When the Best Laid Plans of Mice and Men DO go astray.

I had been offered a weekend test ride on a Victory motorcycle. The original plan was to take a Victory Vision to Port Macquarie via Buckett's way and have a look at the Australian Motorcycle Museum in Nabiac. The hurdles causing that not to occur should have been the indicator of how much this trip was not meant to be. That was back in August this year and a month out I was advised I was have surgery to remove 30 cm of colon due to a tumor which had appeared when I went to hospital for some pains in the abdomen.

With the operation behind me, a new date was decided. 6 December which would be a mate's birthday so a good reason to be away. The Victory Vision would not be going as someone had run it up the back of a ute (pick-up truck) and it was off the road being repaired. Another ignored hint of why not to go.

Through the generosity of the Victory Dealer in the Sydney suburb of Ashfield www.victorymotorcycles.com/en-au , four Victorys were made available for the ride. Another riding companion (Kym) would take his Victory Cross Country Tour so the ride would be 5 Victorys to Bathurst via Goulburn and return the next day via the Bells line of road.

The week leading up to the day was rain, rain, thunderstorms, flooding and the arrival of small domestic animals from the sky. Well the last bit is a bit of a lie but I am sure there were 'cats and dogs' falling somewhere in the region.

Some of the riders collected their machines on the Friday afternoon prior whilst two of us (workers) couldn't collect them until Saturday morning.

We met at the Victory dealer a bit before 9:00 am and the morning looked just right for the ride. Clear blue skies and Summer warmth. The photos below were taken on the day.

Our starting point.

The doorway to happiness when buying your Victory or Indian. Tell them I sent you.

With everyone gathered, we set out to our first stop Thirlmere for a coffee. I lead, weaving my way through the the Sydney suburban streets to the start of the motorway. As we lined up to turn right on the M5, one of the party starting yelling at us that we did not have toll tags. Before we could answer that Victory supplied them, he took off away from the tollway with his pillion sitting quietly on the back. I still to this day do not know which route he then took from there.

The rest of us went up the tollway until we found a pull off area and phoned his mobile to say we would meet him at Thirlmere.

We didn't go straight down the Motorway but turned off at Narellan Road to travel the old Hume Highway over Razorback and through Picton. Leisurely was how it felt but we travelled on the speed limit and the Victorys just did their jobs.

At Thirlmere we stopped, phoned the missing travelling companion to say we had arrived then ordered coffees and had a chat about the bikes. Everyone appeared happy with the bike allocated to them.

Walter and the Victory Boardwalk.

DBR with the Victory Cross Country Tour

A coffee break at Thirlmere.

Time to return to the road, so another phone call to the missing ones to say we were heading to Goulburn for fuel. The back road to Hill top does not set speed records but it does not induce the boredom of a multi-lane highway.


My phone rings via the Sena Bluetooth, it's the missing couple, they have arrived in Goulburn and I suggest they meet us at the 'Scottish Eatery' at the northern end of Goulburn as we are about 60 minutes away at Mittagong.

There is a choice of road besides the highway but that's not for today as we are now regrouping in Goulburn. I turned the Victory's cruise control on and the kilometres were devoured.

We rejoin the missing couple in Goulburn and had to refuel as there is little between Goulburn and Bathurst on the Taralga Road except for the Taralga Hotel whose food we tried.

Refuelling at Goulburn.

Reunited as the song tells us.

We have trouble not seeing the Victory Cross Country.

So we stopped at Taralga to have lunch. I thought I had ordered just one meal but the load on the plate would have fed 3 people. Great food and a great price. I think I may plan a weekend trip where we stay overnight here.There is covered off street around the back, an open dining area and a restaurant. Us toughies chose to sit out front with the construction workers.

Victorys - Boardwalk. Cross Country and Cross Country Tour x2

Chicken Schnitzel, by the size of it, more like Emu.

Chicken Caesar Salad, fit for an Emperor.

This is a wrap plus!

As we prepared to leave, the rain decides to start so we have time to put on most of our wet weather gear.

We did not know how heavy it would get so there was another stop along the road to gear up to another level. I have to stop as I cannot see through the large screen, my visor and glasses as all have become translucent instead of transparent.

Paul takes the lead as his screen is lower and his bike can been seen without the lights on.

Any photos ops are history as we just want to get to Bathurst.

The three at the front wait for the others. The Dry as a Bone 3/4 jacket is holding up fairly well but I didn't put on my overpants, definitely an oversight.
 

Just after the photo shot, Greg arrived with the news, Walter is down and the Boardwalk is not looking good.

We headed back to check how Walter  and the Boardwalk were.

We arrived at the accident scene. Walter is standing up and off the road. Seemed a bit shaken but no obvious injuries but we still checked for blooding.

Greg was travelling behind Walter when it happened and says Walter would have been doing no more than 60 kph and the back end just slipped out. The bike travelled some way but there is no scratches or gouges in the road.

Roadsigns mark the spot.

The scene. A deceased kangaroo on the side of the road from much earlier.

Roo bits on the road may have contributed also the rain.

Walter took the corner at about 60 kph.

Always put the brightest bike near the site.

The foot board would not come back down due a bent supporting rod. The mud and gravel didn't help.

The right foot board becomes the bits holder.

Blinded by the no lights.

Could have been a lot worse.

Panniers damaged but the contents were still OK.

Walter is OK but we are sending in to hospital in Bathurst. About 90 minutes away (ONE WAY).

Will she start as there looks to be no engine damage.

We attempted to straighten as much of the bike as possible then tried starting it. On attempt 4, we had ignition. Paul then rode the Boardwalk to Bathurst, Kym had Walter on the back of his as we did not want to risk Walter riding before being checked over. Greg and pillion would stay with Walter at Bathurst whilst Kym and Paul came back for me and Paul's bike.

It was a 3 hours 30 minute wait. I watched some videos on my phone as  the Cross Country Tour has a power outlet in the top box and I have brought the charger so no fear of a flat phone battery. The phone recept though was non existent.

With 3 1/2 hours waiting I had time to also take a few photos. I wonder if Victory would be intereted in them.

Victory Cross Country Tour with Cross Country in the background.

Victory Cross Country Tour with Cross Country in the background.

Victory Cross Country Tour with Cross Country in the background.

Victory Cross Country Tour.

Victory Cross Country.

Victory Cross Country.

Victory Cross Country Tour with Cross Country in the background.

I can only report from what I was told, the ride to Bathurst was in continual and torrential rain.
They checked into the Best Western Coachman's Inn at Bathurst and the lady at reception was a nurse and had a quick check over of Walter but he was still off to hospital.

Kym brought Paul back to me and Paul's bike, the rain has easied and the ride back had been much better.

When Kym and Paul arrived and we started the bikes for the trip back to Bathurst. The rain had started again and as the light diminished with dusk, the view through my glasses, visor and screen did the same.

Kym, Paul and I arrived at the motel. I was first for a shower and Greg had bought a pizza. Walter was at the hospital.

Walter told the staff at the hospital his neck was a little sore.

We went to the local pub (hotel) at 9:15 pm and the bistro had closed at 9:00 pm. The cook had gone so we headed for the Chinese Restaurant next door. There is something special about rural Chinese Restaurants with the fork and spoon settings, it is always the hint of what is to come. It filled the holes which all our stomachs have become. I phoned Walter in hospital and we sing him 'Happy Birthday' to him as we sat around the dinner table.
With food left over we took it back to hotel for Walter.

The next morning.
We have tried to dry out.
We left the Victory Boardwalk at the motel for collection.

It was 60 kph.

In the Motel's carpark.

Yes those items were dry.

Triple vision but none are a Victory Vision.

Walter was my pillion to Lithgow where he phoned Victory and tell them what had happened.
We then had breakfast and Walter's sister was on her way to pick him up and take him home.

Bye Walter. Thanks for the photo.

As the day had returned to brilliant, the rest of us took the Bell's Line of Road home then went our separate ways.

The Victorys are built for this road and they relished it like we did the Taralga Hotel lunches.
Paul, Kym and I stopped for supplies. immediate (coffee) and later (conserves and jams).

The last stop before home.

The store.

It's Zero alcohol. How else can you drink it but responsibly?

Supplies - Pickled Walnuts, local apple juice, apple jelly? and local apple pie.

Local apple pie with extra but no ice cream though it is available.

Almost ready to roll.

Different boys with different toys (just).

The following day Paul and I returned our Victorys freshly washed though the morning rain had tried to stuff that. We meet Walter at the dealership and everything was sorted including the excess for the Boardwalk.

The conclusion, with everything that went wrong, the weekend for the most part was an enjoyable time 'out of town' and now I have to start planning January. Will it be a Kawasaki (The Burgundy One) or a Harley (Show pony / Silver) one?

We will know next month.

Equipment:
3 x Victory Cross Country Tour - 2 being supplied by Victory Motorcycles Ashfield
1 x Victory Cross Country - supplied by Victory Motorcycles Ashfield
1 x Victory Boardwalk (is was one when it went out) - supplied by Victory Motorcycles Ashfield
Accommodation with Best Western - Thank you Victory Motorcycles Ashfield
Camera Sony Cybershot
Samsung Galaxy S5

Where did we go? If the weather fine, you will have a great time.

Click on the map to discover the route in detail.