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Author Topic: Big River 19-10-2008  (Read 9448 times)
Paul Smith
Guest
« on: October 20, 2008, 11,50:44 AM »
I was there with 10 other blokes. Peter, Rob, Phil and myself all went to Big River and parked at the big river camp ground as somebody had assured us this was the meeting point. After waiting until 9am and seeing what I though was Snowy's car drive past we decided to send a cautious driver upp the road to Stockmans Reward to see if the others were up there. They were, so we rode the 5km up the road to meet them. This is what we saw when we first got there. Not quite the Swedish womens beach volleyball team but good enough to go for a ride with.

Car Park


Car Park


Rob tried about 8 times to get me to go tailman but I managed to avoid that duty and Phil happily picked it up. Thank Phil. We were riding tailman buddy system but perhaps it should have been lead rider buddy system. About 4km into the ride Rob lead the guys up Frenchmans Spur then jumped a log just next to the corner of Short Cut 1 track then followed what used to be single trail bit is now wider than Eastlink down to the Big River road. Only problem was that the rest of the group saw the log and thought who would try and get over that.

So we grouped up down the bottom of short cut 1 and decided Rob must've missed placing a corner man and that we would continue along his pre planned route toward Woods Point.

When we got to the next intersection at W29 there was no Rob. We figured he might miss one cornerman but could not miss 2. Things were not looking up. We sent Aaron and Serge to investigate. They went all the way up the top of shortcut 1 and said they saw some tracks going down the hill but nobody would be silly enough to go down there. except Aaron and he went 1/2 way before pulling a u-turn back to the top. That took him 1/2 an hour and a cost me a bag of snakes shared with the others waiting at w29.

When Serge and Aaron got back there was the realisation that Rob may have gone bush and had a big fall on Short cut 1 or Short cut 2, so we split into two groups to take each track and meet at the top of the hill.

Fortunately we didn't find him. Myself and two others went back to the cars at Stockmans to see if he was there. He wasn't, but when we got back to the corner there he was !!

It turns out that he went down that monster and was waiting for us all at the bottom of Frenchmans spur. When I got back I went to the top of shot cut 1 to find that Aaron Serge and Robbo had walked down the monster hill to see if they could find Rob. They parked their bikes at the top of the steep bit and walked down(just in case they could not ride back out). Smart thinking. Only problem was they had to walk back up. It was painful to watch. 3 unfit blokes climbing 300m at about a 40 degree pitch was never going to be pretty. I'm not sure comments like what's the hold up, when they stopped for air were helping much, but they did lighten the mood (for me at least).

Rob's Hill


Rob's Hill


This is the bit here is where someone else is supposed to talk about the ride for a bit before I write some more. Goodnight.
« Last Edit: October 20, 2008, 11,54:31 AM by Paul Smith » Logged
Ian Robinson
Administrator

Posts: 2551


Life Member
« Reply #1 on: October 20, 2008, 07,58:28 PM »
As a result of our after ride adventure (Serge and myself) I would like to thank Steve for his assistance. I owe you a few beers.

Ian
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Only a motorcyclist knows why a dog hangs its head out the window.
Serge C
Full Member 2013/2014

Posts: 3011
« Reply #2 on: October 20, 2008, 08,03:21 PM »

That was probably THE most painfull climb I have ever attemped.  I'm still stuffed!

 Tongue
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"He may look like an idiot, he may sound like an idiot, but don't let that fool you...he really is an idiot!" - Groucho Marx.
Ken R
Committee 2013/2014
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Posts: 699


Himalayas gateway, only 16,000ft to go.
« Reply #3 on: October 20, 2008, 08,46:36 PM »
The after ride adventure?HuhHuh
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SEX - It's OK, but nothing like the real thing!!
Aaron
Full Member 2013/2014

Posts: 465
« Reply #4 on: October 21, 2008, 03,40:05 AM »
After we found Rob :-\Paul was appointed ride leader.He put on a really good ride.Plenty of fast flowing tracks, and a few surprises.After loosing so much time looking for rob(probably 1 & 1/2 hours) we dicided to crack on to Woods point as it was getting on a bit.Lunch and fuel at Woods Point.Burgers all round,except for Dennis.We asked the local copper about track closures and was told that he was not working today.So off we went again.Paul found a good hill on a seldom used track which everyone managed to get up without incedent.Some more fast and flowing ridge tracks that seemed to have been turned into huge wide fire breaks.Plenty of air time here.Paul was waiting at the next intersection waiting to tell everyone about the next knarley down hill.I think a couple of people came unstuck on this steep decsent, and Ian's RMX was playing up a little.I even managed to pass a few going down hill, which is unusual for me.At the bottom Paul asked if we wanted 3 more km's or 11 back to the cars.Everyone wanted the latter.So down along the creek and left into some sweet narrow track that has not seen a lot of traffic.Paul let me take the lead and I was bashing my way through the scrub and went flying the some branches straight into a fallen tree at head hieght.BANG!!! and I was lying flat on my back a bit rattled in the brain, my bike a couple of metres further on lying down leaking fuel everywhere.I picked my bike up and removed my helmet to inspect the damage.A few scratches and a broken peak on my helmet was the only damage.I headed off again to the end of that track and waited a few minutes for the rest of the gang to wander in.After a few more turned up we learned that Dennis had also collected the same fallen tree to the head.He was in a little worse shape than I was, with a bit of a stiffie in the neck.Once we were all gathered and Dennis assured us he was ok to ride out, we set off for 1 last fast, wide, open track with a long descent.I think everyone was feeling pretty tired by this stage as I managed to pass everyone except Paul and I think Matt on his WR.Which again does not happen often for me.
Thanks to Rob for organising this ride.Thanks to Paul for taking over as ride leader when the need arose.Thanks to Phil for eating dust all day long.I had a great day.
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Single track is living. Everything else is just waiting.
Paul Smith
Guest
« Reply #5 on: October 21, 2008, 03,54:04 AM »
Just to clarify... The narrow track was a 4wd track some years ago. Has become a bit more grown over and needs some "tidying" up. Anyone who is keen - please give me a call and we'll make time to go and do it.
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Serge C
Full Member 2013/2014

Posts: 3011
« Reply #6 on: October 21, 2008, 07,55:26 AM »
Quote from: Ken R on October 20, 2008, 08,46:36 PM
The after ride adventure?HuhHuh

Ian and I were the last to leave the car park, but as we left, we found Steve stopped on the side of the road cos (luckily for us), his bike had fallen over on his trailer.  We helped him set it right and then left him to tie it down.  A few k's up the road, Ian starts swerving all over the road.  I thought the poor old bugger had gone to sleep, but no, he said 'I think we've got a flat!'  He slowed down and we both stuck our heads out the window, and said 'yep, my rear's flat!'  Then we both pulled our heads back in, looked at each other, and said 'oh poo!'  Sure enough, we had 2 (count them...2) flat tyres.  Holes big enough to see through!

We replaced one with the spare, but the other was a concern.  That was until Steve (remember him...his bike fell off earlier) came up behind.  He stopped and gave us some tyre goo, which got us another 10 k's or so till she went flat again.  We stopped, Steve stopped, and he gave us some more goo.  Another 10 k's or so and, you guessed it, flat again.  At this point, I actually heard Ian curse.  He said 'damn, this is not good'.  With no mobile coverage, and no more goo, we were out of ideas.  We tried putting a screw in the hole, but we should have used a dyna bolt cos it was so big.  So I got in the car with Steve, left Robbo on the side of the road, and headed for Warburton.

Suddenly my phone went off (6 messages from my missus sayin 'where the hell are you?', cos by this time it's 8:30).  I called her, then called Ian's wife, and then called Ian's brother and asked him to go to Ian's house, collect his mud tyres, and bring them out to him.

I continued on home with Steve and got back about 10:30.  Ian's brother delivered 3 (?) wheels to Ian, Ian put 1 on, and had to drive back home doing no more than 40 k's per hour.  Consequently, he got home about 2:00 AM Monday morning!

Who ever said riding with AMTRA isn't exciting?  Huh
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"He may look like an idiot, he may sound like an idiot, but don't let that fool you...he really is an idiot!" - Groucho Marx.
Aaron
Full Member 2013/2014

Posts: 465
« Reply #7 on: October 22, 2008, 12,33:55 AM »
Rider list


Rob Balaz    KTM 250   Ride organiser
Mathew Van de Wetering WRF 450
Ian Robinson RMX 250
Serge Coffa WRF 250 mini bike
Dennis Kelly WRF450 Odd man out
Peter Devilee RMX250
Paul Wigginton WRF250
Phill Randall CRM 250    Tailman
Paul Smith Berg 550 Ride leader
Steve DRZ(flat battery)400 Visitor
Aaron Rowe KTM 250     Written report
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Single track is living. Everything else is just waiting.
Garry Allen

Posts: 27
« Reply #8 on: October 22, 2008, 01,45:40 AM »
Serge,was them tyres delibrettly punctured you think while you were out riding,or was it just a bad hair day thingo ma jig.......
Cheers.......
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Aaron
Full Member 2013/2014

Posts: 465
« Reply #9 on: October 22, 2008, 02,04:14 AM »
Just my opinion but I think it must be deliberate.What are the odds off getting 2 flats with the same size whole at the same time?
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Single track is living. Everything else is just waiting.
Serge C
Full Member 2013/2014

Posts: 3011
« Reply #10 on: October 22, 2008, 06,51:51 AM »

Maybe I'm naive, but I don't think it was deliberate.  I reckon we ran over something that just happened to catch the back wheels.  If it was deliberate, why would they not have gone flat straight away?  Why would they both pop at the same time?  Why only target Ian's car?  Why is the earth round?  Why can't a dog have kittens?

 Huh Huh Huh
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"He may look like an idiot, he may sound like an idiot, but don't let that fool you...he really is an idiot!" - Groucho Marx.
Aaron
Full Member 2013/2014

Posts: 465
« Reply #11 on: October 22, 2008, 10,51:40 PM »
My dog loves kittens Wink
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Single track is living. Everything else is just waiting.
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