Day One
So much drama even before we’ve left. Hydro has decided he’d rather spend the weekend in Wisemans Ferry with a group who are not nearly as charismatic as the Foxes. Boxy is sailing and has grounded Mike. There is a level of concern about the cold front coming through over the weekend. There will be two stages to the tour. The usual bludgers (Russ, Andy G and Singo, who seem to have endless amounts of spare time) will leave on Friday morning. Louie, Richo & Tony (the productive group members) will depart early Saturday and catch up. Russ & Singo departed the secluded environs of McMahons Point at 9am Friday and worked there way south to the Royal National Park entrance. They met Andy G as scheduled and who subsequently took the lead and resumed the journey south on the Princes Hwy.
We spent the best part of the next few hours gliding through the beautiful Southern Highlands, drinking coffee and eating pies. Lunch at Schmokin’ in Berrima: a restaurant attached to a bike workshop and clothing outlet. We invested in a t shirt & went across for lunch. Unbeknown to us, lurking in the restaurant was a young lady who introduced herself as the head of the New Berrima Society, aimed at regenerating the life of the town. After a short conversation, it was apparent that she had realised we were more than just ‘crusty bikers’. Maybe it was because Russ & I told her we were amazing musicians in an amazing band. When we told her we cost nothing she became animated. Rusty Nails could be playing Berrima in the near future!
Weather starting to move in and its getting cold so the decision was taken to head straight to our destination, Bundanoon, about 20 minutes away. We started the engines and it bucketed down. It was a shocker. Creeping along without visibility is never enjoyable. Arrived at the Bundanoon Country Hotel, showered and secured the fireplace in the lounge for a couple of G&T’s to freshen up .It was at this point that the tour took another disappointing turn. Here it from Tony himself, “Well boys it turns out my plan to hire bikes has gone to shit! Collected the bike from Annandale this afternoon and it is a pile of crap. Old, super high km’s and nothing like the GS in Europe. Nothing else available in the fleet. Rode it home to see if it would be OK. Crushed nuts and just a horrible experience. Sad to say I will not be joining you as no way I could ride this for 2 days as 1 hour was enough. Will be returning it tomorrow.” Luckily, we are not in Sydney so that we don’t have to not be a support group! Dinner at the Bundanoon Hotel tonight with Russ’ sister Helen & husband, Paul.
Day Two
The Bundanoon Boys (“stand back and stand by”) head to Heatherbrae pie shop to eat and await the arrival of Lewy & Richo. By their reporting, they left Sydney at 7.30 in windy cold conditions. They arrive at 9.04 & their tardiness is noted. Richo submits that 70kmh cross winds hampered their progress. A quick meeting of the Star Chamber handed down the following finding, “Then you should have been aware and left earlier??” Down motorway and turnoff to Goulburn and then to Crookwell. We passed adjacent to the wind farm – they are huge. We are crook in Crookwell! It’s snowing and it’s cold. Warm up and wet weather gear in the coffee shop. Next stop Boorowa. Russ leads the charge at a sedate pace on wet roads. Behold the rain gone & we notice that it got warmer. Stretch the legs and we are off to Young. Lewy recommends we don’t fill up ‘cos a drovers dog could get to Young. Well Richo is no drovers dog. As we approached Young, Andy pulls over and smiles helplessly as we drive past. He’s out of Gas and hasn’t indicated using the Boxy code. Singo offers a tow but the group confer & decide this can only be a disaster. So we wish him the best on his 60th and drive off. Pete, who takes his role as sweeper very seriously, lingers to push him to the hill & Andy cruised in to town. All good. Lunch at the Australia Hotel. Young to Grenfell (Lawsons birth Place), a lovely town past it’s used by date. To Warraderry and onto Forbes. The ride today was spectacular. The country is green, wheat is knee high, the sheep & cows are fat. The flowers are out and it looks great. Patterson’s curse & canola is everywhere. The Foxes are in great form. Richo is 60 and riding a new Indian (with matching riding gear). Andy G is leading from the front. Our route is etched on a piece of bark he marked “with a thumb nail dipped in tar”. Hydro where are you!! The abridged plan is not wholly adequate but Russ is riding as back up with technology. Pete is kitted up in double denim and riding proudly astride the palamino. He is playing sweeper at the back of the pack. Russ is moving easily between frontman & leisurely meandering toward the back. He is lurking around Andy G to make sure we are on track following his occasional lapses. Singo generally riding at 2 or 3, thinking about how he can humiliate his fellow riders in this blog. Accommodation at the Town & Country Forbes which backs onto the golf club where we have our first beer. Pizza dinner at nearby restaurant tonight.
Day 3
Out of Forbes at 8am and heading to Canowindra for breakfast. No one on the road & scenery unreal. Upon arrival…it’s a ghost town. We’re “struttin’ into town like we’re slingin’ a gun”, riding down the Main Street in formation. A mangy dog came out to check us out. Dismount and into the iconic “Garden of Roses” for breakfast. The trip home continued without incident. To Orange, Bathurst, Oberon and down the Bells Line of Road from Lithgow.
Thanks to Andy G for organising. The paper map was an eye opener and successful on most occasions.
Another great Fox Adventure.
Silver Foxes Motorcycle Club Australia 