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Hell Good Friday
Report by TigeR.
Work was piling up this week so I decided that I should work on Friday to catch up and have a day-in-lieu up my sleeve. Luckily I jumped on the CQ site on Thursday arvo to see Tommy had called his inaugural ride and was quickly brought to my senses bugger work - Im going riding. A relatively small crew of six met up at Carlos favourite pub - The Rock Inne. The traffic was starting to build up with many 4WDs all packed up and heading east out the Brookton Hwy for the Easter break. At 7:45am, six was all it was going to be so Tommy led the convoy out Brookton Hwy to the not so secret parking location. Tommy got held up behind a 1960s camper doing 80km/h and the traffic banked up behind. It was good to know wed be turning off from the Easter masses soon. A while later we all indicated and slowed to turn right Tommy pulled across, I was next up; just before turning a quick check behind in the side mirror what the? a white big-wheeled Landcruiser was fully locked up trying to execute a 140km/h to 0km/h in 100m manoeuvre to abort a not so smart passing decision. Nice to see that the deterrent of double demerits was working so early for the Easter break! We nearly had SOTD before we even got started. It was good to park up in the safety of the bush. It seems we have a new CQ hard-core crew happening with Tommy, Jacko and Fueltanker Allen along yet again (do they miss any rides?) and part-timers Rothy, WR Ross and myself. With the usual lead ride suspects missing for various reasons: injury, babies, baboon reunions, in prison (well Mick450 wasnt there so he must be in prison) a big ups to Tommy for sticking his hand up to lead his first ride. A bit of a drama before the off as Jacko realised hed left his DRZractor key at home. But before you could say Tool of the Week award Ross, Allen and Jacko had rigged a hotwire and we were off. Rothy was worried about Roleys ominous call for HD tubes, I was worried about having a shot back tyre until I saw Jackos :-). Nothing to worry about anyhoo as it was dry & dusty and traction was a figment of a winter imagination. Tommy led us on a magic 90km loop. There was a serious lack of wind so the dust was hanging in the air so you had to hang back to ride in clean(ish) air - luckily we didnt have the 21 from last week or wed still be out there! Tommy stopped at one point to show us the impossible hill climb - aka Brokeback Mountain and then proceeded to have a red hot crack at it. Unfortunately he offed in a bike swallowing rut and banged his calf pretty hard. It just goes to prove that you really shouldnt bring young dairy livestock on a trail ride. With a group of six, it all flowed along effortlessly it was magic to ride some different trails; but all too soon we were back at the cars loading up for the drive home. Tommy was in a bit of pain, but eschewed (good word that!) traditional medicines TigeR: Tommy do you want some Nurofen Plus? Tommy: No mate, ice pack and whiskey thatll do the job. Allen: Why would you put whiskey on your calf? Tommy: So itll taste good when I eat it. Hope the whiskey does the trick Tommy! ROTD for leading and SOTD for your calf. At the end of the pack up, WR Ross & Rothy handed out some cold bears. As I took that refreshing first swig I thought I wouldnt give a XXXX gold to be anywhere else. Thanks all for a Hell Good Friday!  Secret Carpark  How to hotwire a DRZ.  Calf Hill. Top effort Tommy.  Open trails.  Snotty Hill.  Jacko, it's all downhill from here!  Hell Good Friday |
