Plans,what are they?
Following are Paul's words.
This is how his gentle one day ride last Sunday to Bathurst for the 12 Hour Car race went.
This is how his gentle one day ride last Sunday to Bathurst for the 12 Hour Car race went.
"I am thinking of a
quick ride to Bathurst on Sunday, I need to get out for a ride..."
Sounds reasonable, but to a man whose bike is in getting fixed for the next 4 weeks and no spare bike, it was like a knife to the neck.
Sounds reasonable, but to a man whose bike is in getting fixed for the next 4 weeks and no spare bike, it was like a knife to the neck.
After voicing my great
sorrow to a very good mate. People with working motorcycles should not be able
to say such things but he offered his GTR1000 Kawasaki for me to tag along with my
unthinking friend.
So with the wheels in motion my
riding companion and I planned the quick ‘day’ ride to Bathurst and back for
what was the coming Sunday.
Said riding companion was to meet up with an up and coming race driver and his manager, The reason being he is a sponsor and the driver was racing at the Bathurst 12 hour race.
The plan was to ride up the Bells Line and then from Lithgow to Bathurst via Tarana, staying 2 hours at the race then back to Sydney along the Great Western Highway and home in time for dinner.
Said riding companion was to meet up with an up and coming race driver and his manager, The reason being he is a sponsor and the driver was racing at the Bathurst 12 hour race.
The plan was to ride up the Bells Line and then from Lithgow to Bathurst via Tarana, staying 2 hours at the race then back to Sydney along the Great Western Highway and home in time for dinner.
Prior the ride, we put the call out to
other friends to come ride with us. Were joined at the first meeting place, Harry's Café de Wheels at Tempe by several
mates.
So from only 2 bikes we now had five. The bikes being a 'Red Star Garage' custom Triumph Bonneville, a BMW R1000SS, a Yamaha naked. Their plan was to only travel as far as Lithgow then return to Sydney.
The original two were riding a Triumph Thruxton, and my borrowed Kawasaki GTR1000.
At the Macca's Mgrath Hill we would meet the six member for the ride on his BMW R1100RS.
So from only 2 bikes we now had five. The bikes being a 'Red Star Garage' custom Triumph Bonneville, a BMW R1000SS, a Yamaha naked. Their plan was to only travel as far as Lithgow then return to Sydney.
The original two were riding a Triumph Thruxton, and my borrowed Kawasaki GTR1000.
At the Macca's Mgrath Hill we would meet the six member for the ride on his BMW R1100RS.
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| The GTR1000 awaits the arrival of the others. |
We departed at 7:00 am and buzzed through the
normal Sydney roads out to Windsor. Our mate on the R1100RS was late and this
afforded us time for a coffee and regroup.
Bells Line of Road is a
favourite of mine and it did not disappoint as we rolled up through
the mountains with minimal car traffic affecting our sweeping lines.
A fine sight as our eclectic mix of men and machines slid gracefully through the early morning light.
A fine sight as our eclectic mix of men and machines slid gracefully through the early morning light.
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| Bells Line of Road. |
At Lithgow we refuelled
and as planned, the others turned back to Sydney. This left the three intrepid ones to
continue onto Bathurst. I have not ridden the road from Lithgow to Bathurst via
Tarana but had been assured by the owner of the GTR1000 that this was one of
the great hidden riding roads of NSW.
Cresting one of the first
hills at the back of Lake Lyall we came to our first obstacles. Cows, many,
many cows all standing around on the road looking lost.
As a Kiwi I am normally not fazed by cattle as I, in the past have been driving a car but this time I am on a bike. This is not helped when I am informed by one of the fellow riders from somewhere in his helmet as we approached the herd, "They charge bikes you know".
As a Kiwi I am normally not fazed by cattle as I, in the past have been driving a car but this time I am on a bike. This is not helped when I am informed by one of the fellow riders from somewhere in his helmet as we approached the herd, "They charge bikes you know".
Thankfully the exhaust note from the Thruxton was enough to move the herd and
we continued to roll through the hills to Tarana. A quick ‘map check’ then on
to Bathurst. I have to say that if you have the chance, this road is wonderful
and very fulfilling to cruise on.
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| Tarana Hotel. No drinks for us we're going to Bathurst. |
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| O'Connell Hotel. Still no drinks we're almost at Bathurst. |
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| We have arrived. |
We met our contact at the
race track and were given the full tour of the pits and introduced to many
legends of the Australian and International Motor Sport World.
Lunch was provided by Abarth racing in their corporate box and was a great relief to enjoy the race in the air-conditioned comfort.
Lunch was provided by Abarth racing in their corporate box and was a great relief to enjoy the race in the air-conditioned comfort.
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| Abarth Racing Hospitality. |
We were also guests of
the Maranello Motorsport team, who won the race in their Ferrari 458 driven by
Craig Lownes, John Bowe, Mika Salo and Peter.
They generously offered a spare three bedroom suite at the Rydges for us to spend the night in Bathurst. The same thought crossed all three of our minds. "We can take advantage of more great roads back to Sydney tomorrow morning?"
They generously offered a spare three bedroom suite at the Rydges for us to spend the night in Bathurst. The same thought crossed all three of our minds. "We can take advantage of more great roads back to Sydney tomorrow morning?"
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| Phones ready and we are away. |
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| Ouch! |
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| I don't think they'll fit our motorcycles. |
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| Nothing like being in the pits. |
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| Accommodation for the night, in the background. |
Having no spare clothes we took a quick ride
into the town for toothbrushes, socks and undies and some underarm deodorant. After long
showers and clean underclothes we looked the same but smelt better. We then joined
our hosts for a steak dinner and many bottles of red wine surrounded by racing
royalty, followed by a cocktail party on the roof of the hotel before retiring
for a few hours of ‘twisty country road’ dream infected sleep.
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| Next morning. |
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| Does it get any better? |
Morning shone over Mount Panorama
in glorious blue sky magnificence.
Coffee and the big breakfast satisfy we 'road weary riders' and we plan our return ride over several cups of caffeine.
We decided that work could wait as Monday held many tarmac opportunities.
The route would see us ride from Bathurst out to Oberon before turning down to Jenolan Caves then back to the Great Western Highway for lunch at the Mt Victoria pub.
Coffee and the big breakfast satisfy we 'road weary riders' and we plan our return ride over several cups of caffeine.
We decided that work could wait as Monday held many tarmac opportunities.
The route would see us ride from Bathurst out to Oberon before turning down to Jenolan Caves then back to the Great Western Highway for lunch at the Mt Victoria pub.
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| Road to Jenolan Caves |
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| Road to Jenolan Caves 15 kilometres per hour not miles! |
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| Road to Jenolan Caves let's balance that out with one to the left. |
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| Let's rest. |
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| The bikes come from different countries and travelled so well together. |
By this time I had come
to ‘an understanding ‘with the GTR1000 and we were now in sync.
The road rolled under me and my smile was undoubtedly confusing the hell out of all those passing cows, well off the road.
The road rolled under me and my smile was undoubtedly confusing the hell out of all those passing cows, well off the road.
There is a freedom and
great pleasure of riding country roads with good mates. It is a joy that little
else can come close too.
The road into and out of Jenolan
Caves is tight and twisty before opening up to long sweeping curves on the run
out to the Highway. We worked our machines and feasted on all the mountain had
to give.
Feeding the hunger all riders suffer from. "I think in that last
section, I had an out of body experience" was the comment from one of my
comrades. I had to agree with him. The two of us grinning and chuckling at each
other through our helmets will be with me for many a work day.
At lunch we agreed that
although we had better return, it would be more fun to cross the mountains and
ride back down via the Bells Line again. So back to the Monday grid we rode.
Home is the destination
but is how you get back, that's important.
Thanks to the boys for
the ride and for David for his beloved GTR.
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| The outbound trip Google Maps http://goo.gl/maps/UDOwm |
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| The return trip Google Maps http://goo.gl/maps/H6Bya |
Equipment:
Kawasaki GTR1000
Red Star garage custom
Triumph Bonneville
BMW R1000SS
Yamaha naked
Triumph Thruxton
BMW R1100RS
SuperCam M2 (Action camera)
Samsung Galaxy S4
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