Paul Keller Memorial Ride to Quindanning

[Bozo]

Paul was a well liked, long term, active member of the Club whose riding was cut short when he died in April 2019 aged 75. His last ride with the Club was in January 2019 to Quindanning.


Paul Keller aka German Paul

15 riders left Catalanos and the Dome (the haunt of the Novocastrians) to run up through the hills and past Canning Dam. Drew, Rod Rocket Peter, His Royal Griceness, Water Mark, Rainer, Wightman, Jeff De G, Paul J, Nannup Nick, Brian/5, Multimedia Mark, Fiery Ross, Ted, Swampy and Bozo headed to the smokey hills. The landscape was surreal around Araluen with dense smoke, concentrated by an inversion layer, filling the gullies and only light smoke on top of the hills. There was heavy picnic traffic for Mother's Day so the group pulled up at Canning Dam in the hope of a clearer run.




Leaving Canning Dam we had a clear run briefly before getting stuck in more Mother's Day traffic. Turning onto Albany Highway we encountered a succession of roadworks including those with single lanes controlled by traffic lights. This split the group up and when one rider turned off, as planned and publicised, to Jarrahdale, others followed.

Only 9 riders arrive at North Bannister in the first tranche to find no fuel. The immaculately cleaned bikes of Drew, Swampy and Rod Rocket Peter were covered in mud from the freshly watered gravel sections on the highway.

Swampy led another three riders direct to Bannister for fuel whilst the rest enjoyed the sweeping bends of the roads between Wandering, Dwarda and Crossman. Swampy's group got split up with a rider missing the turn off to Quindanning. Bozo's group stopped for fuel at Boddington and caught up with Swampy and His Royal Griceness at Quindanning. Eventually another group, with Fiery Ross arrived, making three groups split by fuel and roadworks.

A chat about Paul and we headed home via Dwellingup. Local farmers were burning off and the sky was a weird colour from the stubble smoke.

There was some jockeying for tail end Charlie and it seems that Swampy, Wightman and His Royal Griceness all undertook the role.

A great day to get out with circumstances conspiring to split the group. Good to remember German Paul and have a substantial group participate in the ride.

Bozo

[Bozo]

Leaving Quindanning to take the Lower Hotham Road to Dwellingup



Thanks to Swampy for organising the ride and Wightman for his photos on Facebook

Bozo

[Swampy]

Thank you Bozo for leading another interesting ride, This one in memoriam to Paul Kellar (RIP)

It was an interesting day which caused a couple red faces along the way but don't worry Chris and Scruff your secrets safe with me!!

Wonderful weather interspersed with heavy smoke from burn offs made for an enjoyable ride for some of us

I just wish to thank those of you that were able to join us on this special ride, My apologies to those that couldn't as I had to move the ride from last weekend to today, Mothers Day, due to it clashing with another club ride

Tailed the ride for most of the ride but relinquished that duty to His Royal Griceness on the way home due to him riding his Royal Enfield which was a little slow on the pick up and has a tendency to start vibrating over 90 kph but credit where credit is due, he kept up with the mob (mostly)!!

I split from the ride in Dwellingup to make my own way down to the North Dandalup servo where I stopped for a thirst quencher before heading home!!

Thanks again folks!!

Swampy