Barbed Wire and Breakdowns

[Bozo]

Another massive turn out this morning including a monster Triumph 2.5 litre Rocket 3 with 300 kms on the clock. JD was a visitor from Narrogin having ridden up with an early morning start. It seemed there was no point talking about the Eagles and criticising umpiring decisions was deliberately out of bounds.

Eleven riders snuck through the back of the Bickley Valley before getting stuck behind wildflower afficionados on Mundaring Weir Road. DFS, Dexie Geoff, GS Bill, Prof Dist, Dinga, Adrian, Stoy, Just John, Nannup Nick, Swampy and Bozo started the journey with Prof Dist and Dinga departing by Beverley. The run along Talbot West Road was stunning with more colour from smokebush than the two strokes at the Collie Motorplex last weekend.

The Lakes stop had a concerned group around Dexie Geoff's Midnight Special think that it was leaking Midnight Oil. Fortunately the discharge disappeared and apart from rocking to get rolling and a fluttery tacho all went well for the rest of the trip for Dexie. The tacho was not the only fluttering motorcycle gear with Bozo loosing his seat cover and Adrian making a timely recovery. Beverley was the first real mechanical malfunction with GS Bill's K1300 with his rear vision mirror and GPS mount spinning in the breeze. Two 14 mm spanners had it sorted.

At Mawson, DFS refused to stop shouting "I have no clutch" as he roared by. Quairading brought relief to the group as he had plumbed in a spare cable and despite it needing a tyre lever, pliers, a box cutter and gaffer tape to fix, he was on the road again in less time than it takes to get a meal at the Ettamogah Pub.

An enjoyable run up to Cunderdin to the Ettamogah Pub. A bit of a mob already there for lunch but we settled in with friendly flies at the back of the hotel. Nannup was a big part of the discussion including reference to the friendly wildlife.

A run up to the Rabbit Proof Fence via Three Mile Gate Road had Dexie Geoff searching for historic barbed wire of the "Abbotts pattern". We then headed back to Number 3 Pump Station and the Meckering Fault before a run home via Quellington, Burgess Siding and Spencers Brook. At Meckering, one of the riders prescription glasses disintegrated and was taped back together. At Bakers Hill, one of the group's bike rear tyre was down to the wire and was not looking good for a spirited ride home.

A great day out despite the issues. Thanks to Swampy for running as tail end Charlie, the corner markers and Nannup Nick for tailing the ride home from Meckering.

Photos to follow.

Bozo

[pspencer]

Wow sounds like an eventful ride, pity I was driving back from Northcliffe and missed it. Hope the Cornerperson System worked well and helped with unexpected stops.

[Swampy]

You missed a great ride Pete apart from the invasion of Bush Flies at the Cunderdin Watering hole at lunch!!

Well done Bozo, Sorry I had to leave the group at Meckering but I had an urgent appointment polishing a Brass Ball when I got home

Swampy

[Bozo]

The concern about the Midnight Special had all but evaporated at Mawson but then DFS refused to stop and is seen here idling along without a clutch at Mawson.

He made it into Quairading where his on bike diagnosis was confirmed. He had a spare clutch cable on board secured to the existing cable with cable ties and gaffer tape. He just needed to disconnect the ends and free the tape and cable tie under the engine. Swampy was being a bit mischievous by giving a humorous commentary whilst DFS undertook the repair.

Bozo

[Bozo]

Arriving in Cunderdin we went straight to the Ettamogah Pub. It was quite busy but we found what was initially a pleasant space out the back. We realised why the locals were in the cool interior when the flies arrived. It took along time for the for the food, which was OK, to turn up.


Bozo

[Bozo]

We headed north of Cunderdin to 3 Mile Gate Road and on to Rabbit Proof Fence North Road. Whilst the original fence had been long gone there were relics of the Number 2 Rabbit Proof Fence all around. Dexie Geoff was in his element as his Abbott relations in Victoria had patented profiles and machines connected with barbed wire.
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Bozo

[Bozo]

How the Rabbit Proof Fence used to be (from Wheatbelt Tourism)

[goodguy]

Yammy XS 750..had one years ago...Loved it, a great little machine, dont see them anymore.

[Bozo]

From the Rabbit Proof Fence we headed back to the No 3 Pump Station. The pump stations from 1 to 4 were designed to provide a 450 foot lift with two 300 horsepower pumps operating in tandem with a third as a back up. Initially the steam powered pumps were fueled with Collie Coal but quickly were converted to burn wood.

Bozo

[Bozo]

The Meckering Earthquake on October 14, 1968 was the first earthquake in Australia to produce surface displacement so that on the fault line the earth rode up over the adjacent earth. Kalgoorlie got a metre closer to Perth. Pipelines, rail lines and roads were buckled. We stopped at the fault line on the Quellington Road and even after 50 years the change in level is quite abrupt. Where the guys are standing used to be the same level as the crop to the right.

Dexie Geoff was keen to get more background on the earthquake.

Bozo