Milton 18-9-04 with Mark, Kim, Gary, Shane, John, Jeff & James
Jeff and James - twin WR250Fs
Mark - WR450F
Shane XR400
Gary XR400
John KTM 250 2 Smoke
Kim WR426F with the 2004 motor.
After picking up Mark and Gary
we met Shane at Maccas at Albion Park Rail. Mark suggested we block the
drive through but Jeff sped straight in there before we had a chance ! We
met John at the Milton Fire station at 0840 and as we prepared for the
ride Mark found a blue tongue lizard in the grass.
We left the fire station at 0900
and ascended a tricky singe-line track after crossing some slippery rocks
that I've only ever done in the reverse direction. A good warm-up track
picked by Mark !
The first gnarly ascent claimed
Kim, James, Jeff and John as victims. The two stroke spun, reared it's head,
spun more, laid down then made it to the crest with assistance. By then John
was warmed up and enjoying the pure essence of enduro riding.
The "take care of the rider behind you when
at intersections" system was ditched for the "corner-man" method when
somehow we ended up as two separate ride groups going in opposite directions
(twice). How this could happen with
one GPS, a lead rider, an EPIRB, a sweep, five two way radios, five mobile
phones, a clear set of instructions and only seven riders in good conditions
is a mystery ! The corner-man method also failed at times but not as
miserably as the first system !
I also heard a report of someone riding
down a steep, slippery, narrow, tree and root infested single-line track
with only one hand on the bars !
We made it to the upper Clyde river where I
washed my bike. Did anyone notice the glorious views of Pigeon House
Mountain when we were descending the single-line track down to the river ?
Shane had a close look at the soil
conditions when he went down in a bog hole.
We went up a rocky hill to the
gap between a huge rock and a tree passing along "the rut that Wayne made".
Wayne used to ride an XR600 with a Staintune pipe and dug deep ruts wherever
he went.
Going down a steep, rocky rutted hill was all good fun until Mark pulled
out the camera - Jeff obliged by immediately laying down on a rocky
ledge ! Attention seeker !
Gary went over the bars when his
front wheel stopped in a boggy rut and he didn't.
We arrived at Termeil at 1400 to
find no petrol and no food. The three J's left north to refill with food and
fuel at Tabourie Lake and then back to Milton. Mark, Gary, Shane and I
headed south accompanied by a police vehicle to East Lynne for fuel and
food. We then went south west into the forest and found some single-line
tracks that were steep, powdery, slippery and dusty. The only bit of mud in
the whole area landed on my face when Gary roosted me ! We looked south west
from a ridge and the ride possibilities seemed limitless !
We met some of the DSMRA riders
attending the QGM ride. After about an hour of hard riding the gears in
Gary's XR detonated out the side casing and his day's riding was over (who
said that XRs are unbreakable - oh, Wayne did).
Kim, Mark and Shane returned to
East Lynne. Mark returned to Gary's assistance with a tow rope and a six
pack, and Kim and Shane returned to Milton.
Shane left at 1700 for home and
I drove to Ulladulla for essential supplies (Vitamin B from Liquorland). I
then returned to the rescue with beer and ice, a fourby and a trailer. I
travelled down in the dark to the Tom Boyen track, Joe's Nose, then Burma (I
was thinking it was called Cuba - I knew it was one of those developing
countries ruled by dictators) turning off to an unnamed track marked by Mark
with a stick. As I approached the end of the track I saw a fire - had Gary
burned the XR ? No he hadn't, Mark and Gary were standing next to a wood
fire and the bikes were not burnt ! After a few medicinal ales 'til 8.00pm
(what exactly happened to the slab of 24 stubbies ?) the bikes were loaded
and we headed to Ulladulla for pizza 2100 - 2200. I dropped Gary and Mark
off and arrived home at 0015. An excellent day with great company to match
!!!
Congratulations must go to Mark
for not crashing or dropping his bike once ! Is that a record ?
The "I don't need electric start
but I still kicked my bike at least 300 times" award goes to Shane (usually
I win this one !).
First prize for perseverance
goes to John (this prize goes to any one who rides a two stroke on these
rides).
Best one man wrecking crew was
Gary (for reasons explained previously).
Best rider whilst carrying
injuries was Jeff (for tiredness and a sore hip).
Most improved rider goes to
James.
I win for best ride report. I
had used up my crash quota the Sunday before at Sunny Corner (falling three
times onto rocks - would have been nicer here onto soft soil !))
So there, everyone's a winner
!!!!
Kim Bazley