It was a feeling of ambivalence. A total deflation over the “Celebration of the Motorcycle”, but a satisfying feeling over the ride itself.
I caught up with Kevin “Keeva” at the Hume Caltex where I preceded to piss a large number of people off (seem to be doing that a bit recently) by leaning on the emergency cutoff button for the bowsers.
We then beat a rather hasty and red-faced retreat to struggle town (Queanbeyan) where we met up with Yedi, Jules and Riicho. From there, we all headed out for the ride to Narooma.
The ride was perfect… The heat annoying, the traffic really shitty, the threat of rain hanging over us the entire trip like a…. well… like a cloud, and there was a plague of bugs between the Bay and Narooma, but the ride was just perfect. It’s like Friday evening was just built for a ride to the coast.
Two stops for hydrating and un-hydrating at Braidwood, the Bay slowed us a little, but it didn’t matter too much. We finally rolled into the Farnboro about 8:15 to be met by Wendy relaxing with a cuppa.
After dismounting and getting our bearings and room keys it was decided that Pizza and booze around the pool was the appropriate course of action. Thanks to Michael, the proprietor of the Farnboro, loaning us his car to fetch said Pizza and booze we were soon actually following the aforementioned action course.
The evening around the pool just made the ride. No kidding, great company, food, booze and good conversation is really what social riding is all about. A good ride to an interesting location to share some time with those who you can relate to is the soul of Canberra Riders.
Wolf and his new lady friend Sue, showed up mid evening which completed the crowd and we went on to talk, joke and prevaricate for the rest of the night. I myself, feeling a tad weary, hit the sack at about midnight, but Blair, Yedi, Sue, Wendy and Wolf continued on for a while. But I slept like a baby.
Next morning and everyone seemed OK surprisingly. All up by about 8 and all feeling feeling good. The weather was good, not too hot but overcast. We all farewelled the Gardeners and the Farnboro which I would recommend to anyone here and headed to to a nice Cafe down by the river for some breakfast. Food was OK and coffee good, but the flies were just the pits.
The cooler temp made the ride from Narooma to Bombala a bit more comfortable than the ride to Narooma. We stopped to at Bemboka for fuel and pee break but it was only a short break. The ride up Brown was a dream. Such a great cruise, I could have done it all day.
So, there we are paying $10 entry fee to the Bike show feeling enthused and excited about a cool time.. Oh boy were we let down. Boring doesn’t cover it. Where was the atmosphere? The jet bikes, the MC geeing the crowd up????? Apart from a small but nice collection of bikes and some stalls, very little seemed to be happening. I was disappointed and so was everyone else. Sorry all, last years seemed to be more interesting.
Due to the distinct lack of interest in the show we all met up at the Fried Chook shop in the town for coffee and something to eat. This is when it started to rain. Avartie and ct90 joined us for the ride back, well at least to Cooma. It rained pretty much all the way from Bombala to Cooma, and apart from the sudden de-saddle bagging of Wendy’s ride, almost causing a major truck accident, we all seemed to make it to Cooma ok.
At Cooma, we sort of split up a bit.. I re-fuelled and decided to head home following Wendy while the others went for coffee, I think, not sure as I lost track of them at that point. But fortunately by the time we left Cooma the rain had stopped and it was a nice cruise home.
To wrap up. Even with the dull Bike show and the rain from Bombala to Cooma, It was a good ride and I really cant complain at all. Maybe next time, we should do the loop with an overnighter, just for the ride and company.
Thank you Wendy, Blair, Yedi, Jules, Andrew and Sue for your welcome company on the ride and the relax around the pool. Thank you Michael and to your wife for your hospitality at The Farnboro.
