Surprisingly, Me and Simon got to Waverly a little early, no one was there but before long there were bikes lined up down the road and we were looking at blue skies after 2 days of rain ... perfect ... Was a bit eerie in Waverly ... There was Jim - DRZ400 (now referred to as "Agather"), Simon - KTM450, Jason - 4 wheeler, Ricky - KTM525 (only about 487 left now), Graham - WR426, Nathan - WR400, Cameron - KTM525, John - KTM250, Derek - KTM525, Chris - Gasgas450.
Jason brought the change room, Cameron brought a support vehicle big enough to cart all of us. We all headed eagerly for the Liffy, unloaded and started getting organised. Before even travelling enough to let the clutch out we encountered a problem with Ricky's KTM. He was wheel standing up and down the air strip worrying about his bike "it won’t idle, its running like a dog".
Simon wandered over and turned the choke off. Which I think he enjoyed and we all had a laugh about. Chris had a little trouble with the GasGas battery so Jason towed him around for a while, while he got it sorted. I got a good picture of the GasGas banished in the mist....But while Jason was towing it he got a puncture in the 4 wheeler so that had to be sorted. Luckily he had one of those sticky long things that Simon shoved into the tyre to stop the leak.
With everyone pitching in we were sorted, I gave "that old corner man speech" and Simon was ready to sweep, which he did ALL day.... Thanks Simon. First up was a "warm up" road section leading down into a gully. The plan was to ride back up the side of the hill over a course of 3 hill climbs.
The first one was a bit of a challenge which some of us failed but we found a way around it. One of the people who failed was ME!, the lead rider which made things interesting! Going through the next loop I came across a Tree fallen over the track that wasn’t there last time. I threw out the anchors (not my head) and came to a halt only to hear a big scream from behind and a thud.
Ricky then rolled past me and through the tree without his bike. Kinda like those tumble weed thingies. Anyway he climbed back past the tree, gave me the "look" and we were off again. The next hill is a snotty, slippery steep one with rocks and ruts all over it. Some of us didn’t even try it but some had a good crack. I love the way Nathan holds the throttle on the limiter no matter what the back end is doing.
From there we headed back towards the cars and down into the Liffy. I wasn’t real confident I could get up the next hill. It’s that shiny clay stuff we all love. So being the lead rider I decided to not be embarrassed and go down it instead which was challenging enough. I had an off coming down but picked the bike up before anyone noticed so decided to pretend I stopped to take pictures. Which resulted in seeing someone else roll in the dirt!
I had a big off, going down a track to the river crossing. Head was still pounding days later. Don’t know what happened but seriously your 3 year old son could ride a Harley along this track blindfolded and have no problems but yep ... I came off. Must have been perving on my reflection in the speedo. No pictures though so it didn’t happen.
The river crossing was entertaining as usual ... all very wet but happy, hmmmm. Turns out we planned FAR too much riding for the morning so I put the camera away and got to business for a while. A few more loops with yep, some more hill climbs.
The corner man system was working extremely well. Graham was a very keen corner man. Always happy to be pointed at ... Every time Nathan harassed me from behind I put him on a corner ... or sometimes the side of a straight piece of road, just to keep him in line.
One of the bigger hills of the day became impossible for most of us. Just far to wet. So with a little detour we were on track for my favourite hill of the day. One I have done thousands of times and got some good pictures on.
So I asked everyone to let me go ahead and I will take pics at the top. Turns out they all beat me to the top. Even after going the wrong way (Jim's dodgy directions). I had had an off on the hill. Was sort of hidden in the bushes and when Ricky was going past me I sorta poked my ugly head out of the bushes at the wrong time and startled him. Then he fell off! Poor bugger was on the ground so I done the right thing and turned around to get the camera but he heard my bag zip and shot up and off like his life depended on it.
When I FINALLY made it to the top ... I only got to photograph the sweep rider but anyway ...Then it was through a few more tracks and back for lunch. Was the choke on again going back to the cars Ricky? It was breaking down a bit, but looks like it was fixed by the time we got to the cars (big wheel stand going on).
Seems like only 3 weeks ago I was riding Ricky's bike up hills for him, now he is always towards the front of the pack and pulling great wheel stands to boot, I didn’t see it but I think Ricky must have done the biggest wheel stand of the day... Good on ya Ricky! even though yor back guard nor your front guard likes you anymore ... Grahams got the right frame of mind ... Was fuelled up to go again BEFORE eating lunch.
Through the morning Agather copped a flogging as well. Handle bars all bent and missing bolts... But the whole crew chipped in with spare bolts, tools and a handle bar straightener comprising of a X bar wrench and Simon. So thanks guys, was heaps better with straight bars.
First thing after lunch was some slippery grass tracks then a play in the "bike wash" which turned into a "wash the guy with the camera" wash. Thanks Jason, there’s something about big holes full of water and cameras that makes the front wheel light? oh and Chris and the GasGas had a little fight. But they soon made up.
A few more tracks with HEAPS of water on them. The crossings were only 6 inches deep but about 30m long. Simon seen a 5 bike opportunity and soaked the lot of em! Then through some more tracks, some harder than they look, to the BIGGEST hill climb of the day. Only 1 bike got to the top after a few mud tasting tries he held it flat and aced it. Mongrel he is. Rode his "LOOK AT ME" horse around for the rest of the day. If your gonna ride a horse, you should ride a DRZ Graham.
Then back to the cars. My speedo failed but I am told it was about 120km for the day. With all the hill climbs it felt like 200km but it was a very good day with a great bunch of people. Plenty of entertainment with no injuries, to people anyway ... Ricky's KTM suffered a bit. Graham made sure we could see the damage in the pictures! Only unimportant plastics fell off. Nothing you actually need. And to top the day off Ricky got off his KTM and put on a pink shirt ... Thanks again to everyone for a FANTASTIC ride ...
