Duganden Pub Ride 12th May 2012 Report

[Biggles]

Great day out in beautiful Queensland.   
Report and pix to follow soon.

It all started on this road:



and ended at this pub (that's us under the tree on the right):

[Biggles]

OK, coffee levels restored, time to write my saga (with pix).

The ride really started at 7:43 with Diesel announcing he was launching from Burpengary.  I was one leg over the bike when the SMS came through- beat a hasty run across to the Gateway Arterial to link in with the trio.
We then rode out to Beaudesert for the coffee rendezvous where a total of nine bikes gathered.  All Hondas bar the one with a lot of BMW spare parts tacked on.  Our first Varadero, plus Marissa's 400 and Harieg's 650, plus one ST1100 and four 1300s.
Ever bold, Diesel sallied forth with the trusting ones following him straight through the first turn, 100 metres from the coffee shop.  Way to go Diesel!  The three of us who knew where Rathdowney is waited for them to come back, then figured they must have beaten us around the block, so we left and waited at the Lions Road turnoff.  Diesel eventually turned up with his retinue, three of whom wouldn't follow him onto the Lions Road and continued straight ahead.  You can only trick these people once, Dave!
Once we'd assembled, Diesel blasted off with the ST1100 in tow and the rest of us set out to enjoy the ride.  We all met up at the Railway Loop Lookout.  You can see lots of people shots in Barry's Photobucket Album.  http://tinyurl.com/Barry-s-Pix

Here's my bike shot:


After the mandatory viewing of the railway line, we returned to find Harieg's rear tyre flat.  An expert opinion was sought and a leaky valve blamed.  Diesel rescued the situation with his trusty pump.



Hariegs jumped on and found the battery was flat, but being the experienced rider he is, he pulled a huge spare battery out of his tankbag and quickly installed it.  Good to know that- I'll leave my spare at home in future knowing he has one on board.  Saves weight- they're not light!

On down under the railway five times, with views like this:



Up the Summerland way we threaded, then a right turn and on down the Mt Lindsey Highway.

We had views like this:



We were only a couple of kays short of the border when Marissa misjudged the corner.  I was behind Barry who was following her, and we couldn't believe our eyes as she went off into the grass.  Thankfully we were only doing around 40 kph.



As Barry said, she was very brave, with skin off both knees where her kevlar didn't quite cover.  She'll have some bruises tomorrow!
The bike was in remarkably good shape having been thrown in the weeds.  The gear selector had over-centred, but after Barry undid the connecting rod which has a slight bend, it became workable.  Honda tough!  Given the choice of going home or to lunch, she showed her mettle by choosing lunch.

So here we are:





A good feed was had by all and we parted to go our own ways home.  428 km for me, all good!

[saaz]

Great ride by the sounds of it. Definitely have to ride up around there.  I would like to know the content of the discussion with Barry getting the bike up..could win a caption competition!

[Biggles]

Great ride by the sounds of it. Definitely have to ride up around there.  I would like to know the content of the discussion with Barry getting the bike up..could win a caption competition!

I could tell you the actual one, but I want Marissa to keep talking to me.  :)

[Barry and Marissa]

Great ride by the sounds of it. Definitely have to ride up around there.  I would like to know the content of the discussion with Barry getting the bike up..could win a caption competition!

It went something like "No dear, it was bubble up and rubber down. Not the other way around"

[tj189]

Thanks for posting the report up, good to see Marissa come out ok 

[harieg]

thanx BGL's, a great writeup
thanx to all for a great day
I'll report on tyre pressure soonish.

[Skip]

Great ride by the sounds of it. Definitely have to ride up around there.  I would like to know the content of the discussion with Barry getting the bike up..could win a caption competition!

Marissa is saying "YOU ride it home Barry. I'm taking the BMW".
480k's for me Biggles. Thanks for the 'swift' ride home. Nice roads to boot.
Sorry Harie. Hope you found your way home. I was stickin' with Biggles.  Didn't want to loose him otherwise I mightn't be home yet.

[harieg]

i did feel abandoned, all went in bugger you directions
on last 1 litre of reserve when i got to Peaks Crossing servo, put in 16.9 litres
payed and was saddling up when "B" went past, 15 seconds later "M" was following him, so i tagged along and rode shotgun for "M".  After springfield they went gold coast road, i went centenary way to bardon and brendale
MUCH THANKS TO "B n M"

[Biggles]

Marissa is saying "YOU ride it home Barry. I'm taking the BMW".

Yeah- sure!   

480k's for me Biggles. Thanks for the 'swift' ride home. Nice roads to boot.

I was trying to practise what's known as "The Pace".  It's not super fast, but aims for smoothness and consistency.   

[Biggles]

i did feel abandoned, all went in bugger you directions

Sorry that happened to you "H".  I was never going to head north from Boonah- went east then north.  Guess I stuck with what I know best, but have been up through Peaks Crossing before.  I'll have to look it up as an alternative to "The Slab" from Yatala to the city.  I know it suited Skip better because he could jump on the Gateway Arterial.

[Diesel]

I was never going to head north from Boonah- went east then north.  Guess I stuck with what I know best, but have been up through Peaks Crossing before.  I'll have to look it up as an alternative to "The Slab" from Yatala to the city.  I know it suited Skip better because he could jump on the Gateway Arterial.

By this Bill, did you mean Beaudesert-Boonah Rd the through Tamborine to Beenleigh then slab?

Cheers, Diesel

[Dan]

Looks like a good day out, with plenty of thrills and spills!

[Biggles]

I was never going to head north from Boonah- went east then north.  Guess I stuck with what I know best, but have been up through Peaks Crossing before.  I'll have to look it up as an alternative to "The Slab" from Yatala to the city.  I know it suited Skip better because he could jump on the Gateway Arterial.

By this Bill, did you mean Beaudesert-Boonah Rd the through Tamborine to Beenleigh then slab?
Cheers, Diesel

On the way to Beenleigh we turned right onto the Stanmore Road emerging at Yatala.  Nice run along there, limited to 90 ks, but plenty of interest.