Spending the night in Texas, having a few XXXX’s in the local. Did an extra loop out through Warialda and then up to Goondiwindi.
Very hot but the Beemer is going like a champion even if it has blown the headlight.
Fang along the Bruxner Highway tomorrow, dropping in at Drake and then down to Emmaville finishing in Armidale for the night.
First, the GOOD news.
We can finally remove rego label holders from our bikes.
And now, the BAD news (from the Daily Telegraph)
It is set to be the year of the speed camera in NSW, with more of the despised devices rolled out than ever before.
Government tender documents show that, from this month, new cameras will be deployed, including 39 extra mobile speed cameras – with 2358 new mobile speed camera locations – and 6070 extra hours of enforcement per month.
By the end of 2014 there will also be 109 extra red light-speed cameras at intersections and 45 existing red light cameras will now also be capable of catching speeding motorists.
The state opposition will make significant mileage from the new cameras, particularly after vows when the Coalition was in opposition that it would reduce speed camera numbers.
There has been a 12.5 per cent increase in the number speeding fines issued during the Coalition’s time in office.
“Barry O’Farrell, who once labelled speed cameras ‘cash cows’ is now increasing the number of speed cameras to a level never seen before in NSW,” opposition roads spokesman Ryan Park said.
“The figures are staggering. More than 2000 new mobile speed camera locations and a doubling of red light cameras, on top of a massive 12.5 per cent increase in fines.
“In its first 12 months, the O’Farrell government doubled the revenue it received from mobile speed cameras but cut staff from the Centre for Road Safety and slashed funding to the road toll response unit.
“There is no justification for rolling out hundreds of new speed cameras and fining motorists millions more each year only to slash funding for road safety programs that help save lives.”
Roads Minister Duncan Gay defended the rollout yesterday. He said the government had already introduced six mobile speed camera vehicles which had been operating for more than 940 enforcement hours and the program would be “progressively expanded to about 45 vehicles to deliver 7000 enforcement hours by July 2013“.
“When speed comes down fatalities come down,” he said.
Displayed ‘the Monster’ at the Italian Film Festival held in Newcastle recently. A fun weekend with Italian films on show (obviously), italian food, music and a display of italian vehicles all held in Crown Street. Had a set of Conti’s fitted just before the festival – now sounds like a real Ducati!
Nige and Young Nige presently camping at Bourke on our way to Cobar and across to Broken Hill.
Today was particularly pleasant riding as it was only 39c and blowing a gale as we rode directly west into the setting sun for hours.
11:15pm as I write this and it has dropped all the way down to 32c.
Our final journey, over 3,000k on the little Virago and the only issue was a stretching chain.
The KLunkeR, of course, performed faultlessly. It ticked over to 41,000k’s on the trip.
Did I mention it was hot?
Haven’t heard anything from anyone – any Nige’s still out there……hello……hello…….! Any rides planned for holiday period?
The Mighty Ninja is still languishing out the back of Image Motorcycles.
“Pipes are on the way”, says Will.
“Soon”, says Cookie.
“Shit”, says Nige.
Not looking her best but beware, the Phoenix will rise again..
It was a flurry of excitement last Monday at McDonalds. We were nearly all there of course: Nige, Sideways, Ant, Killswitch, Lucky, and Mohawk. Sadly many others were unavailable for various reasons. The weather was perfect and the roads were dry. Lucky led the way to Wollombi and Ant from there to Broke. Where was Nige at this point you ask..well he was doing his best but his Ninja is still under repairs in the shop so he bought the BMW instead. Now this could have turned into anything but everyone was willing to give the old bloke a bit of a go so hardly anyone rode past him, saluted him, waved their bottoms at him, patted him on the helmet or anything. Mind you he did wring its neck often enough to lead many sections of unknown roads. Collective apology from the rest of the gang for any rotten behaviour Nige. You’re aces with us. Mohawk brought his muscle bike along as well. Now that thing has to have about half a million Kilometres on it by now and is held together by little more than his hopes and dreams. Nevertheless with some fresh baling wire and a bit of air in the tyres off she went as well, “Yeah I bought the old girl the same day Gene Pitney released ‘The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance’ It Used to be a lovely Kawasaki green but she’s pretty much down to the grey undercoat nowadays”
Always putting fuel in these darn things.
Except for Nige who has more petrol than Kuwait.
What about Sideways eh? Remember how he left half of his personal belongings along the road on the trip down to Phillip Island last February? Well this time, unsure of what to discard that would be of most use to the general public, he tossed his wallet somewhere between Dungog and Gloucester. Luckily Killswitch (Who takes his position as rear guard very seriously) spotted it leave Sideways unzipped (YES AGAIN) pocket and scattered fifties everywhere. He and Mohawk spent some time gathering and dusting off each note before resuming the ride. Their kind act delayed them to a point where we were gravely concerned for their safety as we waited at the Bucketts way turnoff. “Should we wait do you think or turn back to find them?” asked Ant. “Nah. Read about in the newspapers junior. They knew the risks going in.” Or something like that we replied. Anyway it all ended well when we met up at the Caltex in Gloucester. Sideways was still unaware of his loss till he went to pay for fuel. He did that funny high speed flap down thing where it appears you have too many pockets and not enough time to check each one. Killswitch handed over the wallet at this point and Sideways gave him a big manly hug because every dollar was found. Lucky eh!!
Nige about to unzip Sideways Pocket as a bit of a lark.
Yep she’s all here.
Thunderbolts was fun as usual and we arrived at the Commercial Hotel in Walcha in good time. How friendly is the publican and his bride. Some comments were made that we’d rather see the beers come out faster and leave the huggy welcomes for real estate agents and whatnot but more on that a little later. However, having said that, the beers were cold and the pork crackling delicious. Some of the boys complained that the open pork crackling bags smelled like a fart but I have to disagree. Besides we were in a pub where every man standing was passing wind and that wasn’t peaux pouri either. One by one the weary soldiers took their leave only leaving Nige and Lucky to finish off with one or two more. Lucky moved to bourbon to counter the effects of beer but Nige hung in doggedly to the end.
Nige finally meets his hero Paul Hogan
Then Ant and Killswitch turned up.
Sideways and Lucky were there too.
Ant looking particularly pleased with himself.
All were up early next morning and headed north through Uralla, Bundarra, Inverell, and ended up crossing the Copeton Dam and on to Bingara. The roads were great and you could really open the throttle a bit and go hard. Not all of us. Once again, sorry Nige….no really!! The return trip was just as much fun. Just out of Uralla there was this old church that our friendly publican told us was “Like..really medieval” and worth a look. Yeah..nah. Even accepting that we weren’t colonised till several hundreds years after the medieval period, it didn’t even look that old. No belfry or concentric arches supporting a vaulted roof via sturdy Norman pillars. No gargoyles apart from the two old ladies parked in Vauxhall Viva in the parking lot..nothing. A few vines perhaps but really nothing else. Oh a small stone wall around it. I expected William the Conqueror to be waiting for us with a nice cup of tea. In a word…disappointing.
Wait a minute….. you’re not King Arthur!
Arriving back at the Commercial for our second night we found DD waiting in the bar after riding up that day to join us for the ride home via the Oxley. Now remember how I said I’d get back to you on the friendly publican. Well the guy was all business when DD turned up to use the spare bed in Nige’s room. The price of the room suddenly jumped to $130 for a night instead of $80. No amount of cajoling by DD or logical discussion by Nige could change his mind. Not likely to return there in a hurry I think.
The Oxley was fantastic but could do with some more corners. Stopped at Long Flat so everyone could gather round for the next leg. DD had been nagging for some time about taking the road south through Comboyne which he figured would be “A superb piece of bitumen”. It wasn’t. It was dirt. It went for about a thousand kilometres. We reached Wingham, a bedraggled set of dusty idiots. DD suggested he might double check next time if the road into Comboyne was sealed AND the road out of it as well. Good idea David.
“Stop your whining you lot. That road was glorious.”
Finally made our way down the Bucketts into Gloucester and then home by about 5. All in all some great roads with clear skies and nobody got hurt.
Edit by Nige.
Well, I still don’t know that everyone got home after being abandoned on the Big Road like a few other riders …. 🙂
An intersection that can be VERY confusing to some Busa riders.
A photo that includes Lucky looking splendid. He doesn’t get to appear in many photos since he assumed the role of club reporter.
Greetings Fellow Niges – Droop & I finally set off on our big adventure last Mon 3rd Sept and tonight I sit in a tent in Penong Caravan grounds tapping away at my iPad trying to update my social networks – ahhh, the technology is marvelous! For those of you interested, you can follow our trip across to Perth & back via our Facebook link ( I’m too lazy to try and update a variety sites each night + there is beer to consume!) go to: www.facebook.com/thebigtrip77
Cheers All!
So there we were. A warmish morning and plenty o’ time on our hands. Nige, Keys, Lucky, Sideways, and Mohawk. Lucky led out and set a brisk but comfortable pace. Sideways is getting excited because his probationary period is up soon but stayed relatively quiet on the trip out to the Greygums just to keep his points a bit safer. Nige’s back tyre was all-but which kept us all below 201. Mohawk was on his KLunkeR so headed home from Wollombi. Keys was somewhere in the mix. Well we ended up at the Greygums and it was packed. Good to see whatever issues they had with the council seems to have been resolved. Some discussion on the upcoming holiday ride too. Nige was a bit iffy about staying at the same pub for two nights but, whilst his opinions are greatly valued, they were mostly ignored. He still might come. He should come. He’d better come.
Some old guy who can’t believe his luck. Two Busas!!
Leaving saw Sideways have a gentle lay down in a deep sandy patch. Didn’t seem to do too much damage. Maybe a light scuff here or there. Didn’t seem to affect his right wrist either because when he left we didn’t see him again till Broke. Lucky and Nige got stuck behind three tailgaters just as we got to the twisties and couldn’t get around them so idled along in second gear thinking up rude words.
Nige smiling his happiest smile
Still, by the time we got back to Jerries we all felt pretty good about life and the universe and such. Lucky narrowly avoided a very embarrassing situation when he was chatting to his new mechanic, Adam, who was enjoying a pie at the table next to ours, then ran into his old mechanic, Chris, just ten feet away. Oh my couldn’t the feathers have flown if Chris found out Lucky was cheating on him! Some quick howdyoudooos and moving on avoided a potential incident..Phew!!! I know right??? FYI Lucky will probably stick with his first mechanic I think.
We all got home safely and were tucked into bed by 7.30.
We couldn’t believe our eyes. We rubbed them and we rubbed then but there he was….Johnny!!!! Oh the tears flowed like wine at Macdonalds that morning about 3 weeks ago when many Niges braced themselves for the ride to Broke. “Oh regale us with your stories Killswitch” said Sideways. “Yes tell us of your adventures since we last parted ways” added Lucky. Killswitch told us how, after leaving George Downs Drive at considerable speed, he managed to drag his fractured old bones back up from the “precipice of death” and took refuge in an old 44 gallon drum and, over the next few months, gradually shaped it into a semi functioning VW Beatle for the long trip back home. How he survived on gum leaves and spiders; how his only companions were the passing wombats (one of which he fashioned into a very natty beret)and his difficult decision to end the suffering of his old Honda by, coincidentally, pushing the killswitch. “It sputtered a bit and died but I had no choice because it was becoming a bit annoying revving away like that.”
Oooh I’m gonna get one just like Johnny’s.
Anyway he was safe and that’s all that mattered. So off we went: Nige, Lucky, Killswitch, Sideways, DD, and Ant. The weather was cool but clear and the road out past Wollombi was sealed at last. Poor Lucky had a nail in the Busa and had to ride his KLunkeR so he didn’t set any records but the rest seemed to do quite well. Arriving at Broke behind everyone else it appeared to Lucky that the sheer joy of having Johnny back with us had once again spilled over and there may have been some inappropriate touching before he arrived to settle things down.
Is it you? Is it really You?
Ant of course couldn’t keep his eye of Lucky’s KLunkeR (That sounds rude) and begged him for a ride. Ever-generous, Lucky agreed and Ant had the time of his life on the way back to Wollombi. He could barely contain himself “Yeah it’s orright, bit slow but” I don’t know why he spoke like that. He doesn’t usually.
“Yip. She’s a beaut”
We haven’t seen him since.