The Southern Loop -IR

I am sure we have all had these irritating moments when we thought that something is amiss but we can't quite put our finger on what exactely it might be... Today I woke up to the radio- alarm blaring a commercial jingle about football, meat pies and some car dealership. I knew then that I meant to change that station days ago. But that was not it...

Last Thursday I noticed a bit of a flat spot...some sudden drop in power. It only happened once for about two seconds, but that was enough to make me think about

oil
battery
petrol filter
air filter
electrics

the works!

Two days later I wake up, still thinking about it!

So, I decide to drop into my master wizz mechanic Steve at MaxPower on my way to Kiama...just in case...and to calm my nerves a little.

The moment I get on the bike I feel the day is going to be beautiful. The temperature was perfect and the sights, sounds and smells of this spring day confirmed my first impression. Steve added a drop of oil and tigtened my ever so annoying mirror bolt and off I went to...it was Kiama, wasn't it?
I reach for the phone to confirm...it was left at home...doh...

DaMan had issued me with a fifty, which I greatfully stuffed into my pants' pocket upon departure and when I get to the latte meeting spot at a leisurely 9:30am, I realised that I had not zipped it and at first grab it revealed nothing but a couple of silver coins...bugger! A lengthy search began and ended in the knowledge that I carry too much stuff in my pockets. Who needs three different coloured lipsticks and two combs on any one bike ride????

I went back to that original pocket and found the fifty...she rolls her eyes at her own incompetence...pheew!

Jock had brought his new Ducati and it looked smick. Mick and Terry were there too. Jeff Rhodes turned up and then LittleKath arrived on her Monster. Tracy, Jordan and Riley got there in the car. They had decided to do the Kiama foreshore walk (just an excuse! the real reason was to let me hold the baby!)...and once Tracy had wrestled all the gear out of the car and made her way in, the boys arrived on their bikes.

LittleKath was going to meet her friends at the bends, so we were off to welcome them. First off was a shiney SP2 sporting an impressive and spirited lady rider...then, after a long while of nothing...the rest of the group arrived. All female, all fully licensed and itching to go. Nice to see!

IR took the lead through the bends and our first fuel stop was Nowra for the SP2. I topped up too and as I introduced myself, I overheard that Bateman's Bay for lunch was discussed by the girls.

Off we went due South, but we all got a little separated by traffic as we were leaving the petrol station and that's when I thought that I was caught at the back of the girls' pack, when in fact I was not far off the lead rider, whom I promptly overtook in some lovely sweepers (of which there are too few on that stretch of road). So, off I went in search of the boys..."typical", I thought to myself..."they always seem to get lucky with the traffic."

Then there was the roadworks where they are building the new bridge to straighten those lovely 35s and I managed to get past a few cars during the red phase, but still no sight of the boys. "Aarrrgh! They must have got through in the last green phase..."

When I saw nobody pulled over at Milton, Ulladulla or Bateman's Bay, I decided to just stop at the BB roundabout to wait for the girls. Maybe they were privi to some more info where the guys intended to fill up or meet again.

DZ turned up first and he copped a musli bar laden "Where were YOU?!"

They had filled up at Ulladulla. Zippa had sent me a message on the mobile, which was sitting at home...doh. No sight of the ladies' pack, which was a shame, as I wanted to say my goodbyes, but apparently they had stopped for fuel along the way too.

Ahh well. The Kings Hwy was a fun ride, but towards the end I got a bit dehydrated from waiting in the sun and riding in leathers and I had to pull back...survival instinct had enough of my challenges.

When we arrived in Braidwood, we stopped to park the bikes at the NRMA servo, as always... but usually that is on Sundays when the place is closed. It's open on Saturdays and the owner came over to check what's going on and gave us permission as long as we are not blocking his door...ooops!

The service is always good at the Braidwood Deli: fast, friendly and delicious.

By the time I had devoured my lunch, enjoyed the company (although by then we had lost Terry somewhere along the way) and re-lived the experience, I was far too blissed out to remember my deminishing fuel situation, which all too soon was about to come back to haunt me.

A few km out of Braidwood we swung a right due North to Tarago and rode through some fascinating countryside on pretty good roads promising a few fine sweepers. It had been quite a spirited ride up until then and my clock had counted 260 something kilometers since I had last filled up. 265....270 is my usual upper limit, but as we approached 282 it was time ro roll down a steep hill to come to a complete standstill on a bridge... in the middle of nowhere.Picture by Damien

After contemplating how we could survive the night, Damien ate his muesli bar...our last supplies....Zippa decided to give up his gatorade and made a run for it. Broken little finger and all, he's the hero of the day!

The Ninjalista enjoyed her gatoraded-fuel and her life returned to a roar, as soon as it hit the spot. Good girl! Now ladies, I must apologise for your husband's unusual lateness. I will vouch for let's say...any delay of up and not exceeding two hours...nudge, nudge, wink, wink... after that they'll have to come up with their own plausible excuse.

Whilst the boys went off to check out the new race facility, I filled up at Marulen and shortly after they all had a full tank. Then Damien took us to an amazing place called Badgery's Lookout on our way home. He might as well have taken us right through a snakepit, as either side of the road was lined with deer on one and a herd of 50 or so head of kangaroos on the other. Pheew!

The lookout truly took my breath away. Can't wait to take DaMan up there! The sheer beauty of the place, the mighty valley, the river, the amazing canyon almost brought a tear to my eye, as I did not bring my camera! Picture by Damien

Then it was time to find our way via the back of Moss Vale to Robertson's Famous Pieshop to say hi to Will and Jen (we forgot that they are still in Vietnam...) and farewell to each other.

My trip down the Mac Pass was more annoying than ever. The traffic was horrible and it was almost stop and go all the way down. By the time I got home i was exhausted. Happy and blissed out. A beer, a shower and the first fifteen minutes of the Broncos vs St George Illawarra game put me straight into dreamland.

This morning I had to ask what the score was...

Thank you LittleKath for initiating this ride and for your company Terry, Damien, Steve, Jock, Mick and Jeff!

Ps: Thanks to Damian for those photos!