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Ride report -
April 10
Well for the members in Canberra we went for a monthly ride to Buckley’s Crossing Hotel at Dalgety, approximately 160km south of Canberra. The ride started of from the Canberra Services Club with Kasper, Spook (future junior member) as pillion and newest member, Hammo. In the wet, we ventured south to our destination, Buckley’s Crossing Hotel in Dalgety, some 160km away, we were soon reminded by a member of the NSW state traffic police branch, by the flashing of lights, that speed limits had to be observed and that it was a double fine, double demerit point weekend. As we came closer to Dalgety the rain stopped, but was then introduced to my first bit of wind coming off the mountains which made the riding more interesting and freezing. After some lunch at the hotel and chatting with the locals at the local Jim Canna Event there, we head back to the Canberra services Club. It was good to find that the rain didn’t stop for us for the trip back. After having a beer and standing by the fire at the club we looked back at the day and were more than satisfied with the days ride. Looking forward to Hammo’s next months ride to Batemans Bay.
Kasper
May 10
Well the ride started of in traditional fashion in Canberra in the rain. Met up with Hammo and Mitch at the Canberra services club, and with Nezzie catching up a bit down the road. After stopping off at Braidwood for coffee and cakes, we hit the trail again, and in the normal customary manner, one of the Good old Harleys started to fall to bits, with Hammo’s bike dropping his stand and various other motor bike components on the Highway, and had the good rock solid Asian import bikes behind picking up the pieces (go the rice burners). This was soon fixed up by tying Hammo’s stand up with a pantyhose stocking (Lucky Mitch had one, but not quite sure why he had on of these with him, but …….I think that’s another story). The bikes were keen to take full advantage of the nice winding roads on the Kings Hwy through the Monga National Park on the final stretch to Batemans Bay, but the weather and road conditions kept us in check. When we got to the destination of Hammo’s retreat at Batemans Bay, Hammo’s Better half ‘Deb’ had a awesome spread of hot food waiting for the cold weather beaten riders. Full of food, wasn’t looking forward to the ride back to Canberrrrrrrrra, but through the rain and crap weather the ride continued to safe homes end back in the Australian capital. Looking forward to next months ride.
Kasper
Sep 10
Well Septembers ride mainly consisted of meeting up with fellow members for the “Kokoda Convoy”. The Canberra Sub branch met up with two other Military Brotherhood members from Melbourne, Fordy and Fletch. This is where the Canberra members were introduced to Fletch’s saying “play hard, ride hard”. So the next morning with some sore heads the five Brotherhood riders and also with Deb and Ash as support crew we started the venture north. It wasn’t long before the weather turned bad and the ride had an earlier than planned stop at Orange. This allowed again Hammo to put his bike back together after bits of his bike came off narrowly avoiding Kasper again. After some more gloomy weather in the morning we had breakfast at Dubbo and the route was confirmed before we departed. Now somewhere between leaving from our breakfast point, refuelling and hitting the road the key words ‘Gilgandra, Coonabarabran, Oxley Hwy’ got some people confused and they wanted to go other paths. We all eventually met up in the next town, Gilgandra and continued on. On the range down towards Casino, Chief, looking like Mr Biggles with scarf flapping in the wind behind him, found that the Triumph handled in the tight stuff a bit better than the noise making low riders, but still, no match for the rice burner. We met up with all the other Brothers in the afternoon, with the awesome spectacle of us pack riding to VR Damask, just outside Grafton. The weekend at the retreat was astounding and too much to fit in this ride report, so that will be another time. The ride back South was spread over two days with some nice enjoyable coast road riding with winding roads, and yet again the concerns of Hammo’s bike dropping of those useless parts. All in all it was a great six day ride with so much to tell but not enough space to write it all, so here is looking forward to next years ride.
Kasper
Ride Report 25 APRIL 2011
The day started early, like all ANZAC days, Hammo and Kel had tasks with ADFA so it was to the AWM at 0430 along with 160 cadets. Sips (Macca) and Kasper joined in for support. Engines fired at 0700, Kel and Hammo, along with Sherry, (Hammo’s Flower) riding pillion, headed out to RV with Sips, Kasper and Ral along the highway north of Canberra. A quick blast to Cowra was needed to meet up with the Vietnam Veterans MC to be included in the ANZAC Day ceremonies at 0930.
The 200 odd clicks to Cowra went well; Hammo enjoyed making the non-smokers pull over for a passive every 50 km. The new goggles he purchased were not as flash as made out, having foam glued to your pupil at 115 kph is not cricket. We arrived in good time, the VVMC were stoked to see us and welcomed one and all into the parade. Riding down the main street was a buzz (no helmet); the whole town had made an effort to come out to wave a cheer. RMC plugged in a platoon of cadets along with the local brass band, schools and salvation army were all out in there finest threads.
1200hrs found us in the local with some lunch on order and beers all round. AKA Macca, the oldest member of the MBMMC Canberra who should have known better, was nursing a sore head and a dusty throat. Of course, there must have been something in the ice mate; hence his new AKA of ‘Sips’.
Hammo and Kasper were certain that more beer evaporated from his glass than passed his lips. To top things off Sips second drink in 4 hrs was a Club Soda, fortunately, Kel was enjoying enough beverages for the two of them. The afternoon rolled into the night with two-up and long chats with the lads from the VVMC at the Cowra RSL over a few ales.
Up early the next day, feeling better after aspirins and Berocca, we were off to see the sites around Cowra. First stop, the information centre which had a great display of the Cowra break out that occurred during WWII, then directly to the site it all unfolded. Amazing the size of the camp and the many memorials the town has in place. (The original guard tower and the Peace Bell to name a couple) The map pointed us to the WWII cemetery where all the lads that lost there lives in the Cowra break out are laid to rest.
Time to head south back to the Berra, the ride mostly uneventful, the sun was shining, air temp dropping by the km. Looking in my mirrors I could see Kel riding in the pack, she looked terrible dry and thirsty behind her 3 x 3 metre scooter screen. In one swift movement I tossed her the water bottle from my bag so that she may quench her thirst…..well that is my explanation of events and I am sticking to it. Of course, thank goodness she has a big slab of Perspex, no marks were left.
Thanks to Cowra township and the lads from the VVMC for making us feel welcome. Next ride is to Temora Air museum on the 21 May 11 to watch the war birds fly.
Sydney Ride
Well what a ride for the first one of the year; with the Pres (Kasper) leading we departing from Canberra at 0830hrs, as directed and made the rendezvous point of Pheasants Nest 30 minutes ahead of time, to pick up the rest of the brethren, refuel and make our way to Sydney. After an easy, but warm, 40 minute ride through Sydney we stopped for a beer at the Bells Hotel in Woolloomooloo.
On completion of this it was left up to Macca to remember, through his senility, how to get to Kells’ apartment in order to lock the bikes up in a safe garage and continue on for some more beers and a bite to eat. Finally we made it after an uninteresting tour of central Sydney and proceeded to walk down to the Sanctuary Hotel for some victuals and liquid refreshment.
Some four hours later after reciting as many stories as we could and taking the piss out of each other it was decided that we should retire to Kells for a swim in the pool and a relax prior to heading out for dinner and then to the Casino to try and win back the cost of the trip.
The casino proved to be a costly experience for some with only Bones showing how fruitful it could be walking away with a small win. The journey to the casino proved to be memorable as no-one was 100% sure on how to get there so we saw the best part of darling harbour and Pyrmont stopping at a pub on the way to relieve our weary bodies. Thank god for Kasper’s and Bone’s GPS phones this allowed us to get there just before falling over.
The next morning it was Coffee, Breakfast and back on the road again for the easy ride back home and a long awaited snooze on the couch.
All that attended had a great weekend and we are all looking forward to the next ride where we will be heading south.
In the meantime ‘Moreno’s at Murrumbateman’ is still going ahead every month and is a great short ride involving the partners and kids.
Ride Report July
Well the ride to Culcairn started off with the normal Canberra weather, bloody cold and wet. I think that Pockle new the weather was going to be poor hence wasn’t able to attend, as the night before he decide to try and ride his bike through the back of a car with his bike (the Harley came off second best), and Sips letting his mature age get the better of him with the cold weather play havoc with his weary old joints (might have to consider heated grips and seat). Heading south to Culcairn, we had to break the ride at Gundagai and thaw out for a bit by scrapping the ice of us and reflecting on the warning signs that were displaying on the way down. “Must carry snow chains” and wondering what our bikes would handle like with chains. We arrived at the Culcairn pub and settled straight into a nice cold beer in front of the fire (the irony) and were shortly joined by the other members from the South Eastern Sub Branches, Melbourne and Albury. It wasn’t long before we all were enjoying the Culcairn warm hospitality which made soon forget the cold weather we had all just ridden through earlier that day. The evening rolled on in and it was good to catch up with old buddies over a beer, game of pool or two, well that’s how I remember it, one or two beers, but my head the next day says different or, maybe my head hurt from the sight of Fletch parading down the corridors of the hotel in his “tighty whiteys” (some things can never be unseen) in the wee hours of the morning. Forgetting that Culcairn is a small town it took some time before we found somewhere for breakfast and after the small feast it was time to say farewell to our Brothers and had back to Canberrrrrrrrrrrrrrra. Looking forward to meeting up with our South-Eastern Brothers again in the near future (hint hint Fletch).
Kasper
November 2011 ride
Well technically we had two rides this month. 1) with the VVMC – Federal Poker run which we (the MBMMC – Canberra) would like to thank Dimples and his members of the VVMC Federal for a great ride and for inviting us along, and 2) was the MBMMC members ride to Lake Entrance for a meet up with the MBMMC Southern members. The Lake Entrance ride started off from Canberra unusually, the weather was fine and sunny, almost bordering on hot and not a cloud to be seen. The ride down was a but boring for the first 200km, with heaps of bike pushing north for the annual Snowy Ride 2011, but after Bombala, our patients was rewarded and were able use the potential that the bikes have to offer with the twisty road of the range between Bombala and Lakes Entrance. Arrived at Lakes Entrance and caught up with the members from MBMMC - Melbourne and had a great night of entertainment in good company (great to see the partners their as well). Was refreshing to wake up the next morning, and not see Fletch prancing around in his tighty whiteys. The ride back home was probably more rewarding than the ride down as you were able to push the bikes even harder as they face the incline of the range. No flat spot on the centre of the tires but now the sides are well worn in and the price of fuel (20 cents a litre cheaper in Vic than ACT) meant the boys could go harder. Was a great weekend with an awesome ride and looking forward to Fletch organising it again next year.
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