The latest weather outlook was not promising, but fortunately the great bucket in the sky stayed upright and gave us an almost perfect day, clear blue sky with the occasional cloud. We got away almost on time and regrouped at my first usual stop. One of the KTMs was having gear change problems and it looked like we would have to return to the cars, however, he chose to ride with only 1st and second gear ( he wouldn't need any more to keep up with me anyway)
. Though as the day progressed he managed to find a few more.
The tracks were perfect, the triangle is great riding most of the time and no dust makes it even better. We decided to go north, perhaps I could do what we had not managed last ride. We crossed the bitumen at Gypsy Lane, up the not so slippy track (in the dry) and into the northern end of the pine forests.
Mohekin track has been graded and widened, probably during the last fires, it is still reasonably smooth and very fast. I prefer to go up rather than down, though that means I had to go down Whiting track, which is similar but narrower and still a good hoot. We regrouped at the power lines, momentarily though, we had lost our tailman but he turned up. The concept of the corner-man principle still seem to elude come of the riders
.
Paul had a flat front tyre, but the sunshine was perfect and it was a welcome interlude. Getting a heavy tube out with fingers is challenging
.
It was time to think of lunch, we would cut back down through the pines ( what is left of them) up Barrys Track and hopefully sample Ures track on the way to Buxton. Wrong
. I should not attempt any more than one plan per day. We got caught up on a short cut with some logs and Andrew's bike starter had decided to stop working so we took the quick way to Buxton. The pub looked promising, however a car club had got in before us and the cook's attention seemed to be focused in their direction. Perhaps the Rolls Royce and Jags in the carpark swayed his judgment so much so that it took almost an hour to get a bowl of chips
. And they tell me that the Buxton Burgers are happening again
.
Time was marching on, seven riders departed, the rest of us ventured back into the pine forest area and worked our way down to the Narbathong end, washed our tyres in the creek and had a successful try at the hill that had defeated them on previous rides. We crossed the bitumen from Rouches Road and detoured around behind the pub and returned to the cars along Old Coach Road at about 4.30 pm.
It had been a perfect days riding, no major breakdowns and no injuries. Ian's 300 performed well after Dave worked his magic on the jets. The KTM found a few more gears as the day progressed, though I think a rebuild is in order and I survived the day without cramps in my legs
.
Thank you all for coming, I am indebted to your continuing support and will be there again on the second weekend of December.
thanks fella's
Phil R.
