All weather reports for the weekend were not particularly pleasant in fact they were downright awful. Friday is a late start by FarRide status at 2pm (replicating the first FarRide by our founder David “Davo” Jones) and thankfully it’s a nice afternoon.
Easy plan – up the M1 to Nabiac for fuel, then heading onto the BP Donut Port Macquarie for dinner. A U-turn then head back to Forster to stay at the in-laws at Foster. Rode to the plan and arrived on schedule at 7:40pm to a warm welcoming and house. Thanks Nana & Poppa for the wonderful hospitality again.
On the road @ 5:40am on Saturday in the darkness and thankful yet again for the spot lights on Dudley. What a lovely morning, and no traffic just a little chilly pulling in to Wauchope for fuel. Might as well add an extra layer as I could see the mist heading into the distance towards Long Flat.
That mist, made me feel like I was riding into a mystical moment in a fairytale.
What a clear run up the mountain!! Not a car in sight, had the entire road to myself (this doesn’t happen very often). You could tell that there had been rain at some time, probably overnight as The Oxley was a little damp. Tested out Dudleys new setup but couldn’t really give it a good workout as was just a little too damp to get really into it. Still heaps mucho improved from the previous – thanks Sweety.
A quick stop at Gingers Creek for a photo op and got 10 drops of rain….oops outta here!!.
Out the top end and I could just watch the bad weather rolling in or should I say I was rolling into it!! Turn right at Walcha and it starts to rain – typical. Uralla for fuel and a hot chocky and it’s teaming down. Frank & Maye are parked under shelter donning their wet gear and I give them a wave. Up the goat track that is Thunderbolts Way though Bundarra and not far outta Gilgai come across another rider. Happens to be Crappy who pulled over to stretch his legs – wave g’day and I keep going.
Left at Inverell and it’s the home stretch into Moree. Open flat fields, plenty of road kill – BIG roos and BIG pigs are scattered either side of the road. Didn’t realise how many pigs were out that way….even little piggy wiggy’s were strewn along the road side. Come across a sleeping MildThing taking a break in a bus shelter just outta Warialda. Thought about stopping down the road and walking back to take a sneaky photo (but that would be a little mean), so kept going…..dammit, I should’ve got the pic. Gravesend and all these photos I wanted to take but didn’t. The ground was just too soft for me to stop on the verges or venture off the road without getting into strife and no photo is really worth that.
Rolled in to a wonderful welcoming at Thomas Lee Motorcycles, where I promptly stopped and asked “where’s my valet?”…..LOL…..which I did get about 15 minutes later 🙂
Was first to check-in and now time to say HI to everyone, meet some new people, have some lunch and get some photos.
The time goes too quickly and riders soon start to head off to finish their ride while the remainder of us are hanging around for the Anniversary dinner tonight at the Dragon restaurant. I must say though, I had the pleasure of meeting Lisa (daughter to FarRider Rob) who attended her first FarRide this weekend and is on her “P’s”. Well done girlfriend and you have exceptional taste in riding gear too!! 🙂
A quick splash in the thermal pools…well it wasn’t too quick – what an experience. Shared some stories with others taking advantage of these wonderful pools. The water is sensational, need to get me one those artesian pools at home for the aches and pains……so therapeutic!!
Socialising upstairs in the restaurant before dinner is fabulous. My riding friends are wonderful people and you really appreciate the effort every single one of us goes to to attend these ride-to-eats. For most of us, it’s the only time we get to see each other, grab a hug and swap adventures and stories. And for this, tonight we had a warm room to do this in and great food to fill our bellies
A presentation, tribute was given by Ghosty honouring our founder Davo. I never had the pleasure of meeting Davo, but couldn’t help but have “Respect” for this man. Davo created this wonderful place called FarRiders for us to enjoy our motorcycling to places Far and Wide in this great land of ours.
Further discussion continued to which I chose not to partake an adjourned for an early night.
Wish I could say I had a good nights sleep, but with the presence of bad weather leering in the nights sky, it made for an uncomfortable night. Just after 3am, I heard Gaggs moving around outside then depart, then Frog, and I dropped back for a little bit. Just after 5am, Shannon left and I couldn’t see the point in going back to sleep. Packed and ready, I say goodbye to Rosco, Biggles & MildThing the only others I saw up and then head off. It had been raining and was sprinkling as I left dark Moree heading south towards home.
Down the road a wee bit I overtake Frans and continue on, seems we have the same route to get home. Not long and Rosco is behind me and the three of us obviously have great minds. So a new FarVoy is formed as we head down the Newell for Narrabri, then Gunnedah, Quirindi before stopping for breakky at Murrurundi, oh and fuel. The Murrurundi Shell Roadhouse as Rosco had advised serves great raisin toast and has bottomless tea & coffee, but this morning hot chocolate was my preference. As Frans, Rosco and I decide to get going the heavens literally opened up and thought it would test out the new KLIM riding gear.
I wish I could say it was a pleasant ride down the New England Hway but it was bloody awful. You could barely see a couple of cars length in front of you and with my visor fogging up continually, I had no choice but to leave my visor open a frazzle. Too bad this also lets in the bombarding rain which then leaves droplets hanging from the bottom of my glasses and dripping off my nose. Onto the Hunter Expressway and I swear the rain is getting heavier and at Maitland we wave hoo-roo to Rosco…Frans and I continue to surf our way down the M1. Into the twin servo at Wyong and Frans pulls in just as I finish fuelling up. I didn’t dear even try to take my gloves off, they were soo wet I’d have never gotten them back on. Frans and I leave the servos together in the pouring rain which is still atrocious but we are soon parted as the traffic is heavy and the conditions awful.
Finally home @ 2pm, yes, it’s still raining and Karl opens the shed door to let me inside.
More pics from the Saturday.
See you on the next adventure.
