This was the Covid replacement of Morocco 2020 and it didn’t disappoint. We had to go North for the Winter as we had never done a Solstice Tour before. Gibbo did a great job mapping the route old school and the combination of the coast, the mountains and the “outback” made for a great trip.
Day One Sydney to Bellingen
Met at Gordon Cafe for pre-trip planning at 7am. The participating Tour Members are Russ, Gibbo, Boxy, Grundy & Singo. Brother Pete has arrived and agreed to chaperone us as far as Buladelah. Whilst enjoying Egg & Bacon Rolls, Boxy advises that he needs to fill up before we go. He might as well have said “I’m a Banker”. The contempt was palpable. Silence prevailed. In his defense he explained that this is what we had all agreed. A first breach has been recorded before we have even commenced the trip – the Furnace Creek rule, “Don’t implicate your brothers in your misdemeanour “.We head up the highway & stop for a coffee at Buladelah. Lewy bids us adieu & heads home. Petrol refill so we are right til our destination, Bellingen. We fly north at full throttle. Gibbo is complacent up front so Singo assumes leadership. The Slim Dusty museum beckons but, alas, we pass. Oh no, Mike throws his hands in the air. Empty again. The cafe racer is struggling to maintain the pace. Fill again at Nambucca & straight on to Bellingen. Turn off the Highway on to Waterfall Way and we are in a beautiful valley. Arrive Bellingen Valley Lodge. Arrive at 2. Expected at 4. Luxury. A late lunch is served on the terrace. We watch the sun set. Conversation is broad .Dinner tonight is at the Federal Hotel, Bellingen. Call Stu, the local taxi driver. Start with a warm Gin. Biggest scandal of the evening was Russ omitting to collect the buzzer for our meals. We are upstairs and no one knows we are here! Great meal. Great wine. Non cheese cheese plate. Cassandra was a great host.
Reflection of the Day – car drivers love watching us forming patterns around them, formations etc on our bikes .Definitely time to go! Stu is waiting for us.
Day 2 Bellingen to Yamba via Armidale
Scheduled 9am leaving but we’re all a bit skittish & ready to go early. Russ must have missed the call. He was using his fully allotted time. Bfast at the Old Butter Factory in Bellingen.It’s a crisp fine morning. We ride down the magnificent Waterfall Way (didn’t see any) & through Dorrigo NP to Armidale. Coffee. Pretty quiet in Armidale. Sun shining. Blue sky. Full layering as it is very cold at 140kmh.Next stage we set off to Guyra & then to Ebor. It’s fast & furious. Long undulating roads amongst brown fields. Gibbo back in the game. Leading with Russ & Singo on his tail. Boxy started with uncharacteristic aggression this morning before settling back some distance off the pace to escort Mike. Mike is on his cafe racer pushing it to its max. Always staying in touch with the lead pack. Stop at Ebor for a rest break. Mike’s battery is dead. Push starts for him until he gets a new battery. The ride from Ebor to Grafton is via the Dorrigo NP. A lot of the forest is recovering from fire. Roads are under construction so it’s a tough gig. Arrived Yamba about 4pm. Check into our beachside hotel. Mike parks his bike at the top of the hill ready for a rolling start in the morning. Dinner tonight at the Pacific Hotel overlooking the main beach. Mike gives us a family history of Yamba. Boxy rises to give a speech but everybody leaves the pub. Reflection of the Day – The Foxes do not believe there is any benefit in having nudey sauna‘a together.
Day 3 Yamba to Tenterfield
Bfast at Beachwood Cafe, Yamba.A push start for Mike. This effort on the part of the Foxes tested our capacities & caused some minor injuries. We head from Yamba to Grafton to fix Mikes bike. A few hours are spent in the least salubrious parts. Every mechanic in Grafton had a look at it. In the end Mike took his bike apart, Andy did all the hard work replacing the battery, Russ provided a socket, Boxy was busy trying to jump start the Bike. Singo….got nothing, sitting under a tree.We’re back on the road. Gwydir Hwy to Glen Innes. Beautiful undulating plains then into the Gibraltar NP. Photos at a lookout. Back onto the flats for a run into GI. Feeling cold 
. Police welcomed us with a customary sign, frantic thumbs down 
. Think they were telling us to slow down?? Love the Gwydir.Coffee & cake at GI.GI to Tenterfield at a fast clip. Arrived at 4. Straight to the Tenterfield Saddler….closed – Covid!!Checked in to the Tenterfield Tavern Motor Inn. A quick wander down the main road. Tenterfield looks like a museum. A lot of dilapidated buildings.TenterfieldTenterfield is a regional town in New South Wales, Australia. At the 2016 census, Tenterfield had a population of 4,066. Tenterfield’s proximity to many regional centres and its position on the route between Sydney and Brisbane led to its development as a centre for the promotion of the federation of the Australian colonies.Dinner tonight at the Tavern. Desperate for Chinese but all closed – Covid. Chicken Parmagiana bringing back memories of the Steakhouse, Amarillo.Reflection of the day – as tempting as it may be, we leave no man behind.
Day 4 Tenterfield to Inverell via Texas
Bfast Tenterfield. “Best Coffee outside of Italy” maybe a bit of overreach. We hit the Bruxner Hwy on a crisp morning and head to Texas, just over the Qld border.We were met at the border by a combination of Police & Army. Very exciting. Our petition for a quick run into Texas 5 kms away was rejected. 9 days early. We are directed by the Police to an area to the side and detained for a couple of hours. The detention had nothing to do with our involuntary captivity but actually relates to the fact that Mike has collected a nail and has a flat tyre! Our Policeman agrees sternly to a selfie (& no one thought about social distancing!)A stocktake reveals a number of solutions to fix the tyre. Gibbo hard at work. Puncture fixed but tyre still flat. Russ produces his Qld entry permit (granted so he can visit his mother) with a view to taking Mike’s bike into Texas to get it pumped up. The Police are reluctant as he’s not going to visit his mother! Finally they assent.Upon his return, we head off toward a large town for a permanent fix. We Limp into Yetman. Nothing here except a house for sale (unlimited refurbish potential & Boxy has called it a bargain) & general store (bit grubby).Gibbo secures more air for Mike’s tyre in a garage that is unattended. Gibbo is holding this tour together single handedly. Hydro must be sitting back cacking himself.From here a Change of route. Straight to Inverell via Graman Hotel. Lunch at the Graman pub then into Inverell by 2.30. Looks like private time this afternoon.InverellInverell is a large town in northern New South Wales, Australia, situated on the Macintyre River, close to the Queensland border. It is also the centre of Inverell Shire. Inverell is located on the Gwydir Highway on the western slopes of the Northern Tablelands. It has a temperate climate. In the 2016 census, the population of Inverell was 11,660 and the Inverell Shire population was 16,483.After all this excitement we need Chinese food! The Sapphire Restaurant is a winner. Reflection of the day – why have we never considered the likelihood of, & preparation for, a flat tyre?? We cannot go on tour without a Gibbo or a Hydro!
Day 5 Inverell to Gloucester
Ice on the seats this morning as we roll out of Inverell. Petrol stop & Mike acquaints with the Police in case he requires an emergency extraction. Bike still holding up. Rest at Copeton Dam. The temperature turns down. It’s at 1000m above sea level. Coffee at Uralla at the funky ‘Alternate Root Cafe’.This is bushranger country & Capt. Thunderbolt is everywhere. The country is magnificent. Hills getting higher, fields greener & trees thicker. Cows living in luxury. Lunch at the Royal Hotel. Warm again. A quick stop at Carson’s Pioneer Lookout & a photo of a pretty ordinary statue. We arrive at Gloucester around 3. Drinks & Dinner tonight at the Roundabout Inn. Our final evening so we go crazy 
on the Main Street. No one here!
Day 6 Gloucester to Sydney via Putty
Le jour finale! Breakfast in Gloucester and a settling up of accounts. It’s a beautiful morning and their is some (but not much) remorse that the end is nigh. Gibbo told Nat he’d be home Saturday so he’s wondering how to fill in the time. We roll out of Gloucester and head for Dungog at which point Mike & Boxy depart the group. Mike’s heading for Pearl Beach & Boxy is going home directly, yelling, “I’d rather be sailing” as he speeds down the main road. Gibbo let’s out a huge sigh of relief. No more mechanical work will be required from him. The Church sign is speaking directly to us. The 3 musketeers strike out for Singleton where they connect with the beautiful Putty Rd to bring them on home. Russ is leading, destination Tractor 88 for a feed before the final leg. All seems to be going well until he gets a case of the “Hydros”, and without notice, chucks a hard left which leaves Gibbo & Singo fighting to bring their bikes around. Lesser riders would have failed. After lunch, the Sackville Ferry at Ebenezer and then the run through Galston Gorge. Traffic is heavy & a large van is pinned on the hairpin. A slow and torturous finale. Everyone’s home safe. Thanks to Gibbo for his wonderful tour preparation, Russ for organising accommodation & Mike for providing so many crises. Another great Fox adventure!
Silver Foxes Motorcycle Club Australia 