Hey what a day?? That was fantastic fun.
Johnny and I got to the meeting point the night before to camp and to be there bright and early Saturday morning to get the day started, Will, Steve, Jake and Mario (friends of Fred and Marls)joined us so the camp site was jumpin Friday night,
Up bright and early Saturday morning to get breaky over and done with and get the bike gear on and by 8.00am....they started rolling in...and before we knew there were 33 happy smiling faces all ready to go and play.
Johnny started the briefing...where I was to stop my incessant chattering and join Johnny...we both delivered the briefing and ensured everyone knew how this ride was going to work as there were quite a few of us and we were at times splitting into 2 groups and then at other times, all riding together. I have to say I was nervous, wondering if everyone was going to enjoy the day, and making sure nothing went wrong....well it didn't - the day flowed beautifully.
I set off first with my group and took them along some nice flowy tracks...and my newly acquired (Log Track)....yep, just a few laying around that we had to get over and around...but funny it wasn't logs that got me...and they weren't big ones anyway, but it was the bloody wombat hole that caught me unawares...so there I am after I have almost endo-ed myself, and I look back and all my group could see was their ride leader not going anywhere in a hurry
..but I had very cleverly already appointed Al Mason to be my wingman whenever Johnny was off with the level 2 gang, so I had Al right there to help me out...
..Thanks Master,
As we all know the ride leader doesn't see much of what goes on, so I will have to rely on others that were amongst the pack to tell their stories.
A quick regroup with Johnny and co and my group was off again on our loop while the level 2's took on a more adventurous track - After a really grouse zip along what we call fence line track and then whats affectionately become known as Bobs sandy whoopy track, and to think, we said there would be no whoops....oops
, oh come on...it was only a few and they were harmless
.
We had a big regroup with everyone at the beginning of Feral Track where we sussed out how everyone was and from the looks of the smiles and the sound of the chit chat all seemed happy...Phew!!! I thought, they are enjoying themselves!
At this stage my wingman Al and I decided we had better put a ride leader vest on him aswell, as I had appointed him to put down the corners (2 per corner) so I could keep moving to help with the flow...it dawned on Al that as he put a corner down people looked at him a bit odd like as if to say (your not the ride leader - why you doing that)- and that worked really for helping to keep the flow and pace.
So from there we all went as one group - and off we went from one fun track to another until Lunch...it was great flowing tracks and then some slower (little bit tricker for the level 1'ers) and then it was time to go the Death Bowl...we all stood around and watched as Johnny rode around the circumference of it - (3 laps), no pressure darlin but theres lots of people watching, so do it right lol. I must say, he did look pretty good going round there.
Time to tootle on back for lunch and chit chat was the order of the day while we munched on our tucker and bantered about with each other.
After lunch we went off together until a few tracks where we split off again...I had cut Al free and grabbed Rossi by the collar and he became my afternoon wingman...so he now put down the corners for me as I blasted off....apparently it took Rossi a bit to catch up to me he said...so my pace was pretty good....
- off we went through some tracks that took us to what we call Cave Hill...your bopping along and have to do a direct left when a really cool steep hill (steep for woodside that is) just pops up...roared on down there and to the other side where it was a regroup with the level 2 folks again....from here Johnny lead the rest of the ride (and sadly Haydn's bike decided to have a hissy fit - so Will led him back to the cars) while we kept going ahead and flowing along moving at a good pace...when nature calls..Bob has to pop into the bush for a minute....Marls stops and waits for me when Gary come along and said to wait here as he was going up to get Johnny and then heading back and picking up cnr men along the way to go back to another track as sadly Al's bike had died...So Bill Toan our ever reliable towman was there ready to take on the task of towing Al and his Husky back to the cars.... but not without comic incident- and I will let one of the guys tell you but just know that before the tow had even started, Bill was down, so was Al and another random bike...I reckon about 30 people all burst into laughter at the same time, Sorry Al and Bill but it did look hilarious from our end
So we towed Al back.,..There was only about 45 minutes of the ride left so it made sense to all wander back together - I was pestered by Lefty along the road as we were both gee-ing each other up, but I did love it when the cheeky bugger tried to be a smartarse and lean over to hit the kill switch while riding along..except my kill switch is on the other side of the bike....and I will remember this attempt to stop me Lefty...just gotta figure out where your kill switch is first
So once we got Al safely back, Johnny took some still very keen riders out for another blast (for about an hour or so)into the famous Woodside gully system which is a hoot...so a large group went out for some more fun while the rest just socialised .
It really was a wonderful day and the feedback I was getting from people as they were leaving tells me it was a success...Im still new at leading rides and I was really happy to have gotten a good number of people and have it go so well.
However I have got some serious thank you's to hand out as these people helped me so much...
Firstly my fantastic hubby Johnny d, he has done so much to help me put this together and to ensure everyone who comes along gets to have a ride that they will enjoy.
Al Mason - my morning wingman
..Thank you for helping to calm the nerves.
Rossi - my afternoon wingman:)..You do help make things easier
Gary -stickman - cupcake - Clarke - tail duties and my morning tea
Zeb - tail duties - and loving my leaning
and power slides:)
Bill - Tail duties and towman expert - love your work
Shaz - for making me laugh
Marls - for being there when I need to stop
Freddo - the laughs at towing !!
Russell - for keeping everyone entertained with the beautiful sound of that big twin cylinder KTM - we were sure there was a black hawk helicopter hanging overhead at one stage...nice!
Denis Kelly (Charlie Boorman) and Mark Salter (Ewan Mcgregor)- for making the big ride down from Melbourne on those big banger 650's and then throwing them around like 250's on the narrow tracks - glad we didn't disappoint ya
The newer people who came and joined us to see what Amtra is all about...I think the best of Amtra's camaraderie was on display to make them feel welcome.
If there is anyone else who stepped up for duties that I have missed..thank you and apologies...was a big day so unsure if I missed anything
To everyone who came along and had a GREAT day with us in our back yard- I'm so grateful to you all because it just isn't gonna happen without you!.
Again Thank you all and hope to see you soon
P.S - the tooth....it has been found....again.....don't ask
Love Bob
