GirlsRideOut Pijama Charity Ride - Pix - Sun 2nd August

photos thanks to Chris Turner

Sunday 27th July - To Mt Victoria for Devonshire Tea

Yesterday's ride to Mt Vic was beautifully sunny - and %$#@!*&$#% COLD!!!!!!!!! The nice bloke at the McGraths Hill servo laughed when I told him where we were going, considering he'd turned back from his own ride on Saturday due to snow.. We got to Windsor, spent a few minutes trying to warm up and figuring out who actually knew the way, then set off looking like a bunch of Michelin men on two wheels (plenty of extra layers there). Bells Line of Road was just a wonderful as it ever is - lovely turns, hardly any cars - but even with an extra jumper and quilted Dririder gear, sub-5C temps plus windchill are BAD. I may be English, but I try not to be totally nuts and was soooo glad when the lads turned toward Mty Victoria at Bell - rather than on to Lithgow and back up the pass. It would have been a nice ride, but I wasn't the only one with extremely painful hands by this point.. when I took my gloves off they were the pale-yellow colour of a Post-It note and definitely enjoyed the log fire inside the pub. As it happened, it was actually pretty warm outside once we'd stopped moving and ordered assorted hot meals and drinks (hot choccy.. mm..) - apart from Troy, who decided it wasn't cold enough and headed off for a track afternoon at Eastern Creek.

photos thanks to Michael Sararder

The sun was lovely and bright and the Imperial was full of motorcyclists - must have the same cold [in]tolerance as us! - and there was a fair bit of window shopping going on. Srool turned up too, with 2 litres of orange juice down the side of his bike -DOH! - and Michael was doing a good impression of Chris with his lil digicam. After lunch, some of the group headed right back down the Bells Line of Road again, but others decided that frostbite just wasn't worth it and headed down the Gt Western Hwy instead. A bit on the boring side, possibly wimpy, but more relaxing for me considering I wasn't able to feel my bike's assorted levers earlier on! Ok so the new Krispy Kreme shop at Penrith had something to do with it too, but then the queue was so long when we got there that we gave up on that idea.. :( All in all it was a good short ride, and there never was any snow, but still a long way to go for a nice hot choccy on a @*&^@#$*&% cold day... :)

- Soph

The Ride to (almost) Currarong - Sunday 10th August

Setting off from Kirrawee a bit late, a steady run through the Nasho to Stanwell Tops for a hot coffee to warm up. Then off via the old highway to Bulli Tops and on to Mt Keira for the twisty ride down, I must say the surface was so much better than I remember some years ago, a very nice bit of blacktop.

A short stop then onto the freeway for a pretty quick run down through Albion Park, Kiama bends and stopping in Gerringong for lunch.

Ok we didn't get to Currarong, but given it was 1.00 when we got to Gerringong, everyone seemed quite happy not to head any further south and a quick buzz to the Jamberoo pub was on the agenda instead.

Andreas did the right thing for one of our crew and stopped to retrieve a piece of someone's bike that fell off on the hill out of Gerringong to which I then left him behind. Sorry Andreas! I could swear you caught up and passed me, hope that beer tasted good when you found us at the Jamberoo pub, cheers mate!

On a serious note, we did pass the bike accident on the sharp 90 deg R/H turn on Jamberoo Rd just out of Kiama, never a good thing to see, I'm sure I speak for all in offering the club's best wishes and hope for a speedy recovery for the rider involved.

After saying a few goodbyes and leaving Jamberoo, some went back to the 'Gong, some up Jamberoo Pass and back down Macquarie Pass then on to Sydney and three of us ended up at the Picton pub.

All in all it was a relaxed laid back day and I hope all those who came along enjoyed themselves. Thanks to all who attended yestrerday's ride on a cool but lovely sunny winter's day. I hope everyone made it home without getting wet! Also, thanks Liam, Louise and especially to our impromptu corner marshall who did a top job, you know who you are. I just wish I could remember your name! Sorry, bloody hopeless with names.

'Til next time cheers, Hughsie

Jenolan and Mt Victoria (for L&P's) Ride - Sunday 17th August

- A Pictorial -

McGraths Hill Mobil meet-up, the pre-ride briefing and Mt.Victoria Pub.

Lunch (and other shenannigans) at the caves.