to late 70's when we knocked around together when we both lived in West Heidelberg, Melbourne. You see, Curly is of Chinese extraction, and has very straight hair...
I bid Curly hooroo at about 11.40 and arrived Ballarat at 12.15... went north through Wendouree to the bypass and onto the Western freeway, to exit near Ballan at 12.45.
Medium traffic on the freeway, and glorious weather.
Headed south through Anakie, Moorabool, Traffic very light... and onto the Geelong bypass near Bell Post Hill, then onto the Princes Highway near Waurn Ponds, Medium traffic, arrived at Winchelsea at 2pm. Colac is just a half hour from there, where I planned to have a coffee stop.
Medium traffic when I left Colac at 3pm, with next stop planned at Bunnings in Warrnambool, where I pulled into the carpark at 4.10
Roamed around instore for about a half hour, bought a couple of items, and was back in the saddle at 4.45. Heavy traffic in Warrnambool, and I got stopped at every traffic light. (Murphys law) 9 Km, 26 minutes? C'mon!... get real?
Finally clear of Dennington at 5.11 and on the homeward stretch.
Topped the tank at last servo leaving Warrnambool. About 585Km down, and 26.5 litres to fill it again.
Economy... 22 Km per litre... not too bad!
In the door at home at 6.23 to an exuberant welcome from the cats. (They usually get fed at 5)
With a bit of puddling around in towns, 684Km in all for the day, and I was at home 10 minutes after sundown.
Only saw 3 other bikes on the highways, 2 Hardlys and a Strom?)
(Oh yeah!... it's FRIDAY! .. DOH!)
