BMWMCCWA

A big summer roll up at Catalanos including a 1959 Austrian Puch brought by Wightman. Good to know that Catalanos is now a prime honeymoon location (congratulations Tim and Jodie).

11 riders started out to do the long way round to Waroona. BillB, GS Bill + Trish, Peter + May, Terri Anne, Nev, German Paul, Jens, Angela, Bolton, Swampy and Bozo. Heading in the opposite direction to the tinsel and teddy bear clad Harley's it was a simple run down Tonkin Highway, Thomas Road, Kargotich Road, Rapids Road, Punrak Road and Hopelands Road. A miscalculation on numbers had Bozo turn round to look for riders (note to self - chose routes with more easily identifiable lost points). At Pinjarra a number of riders left the group with seven continuing on to the Miami Bakehouse. May explained that she had forgone her Sunday Line Dancing to come on the ride, reminding Swampy that he had suggested that a rider on last weeks ride had been doing Ballet exercises on his chook chaser.

A pleasant ride on Estuary Drive and South Estuary Drive along the western shores of the Peel Inlet, then via Dowsett Road and Coronation Road to Waroona.

The usual high speed sports bikes broke the calm of the twisties on Nanga Road before a coffee stop at the Blue Wren at Dwellingup.

A steady run down Del Park Road and on to Byford where the group split up to head home.

Excellent riding conditions, although the summer flies were unwelcome guests each time we stopped.

Thanks to Swampy for being a considerate tail end Harry and for adding to the humour at each stop.

May be we could do Line Dancing in motorcycle boots at the Christmas show.

Bozo

LINE DANCING AT THE CHRISTMAS PARTY IN MOTORCYCLE BOOTS!!!

Okay Bozo you are on, Your call mate..........Leotards, Boxer Shorts or Budgie Smugglers???

Swampy

Swampy

Moleskins of course.

Bozo

Very Nice Exit Bozo

Swampy

To be sure, it started off fairly innocuously… brekky with our riding buddies, and a plan to join the Sunday ride group.

As is the norm, our highly-organised engineer tour General (that’s ‘G’ like ‘gun’) had ferreted away in the dark of night putting together a fool-proof plan to maintain order on the highway and wend our way to Waroona, the long way round that is...

As is the norm, actually maintaining order on the highway is a task requiring the patience of Job (James Ch.5 V.11.). Thankfully, our highly-organised engineer tour General has these attributes in spades.

So with our doyen of sheep-dog duties ably guarding the rear, we set off. (doyen / ‘the most respected or prominent person in a particular field’)

After some time, with my mind wondering over the creativeness of the General and his route planning, I was thinking about the moon…



What settings should I apply to the camera to get closer sharper images on that long lens?



Shutter speed, aperture, f-stop?

About then, a stop was made to gather-up the group. After some time waiting and considering the options I had on the camera, I turned around to ride back to check that no foul events had befallen the group tail. Of course, as soon as this action was initiated, the tail appeared in the distance. All safe… good. Waiting for them to pass, my mind again wandered back to the moon.



Performing a slow first gear U-turn, standing, 30 litres in the tank, gravity, bugger… bitumen… Rapidly recovering by swiftly picking up the fallen most awesome motorcycle, hoping nobody would notice

Quick, look at the sky



Off we went again. Hey, check out my odometer, 149,999 km. Photo stop!



One kilometre down the road, yes, 150,000 km. Another photo stop. You don’t get these opportunities every day you know



So, catch-up time. I’m in catch-up mode. Not long after our Doyen of sheep-dog duties is in sight, heading in my direction. I wait at the next Stop sign, to take advice from the rear-guard. I point left. He appears to acknowledge affirmative. I bolt left to catch-up. Traffic is thicker than expected and no sign of the guard? Stopping to sight the obvious. No sign? Back to the Stop sign I go. Googling Miami Bakehouse seems like a good option. Dash, there are four? West Pinjarra seems like the most obvious. 16 km.

That’s what I hate about GPS. You’re lost and want to know which direction to go in. It can’t tell you which direction to go in until you are actually moving. So phone back in my pocket, I head off (in the wrong direction). 18 kilometres later, I’m thinking no Miami Bakehouse… Check gps/phone again. I’m now 30 minutes away. Decision time > Going home.

Text She (WMBO) to let her advise the group of my departure.

Stopped a couple of times on the South-West Highway to adjust my newly cleaned wind screen. Dropped into ‘Café de Prez’ on the way home to help with a final drive oil change.

Chatted to the General and congratulated him on organising another great Sunday ride. I missed riding with TomMah. Always good to have someone around to share the getting lost duties…

Nev

I agree that Kargotich Road and Hopelands Road are very straight and prone to cause mind wandering but they have very little traffic.

I knew when I identified the lost point as Miami Bakehouse Florida I had made a big mistake (Falcon used to be called Miami and adjoining Wannanup was known as Florida) as there are multiple Miami Bakehouses and none Google to Florida.

Very impressed at how quickly you picked the big bike up and glad that there was no problem. One of the riders reported you taking your gloves off and checking your wrist (when obviously now you were taking photos of your odometer). I think the ride leader fails when the highlight of the trip is watching your trip meter.

Very happy all ended up OK.

Bozo

Nev, My apologies for misinterpreting your hand signal on South West Hwy. After seeing you drop your bike and then see you stop twice for no accountable reason at the time. My thoughts were that you had injured yourself somehow and were indicating to me that you were dropping out of the ride and returning home, hence my nod to acknowledge your intentions.

Was relieved to find out you were okay but it was a shame that you missed out on another good ride.

Swampy

All good Gents, your excellent efforts with the weekend rides are greatly appreciated by all