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The HOG ride.
Report by Brownie
And then there was two It was around midweek Col checked if I was up for a weekend ride and I replied in the positive with a suggestion of a run along the goat tracks we had touched on in a couple of earlier rides. We were not after a big 'un as we both had "stuff" on and just wanted to get a short quality squirt in. The ride was posted and Sunday morning at Cols pad was decided as the kick off. Merv was the other willing punter and I rolled into Cols to find Julie helping him kit up. I am not sure who looked the poorer as they had both been to a wedding the night previous and by all accounts had indulged enthusiastically in the celebrations. Something about drinks by the pool! Col looked as keen as ............ well ,not very keen really but trooper that he is he was soon kicking the Kato into life and we were on our way. A short stint of 500 metres to the servo had me topping up before we headed of for some u beaut goat trail fun - Woo Hoo. Bloody hell were is Col? We were no more that 1 K from Cols front door and not more than 100 metres into the dirt and we had lost him. After backtracking I found Merv picking himself up after a slow get off before Merv and I found him in a jolly old mood attempting to fire a rather uncooperative KTM. @^$% - the same story as the ride before last! All manner of electrical wire fiddling,fuel line messing and good old bike slagging would not convince the thing to start. Col gets the Hog award again. Col ,bless him, stoically tells Merv and myself to carry on without him. (As if we wouldn't !) If one were a pessimist one might assume sabotage in the name of a hangover was at play. But alas I think his bike is cactus!! After loading the buggered beast onto a trailer and duly expressing how disappointed we were Col couldn't come ,waving goodbye BlaBla Bla Merv and I shot off like a flash - Yee haa. I lead us down into goat track which runs for a few kms along a ridge line. Its a great track with plenty of options as many different tracks criss cross up and down the ridge as you progress along. It had a lot of variety with rocky drop offs and jump ups as well as tight switch backs through the scrub and a couple of fun hill climbs thrown in. A great little ride. When we reached the end of the track merv and I decided to connect up some back tracks around the back of the burbs till we got clear of the town limits. Keen for something different I queried Merv on a track I had not used before and before you knew it we were heading east on a fast and winding open track. we covered a good 40 ks along this baby till we reached the Wr's fuel limit. But the track was great with a bit of everything including fast hardpack, fast sand,fast muddy sections (yes Pete and Rolly, we found mud) and some great rocky winding hill sections. when we stopped for a break I duly sat on my sunnies and totalled them which did not auger well for the return trip as they were my prescription sunnies! After some trail side repairs to the specs with good old duck tape I came up looking like uncle Arthur and was able to see to get home. It was a very fast if uneventful return ride home which we finished on the blacktop through town as I was pushing to get home for 12 0clock and Merv had to refuel. All up a great ride. Col we really did think of you mate. As some form of consolation - You would not have missed the dust! Cheers Merv.  Salute to fallen friends  Cols bad start  I'm going home.  Merv  Merv  Merv |
