We are in the middle of a wet week, with the prospect of sunny skies from Saturday, so.....
Let's do a ride on Sunday, starting at Cats, 9.00am. Probably a good idea to get there around 8,30, park around the corner and grab a coffee. Cats has supported us for almost 10 years now, the least we can do is continue to support them.
We could send off the modern K bikes in the first wave, followed by modern Rs (that is NOT a body part, Esmerelda) in the second wave and finally the airheads. Rookies can try their hand at leading a ride. It's not that difficult; you are not going to be a Bozo or a Peter Spencer on your first attempt BUT there is an experienced sweeper, Swampy to mop up all of the fumbles, mumbles and jumbles.
A framework of an idea could be threading our way down to Mandurah, Miami Bake Haus, where we can press our noses against the window and sing "How much is that donut in the window?" Hopefully one of the emperors of fun from the south, Goldie, Bemer Dave or Hermann can take over the reins and lead the charge along the estuary, to where the Imperial Light horse had their HQ, steam round the bottom to the Forrest highway and across to Wahroona. From there, we can head home.
Also open to convincing arguments to head north, maybe to Leemans Landing, Gravity Centre and Bells Rapids, instead, provided there is sufficient interest.
John, You are a legend mate!! What a bloody good idea and with the weather looking perfect for a ride on Sunday you can count me in!!
I don't think Cat's opens until 0900, however we should be able to pick up a takeaway coffee from the other corner Cafe at 0830!!
And yes I'm more then happy to bring up the rear as Sweep or tail End Charlie if you like?
I will see you at 0830 Sunday morning
Lets see how many takers we can get to welcome back the sunshine!!
Swampy
"I love a sunburnt country, a land of sweeping plains.
Of rugged mountain ranges, of droughts and flooding rains.
I love her far horizons, I love her jeweled sea.
Her beauty and her terror, the wide brown land for me."
Great idea John. I’m happy to lead a gaggle of riders somewhere but have to be back at 12:30pm for a Mother’s Day lunch. See you all in the sun on Sunday.
Okay Guys, It appears Mothers day is having an affect on some you you too attend Sunday's ride?
However I think after being Confined to Barracks for a fairly substantial amount of time now, May I suggest that your absence for a few hours this Sunday would be the PERFECT GIFT to your long suffering spouses and partners to escape the ordeal that has been forced upon them by having to stare at your ugly mugs for so long??
Lodge a request for a Leave Pass, You may be pleasantly surprised at their response
Swampy!!
"I love a sunburnt country, a land of sweeping plains.
Of rugged mountain ranges, of droughts and flooding rains.
I love her far horizons, I love her jeweled sea.
Her beauty and her terror, the wide brown land for me."
Well, what a fabulous turn out at Cats. Today's ride was always going to be handicapped by the looming responsibilities of mother's day, so some of the troops came across, just to see the familiar sight of riders getting ready for a ride. Peter and Bozo decided to have a rest from leading, so Bemer Dave donned the fancied yellow jersey and led the mob out along Canning Highway, back towards Kwinana Freeway. Once we reached Thomas Road, Dave took us down some lonesome alleys, some bumpy, some smooth, some wide and some narrow; none boring. But Dave is one of the craftiest of ride leaders. About 10 years ago, he took us on a mystery tour to Darkan; we didn't even know we were going there, even after we saw the "Darkan 5km sign" Before we knew it, we were in the suburbs of Mandurah and pulled into the Miami Bakehouse.
The Bakehouse was reasonably busy and Swampy hoovered up the last of the two jam donuts in the glass cabinet. There was some mirth when we asked for the toilet key for the Public toilets, and it couldn't be found. Never mind, they said, the Chemist will have a key! Well Swampy got told to tie a knot in it, when he approached the Chemist, reason given that they've had enough of the Public using them! Luckily a Good Samaritan had left the door jamb in the closed position and hence we could get in. Some more of the troops then fell off the back of the group, with the bulk of the posse following Dave round the Estuary, water as placid as glass, past the John Tognela rest place and onto Waroona. Some more riders headed straight for home from there, whilst others had a pie and were entertained by the sudden arrival of an original '56 Chevy, in baby food, purity blue, white wall tyres and the whole enchilada.
The thinned out pack then headed up the scarp, through the tunnel (where Dave gave it berries, unleashing the eviscerating sound of the Akrapovic muffler) and onto Dwellingup, via the Nanga Brook road. We had another regroup in Dwellingup, then headed back down the hill to SW Highway, and then closed the loop on Hopelands Road. The adventure wasn't over yet, with Dave leading us through some exquisite back roads and the legendary Doghill Bend on the back plots of Karnup. The unflappable DFS didn't want to take the PD home but ran out of road, Bozo joining him on the Mitchell Freeway home, Dave and I scything through the back streets of Baldivis to get back to Rocky.
Thanks to Bozo, Peter and Swampy for herding the sheep, though none took wrong turns or misbehaved. It was great to have Darren and Danielle along, on their first ride with members. Hopefully, we didn't lead them astray. There is talk of another ride, next Sunday, starting at Cats; same time but we should contact Alex, so that we can let the establishment know, and prepare for our arrival. There was some mutterring about an O'Brien road, Gidgee, Mundaring, Canning Dam caper. If it's half as good as today's ride, I'll be there.
Today's ride with John on his R90S brought back a flood of memories for me. Back in the late 70's a mate had an R90S and I was riding an old Harley Davidson. My mate used to glide past me blowing me into the weeds be it wet or dry roads, twisties, it ran rings around me and was the last straw for me when, in 1984 I bought my first B.M.W and haven't looked back since.
What a truly wonderful day and good ride had by all. Thank you John for organising the ride and Swampy for tail end duties.
Yes thanks John for organising and Dave & Swampy for lead and T E C duties. Great weather, in fact perfect weather and great companions. Bozo now inherits the name Sheep Dog with his round up of all then gliding to the front to ensure Dave lead us in the right direction. Sweet. So good to see everybody, hope next Sunday repeats.
An excellent ride with interesting roads and a good mob. Beemer Dave did an excellent job of making the route a surprise until we got to Ravenswood. On a D day for regional travel we had droves of D’s with a Dave leading, Darren and Danny in the mix and DFS sometimes tail end Charlie on Doghill and Duckpond Roads, on a delightful day. Thanks to Wightman, Swampy and Beemer for making it all happen.
Bozo
Tony the owner is opening at 07;30 ish for socially responsible Coffee sales and will probably bring back one of the regular staff we all know as well.
If you intend to have a ride Sunday you now have a place with a little room to use prior to your ride.
