In Australia it is currently winter so the days are shorter. So I chose 21 June 2014 being the day before the shortest day to lead this ride. Have to maximise the daylight hours as their are 2 rides.
The Weather Bureau finally got it right, rain the night before but a clear Saturday.
First ride of the day was to take a mate for breakfast at the 1346 Venice Cafe & Bar in Waterloo . Their Facebook says opens at 8:00 am so the plan was to get there at 8:45 am and have some breakfast and check out the Crocker Motorcycles.
Pick up at 8:30 am, geared Michael up and took some nice suburban backstreets to 1346 Venice Cafe & Bar. When we arrived the parking was as bad as I expected as its currently the heart of building site/s and builders utes (pickups for the US readers) everywhere. The roller shutter was down which was the first indication, the plan had gone wrong.
I have just checked the Facebook page again and it's now advises 9:00 am!
So where to go? Centennial Park is just up the road. I had been to a Visit USA function there and knew the coffee shop / cafe would be open. We found parking nearby, next to a Vespa.
After breakfast back to the Harley and returned Michael to his home.
The next meeting point was McDonald's at Heathcote 11:30 am for a 12:15 pm departure.
Kym had scammed a 'Indian Vintage' for the weekend so I thought bringing the Harley would be appropriate as the other motorcycles were Triumphs, BMW and a Japanese one. I am not being a snob, I just didn't take much notice though Richard, the rider was on his L plates which would keep our ride well below the speed limit for most of it. As I still have only 1 point left I thought it was a great idea.
As the appointed time approached, my phone indicated a message. Its was Paul and the message advised, 'rider down, delayed, please wait.' Well with my curiosity, I had to wait.
When Paul and Nick arrived we were told how Ben, someone we had not ridden before had been with them on his 2 day old bike and was travelling through the Airport Tunnel when a car came across the lanes and pushed Ben and his new bike into the guard rail. Bike was damaged, Ben had just a bit of skin off his leg.
We waited for Paul and Nick to have a quick bite and then we hit the road.
I had stripped the Harley down for the day, so no screen, no big pillion seat, no pillion back rest or bags. I was also trying out my new Bell 'Shorty' Helmet and with no screen, it would be a good test for the Sena Bluetooth SMH10 unit I had fitted.
Kym had fitted the new Sena 20S to his Bell Shorty helmet but had left the Indian's screen on.
The ride I have planned started out the normal way, down to Waterfall then bear right onto the Old Princes Highway to near Bulli Tops, right turn onto Appin Road to Appin and a left turn. Down to Cataract River and up the other side. Right turn onto Douglas Park Drive but we turn right after the Nepean River as we climb up to Douglas Park. Here we had farms either side of us and the road was OK though there were some rough parts along the way.
We arrive at Menangle and cross Menangle Road and headed for Razorback and the old Hume Highway (Remembrance Drive). We climbed Razorback Mountain and then down into Picton. Through Picton and turn right to Thirlmere where train museum is. One day, we will have to have a long stop and have a look at the museum. Favorable comments about the change of route so maybe this will be a regular route,
Its afternoon tea time so everyone without diabetes has cakes with their coffees or hot chocolate. These day rides days are tough like that even when its just the Afternoon Delight.
After eating, yet again, we mounted up and started off. Well we almost did, I stalled mid road and fortunately Kym had waited and didn't run into me.
We headed for Oakdale then the Oaks then bypassed Camden and Narellan as we head backed to the M5 (Hume Highway) and we took our different routes home.
So some outcomes;
I had to reposition the Sena speakers in the pockets of the Shorty's leather surround when I got home. On the trip to Thirlmere I could hear quite clearly but I tightened the helmet strap which appeared to have positioned the speakers away from my ears and there was a lot of wind noise, possibly from the goggles. I should have taken the full face helmet but I had not fitted the Sena 20S to it so it had no Communication system at the time. Would the windscreen have helped?
Kym and the 20S. He seemed happy though the ear bud speaker outlet on the bracket has a surround around it and would not let him fully engage the plug. It was the brand of speakers he was using. The distributor has since provided a connecting cord and it all works.
Here's where the Afternoon delight ride took us.
What about the Indian Vintage. Well, that will be for another post as I await interviewing Kym to get his thoughts without Reservations.
Equipment:
Harley Davidson 2005 Softail Deluxe
Indian Vintage
Triumph Rocket 3 with Supercharger.
Triumph Thuxton
BMW K100RS 1985 model.
Richard's Japanese bike.
Photos taken with a Samsung Galaxy S5
Post notes:
I have been advised we actually went out on the Shortest Day of the Year according to www.timeanddate.com/calendar/june-solstice.html
I have now been informed Richard's bike was a Suzuki GS500.
At least I know someone is reading this.
The Weather Bureau finally got it right, rain the night before but a clear Saturday.
First ride of the day was to take a mate for breakfast at the 1346 Venice Cafe & Bar in Waterloo . Their Facebook says opens at 8:00 am so the plan was to get there at 8:45 am and have some breakfast and check out the Crocker Motorcycles.
Pick up at 8:30 am, geared Michael up and took some nice suburban backstreets to 1346 Venice Cafe & Bar. When we arrived the parking was as bad as I expected as its currently the heart of building site/s and builders utes (pickups for the US readers) everywhere. The roller shutter was down which was the first indication, the plan had gone wrong.
I have just checked the Facebook page again and it's now advises 9:00 am!
So where to go? Centennial Park is just up the road. I had been to a Visit USA function there and knew the coffee shop / cafe would be open. We found parking nearby, next to a Vespa.
After breakfast back to the Harley and returned Michael to his home.
 |
| Sorry Michael, you do look better than the photo indicates. |
The next meeting point was McDonald's at Heathcote 11:30 am for a 12:15 pm departure.
Kym had scammed a 'Indian Vintage' for the weekend so I thought bringing the Harley would be appropriate as the other motorcycles were Triumphs, BMW and a Japanese one. I am not being a snob, I just didn't take much notice though Richard, the rider was on his L plates which would keep our ride well below the speed limit for most of it. As I still have only 1 point left I thought it was a great idea.
 |
| Does Kym have reservations about the ride. |
 |
| I thought he would at least look like he was going to enjoy the ride. |
 |
| I look like an overgrown Ewok. |
 |
| Time to go in and have a coffee. |
 |
| The Indian will have to await departure time to go on the warpath. |
As the appointed time approached, my phone indicated a message. Its was Paul and the message advised, 'rider down, delayed, please wait.' Well with my curiosity, I had to wait.
When Paul and Nick arrived we were told how Ben, someone we had not ridden before had been with them on his 2 day old bike and was travelling through the Airport Tunnel when a car came across the lanes and pushed Ben and his new bike into the guard rail. Bike was damaged, Ben had just a bit of skin off his leg.
We waited for Paul and Nick to have a quick bite and then we hit the road.
I had stripped the Harley down for the day, so no screen, no big pillion seat, no pillion back rest or bags. I was also trying out my new Bell 'Shorty' Helmet and with no screen, it would be a good test for the Sena Bluetooth SMH10 unit I had fitted.
Kym had fitted the new Sena 20S to his Bell Shorty helmet but had left the Indian's screen on.
The ride I have planned started out the normal way, down to Waterfall then bear right onto the Old Princes Highway to near Bulli Tops, right turn onto Appin Road to Appin and a left turn. Down to Cataract River and up the other side. Right turn onto Douglas Park Drive but we turn right after the Nepean River as we climb up to Douglas Park. Here we had farms either side of us and the road was OK though there were some rough parts along the way.
We arrive at Menangle and cross Menangle Road and headed for Razorback and the old Hume Highway (Remembrance Drive). We climbed Razorback Mountain and then down into Picton. Through Picton and turn right to Thirlmere where train museum is. One day, we will have to have a long stop and have a look at the museum. Favorable comments about the change of route so maybe this will be a regular route,
Its afternoon tea time so everyone without diabetes has cakes with their coffees or hot chocolate. These day rides days are tough like that even when its just the Afternoon Delight.
 |
| The Americans stay next to each other. |
 |
| The afternoon tea awaits. |
 |
| Another view of the Indian. |
We headed for Oakdale then the Oaks then bypassed Camden and Narellan as we head backed to the M5 (Hume Highway) and we took our different routes home.
So some outcomes;
I had to reposition the Sena speakers in the pockets of the Shorty's leather surround when I got home. On the trip to Thirlmere I could hear quite clearly but I tightened the helmet strap which appeared to have positioned the speakers away from my ears and there was a lot of wind noise, possibly from the goggles. I should have taken the full face helmet but I had not fitted the Sena 20S to it so it had no Communication system at the time. Would the windscreen have helped?
Kym and the 20S. He seemed happy though the ear bud speaker outlet on the bracket has a surround around it and would not let him fully engage the plug. It was the brand of speakers he was using. The distributor has since provided a connecting cord and it all works.
Here's where the Afternoon delight ride took us.
 |
| Click on the map to get the whole route. |
What about the Indian Vintage. Well, that will be for another post as I await interviewing Kym to get his thoughts without Reservations.
Equipment:
Harley Davidson 2005 Softail Deluxe
Indian Vintage
Triumph Rocket 3 with Supercharger.
Triumph Thuxton
BMW K100RS 1985 model.
Richard's Japanese bike.
Photos taken with a Samsung Galaxy S5
Post notes:
I have been advised we actually went out on the Shortest Day of the Year according to www.timeanddate.com/calendar/june-solstice.html
I have now been informed Richard's bike was a Suzuki GS500.
At least I know someone is reading this.
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