Day One
This was to be an all fox trip with a full attendance for well the first time ever. Gibster had gone above and beyond to coordinate 4 days of riding and 3 nights hard partying and thrown in a vineyard lunch to boot. Mike and Andy R came on board in the second round offers but unfortunately, Brother Singo had to pull the pin 3 days out due to unforeseen circumstances as did brother Mike a day later.
Although calm on the outside, Gibster didn’t know if he was Arthur or Martha, booking and cancelling accommodation, lunches, dinners all over NSW. “I can’t even remember who I’ve called, how many times I’ve called and who I’ve booked and who I’ve cancelled…..The Gibson name is mud all over the state now!”
The day did finally come and Gibster, Hydro and Russ met at Berry, for a pie and coffee. Hydro was back in working order, but was operating in safe mode to make sure everything was operational in case he needed to be rebooted. Took the road to Nowra and meandered over to Kangaroo Valley and up the mountains to Exeter and then down to Goulburn via Penrose. Gibster wanted to go to Jugiong because he had been told of a special sauce that was sold in a store there. Hydro suggested it was probably not worth a two hour fang down the freeway for a bottle of sauce so we settled on the back roads through Crookwall and Boorowa to our destination at Young.
Russ set up the bar in the carpark, the usual GandT chardonnay and cote d’rhone. Hydro made a pronouncement that he was on jumbo anti biotics and wouldn’t be drinking much. He also needed sun as his vitamin D levels were low, so he sat in the middle of the carpark in the sun with a half glass of chardonnay. Miraculously the sun cured him and he was back for the bottle.
Dinner venues are somewhat hard to find here outside of takeaway joints. As we were wandering the streets a nice lady recommended the Bowlo for the best food. Taking pity on us when she told us it was 5 blocks away, she loaded us into her car an dropped us there. (Country people are salt of the earth).
Gibster made the pronouncement at dinner that he was flat out like the proverbial lizard drinking and would not be organising the next tour as he was now running an antique business, the Rolls Royce Owners Club, finishing building Tempe, completing projects at the farm and planning where to go skiing as global warming is playing havoc with his winter sports program. Hydro suggested that if he didn’t do it he would have to ride at the back…..
Day 2
Out of respect for the great Bar Service provided by Russ the night before, Gibster and Hydro actually waited till 8am instead of heading off to a café for an early breakfast……having said that breakfast was at the motel and they had both finished an hour before Russ appeared, so they had to have breakfast twice.
We took off via Cowra and Canowindra for arrival in Orange by 11. The cherry blossoms were out and the canola fields were awash with yellow and the countryside was very green, a contrast to the autumn trip.
Boxy arrived at 11.10 straight from the bronze medal ceremony at Hamilton Island. He had left homeat 6.30 to meet up as he wasn’t going to miss out on the long lunch which is now an institution on these trips. A quick change and a cab ride to Borrowdale Vineyard. Spectacular day weather wise, wine tasting and food wise. We were upsold a Pinot 2005 which we were all too scared to ask the price, but ended up quite reasonable.
Hydro came down from a long run and bowled a some cracking jokes to start the lunch (something about Zachary disease). Russ pretended to speak French to the waiter until he spoke back in French and then withdrew gracefully. We then proceeded to the levelling up ceremony which is now part of the Fox rituals. The food and wine was excellent and probably against the constitution (support group clause) there was some talk re mens issues late in the afternoon (which I cant remember except being told by the restaurant manager that we were a cool group for talking about it). I think I prefer to be called adorable (ref last lunch)
Back to Orange as Pete and Tony were about to arrive. We settled in at the outside table at the Cannobolis and watch them ride in squinting into the Western sun. Tony lodged a protest that we had arrived from lunch too hot and he and Pete had to catch up. We said so what’s the issue/question?
Dinner at Sweet and Sour, which was also excellent…..how much of a good thing can you have in one day….about 10 I reckon. Tony had now caught up with the lunch group with the help of some Chablis and local reds. Pete was holding back for Saturday night.
Day 3
8am setoff. Russ had parked everyone in to make sure he wasn’t left behind. Quick breakfast and then a great ride down through Wyagala and through to Crookwell to pick up Andy R. Gibster was leading turning right turning left, heading south then west then east and back to south and managed to take out a magpie concurrently. Russ asked how he was navigating from the piece of the map of Australia he had cut out. He said that he had spent the last month programming his phone with all the turns which was great but he was still more comfortable just pulling out the paper. We had a quick pitstop on the way to take in the view. Our tour leader was getting anxious about meeting up with Andy R as we were running behind the choreographed plan. We said Andy R had two choices, he could wait or ride by himself. As it transpired he was waving us down on the main street of Crookwell. We now had the whole contingent. Hydro worked out that he had been to this café two days before which was a good sign after a heavy two days.
A great ride back to orange through the twisties in time for the Swanies game. Boxy seemed to be the only one that knew the fine details of the game and was a boisterous supporter, so much so that he attracted some admiration from one of the patrons.
Dinner at the pub, which was the traditional fare and then retiring back to the bar where Turbo Pete (as opposed to normal Pete) appeared. Margaritas, scotches, bourbons and beers were flying around like confetti at a wedding. Even the accounting was running behind the frentic pace. Even Russ and Hydro had to call it and nominated Pete as the nights stayer.
Day 4
Tony’s taken off at 6 to get home and the rest of the foxes took in a leisurely breakfast and headed the backroads to Wellington in drizzle, passing the biggest Solar Farm ever and then onto Mudgee where the weather cleared for coffee and then the scramble home. Thanks to Gibster for his organisational skills again and as Singo would sign out…..Another great fox adventure.
Silver Foxes Motorcycle Club Australia 