Post by tedrad on Mar 26, 2013 13:24:53 GMT 8
I've done the Black Dog Ride.
I spent Saturday night at Coop's place at Peppermint Grove Beach. A Big Thank you to Clive and Cheryl, for your very kind hospitality. We headed off at 7.30am to Dardanup for the start of the ride. Heaps of people were already there when we arrived and checked in. Got my Winston and information pack. Had a bacon and egg roll for breaky. Many more people kept arriving 6 or 7 hundred motor bikes all up I think. The crowd were addressed and thanked by the organizer, Steve Andrews. Some inspiring words were said about the reasons for the ride and where our money goes.
Then it was time to get going. We very slowly wound our way through Ferguson Valley towards our first stop in Nannup. It was painfully slow. So slow my bike was wanting to fall over. We had been encouraged to take it easy and not do much overtaking. So I just tried to deal with it and enjoy the experience. We were going along Kirup-Nannup Rd, a road I know pretty well, at 60kph. I was not happy. This was a third of the speed limit, almost. When the road straightened enough I could see why. A lady on a 2 wheeled tractor looking thing. She couldn't corner the bike. I doubt she even has a license. I went past her with a heap of bikes in tow. It took some time to catch the rest of the pack.
When we arrived in Nannup, the power was out. Our hot coffee and scones were looking a bit shaky. By the time I had parked and got myself organized the power had been sorted. We all got hot drinks and cakes and scones, for a donation to the local Lions. Well done Nannup, thank you.
At about 11.30 the ride was getting going to Bussleton. I decided to come home. I had done my bit and needed to ride. I headed to Balingup along one of my favorite roads. Apart from a couple of rather slow Ducati's and a car or two I had a clean run. We stretched our legs a bit and my multi loved me for it. She purred along nicely. After refueling in Balingup I took the back roads across to Ferguson Valley. Somehow I remembered the route that Spaz had taken us the previous Sunday. I even missed the same left turn as Spaz and ran out of road again. No signage, so it's very easy to do.
Then I stopped for a while at the Gnome Village. I've been past the place a few times on club rides, but had not been able to stop. Finally I had the chance. I took heaps of photos, posing Winston with some of the Gnomes. What a fantastic place.
Then I rode the rest of the valley at a brisk pace until I reached the hwy again, via Henty Rd. At Waroona I just had to hang a right and ride along Nanga road. That helped make up for the morning crawl too. Then it was a steady cruise home.
Very glad to be home safe and sound. It was a great experience and I'm sure the money raised, and donated to "Lifeline" will help save lives.
Ted.
I spent Saturday night at Coop's place at Peppermint Grove Beach. A Big Thank you to Clive and Cheryl, for your very kind hospitality. We headed off at 7.30am to Dardanup for the start of the ride. Heaps of people were already there when we arrived and checked in. Got my Winston and information pack. Had a bacon and egg roll for breaky. Many more people kept arriving 6 or 7 hundred motor bikes all up I think. The crowd were addressed and thanked by the organizer, Steve Andrews. Some inspiring words were said about the reasons for the ride and where our money goes.
Then it was time to get going. We very slowly wound our way through Ferguson Valley towards our first stop in Nannup. It was painfully slow. So slow my bike was wanting to fall over. We had been encouraged to take it easy and not do much overtaking. So I just tried to deal with it and enjoy the experience. We were going along Kirup-Nannup Rd, a road I know pretty well, at 60kph. I was not happy. This was a third of the speed limit, almost. When the road straightened enough I could see why. A lady on a 2 wheeled tractor looking thing. She couldn't corner the bike. I doubt she even has a license. I went past her with a heap of bikes in tow. It took some time to catch the rest of the pack.
When we arrived in Nannup, the power was out. Our hot coffee and scones were looking a bit shaky. By the time I had parked and got myself organized the power had been sorted. We all got hot drinks and cakes and scones, for a donation to the local Lions. Well done Nannup, thank you.
At about 11.30 the ride was getting going to Bussleton. I decided to come home. I had done my bit and needed to ride. I headed to Balingup along one of my favorite roads. Apart from a couple of rather slow Ducati's and a car or two I had a clean run. We stretched our legs a bit and my multi loved me for it. She purred along nicely. After refueling in Balingup I took the back roads across to Ferguson Valley. Somehow I remembered the route that Spaz had taken us the previous Sunday. I even missed the same left turn as Spaz and ran out of road again. No signage, so it's very easy to do.
Then I stopped for a while at the Gnome Village. I've been past the place a few times on club rides, but had not been able to stop. Finally I had the chance. I took heaps of photos, posing Winston with some of the Gnomes. What a fantastic place.
Then I rode the rest of the valley at a brisk pace until I reached the hwy again, via Henty Rd. At Waroona I just had to hang a right and ride along Nanga road. That helped make up for the morning crawl too. Then it was a steady cruise home.
Very glad to be home safe and sound. It was a great experience and I'm sure the money raised, and donated to "Lifeline" will help save lives.
Ted.