Crusty Quinns

#514

Gin Gin with Mick Mick

Date	06/Aug/11
11 Riders	Andy400, Guestie, Jacko, KLXPete, lethal, mick450, Mick530, Tommy, waynovb, WR Ross, WRRob
Rider of the day	mick450
Stack of the day	Tommy

Day 1 by Andy400

A crisp 8am-start meeting at Micks place for a 2-day ride heading up to a stay at Gingin hotel overnight partners invited. Great opportunity for our better halves to meet up and be involved with what we do and in no time at all from Mick posting it, we had booked the place out. 6 motel rooms for those who were quick and more rooms upstairs in the historic and slightly sagging pub. One last minuet pull out left 11 riders to head off with partners to meet us up there. The preceding week had supplied a very good dose of rain but clear today, it was going to be good.

Road transport section to get out to the good stuff and Jacko had put his hand up to sweep. A short run in some sand to warm up on the way and then into it with a quick wake up run on seriously soft, rutty and big whoops next to a star picket/wire fence. That got the blood pumping. One down near the start on a WRF but no major damage and also KLX Petes bananas also decided to bail out. He had cable tied them to his bars, is there nothing this guy wont cable tie? The lake was still only a few patches of mud holes even with all the rain and we continued on through a maze of sand tracks with a smidge of hard pack about.

On to the hill of doom and we were warned get a good fast run, youll need it. Soft, boggy and big wheel ruts in wet sand going up steep and turning some corners. Challenging, very! For memory 4 made it (Mick450, klx pete and two WRFs) with the rest of us stuck at various levels having to turn around and retreat to take the straight hill run alternative.

More sand and sand and sand for the next part and a regroup. Got to give a big high five to Guestie for working hard and his persistence through his least favourite surface. Sand has bitten him bad a couple of times recently, as it has for me too so I know how he feels, and if there was an award for Effort Of The Day he would win hands down. Most sand done for the day and it time to feed the hungry bikes and riders with a pit stop.

Fuelled up ready to go a short tar section to what I believe is the best area I have every ridden. Sun shinning through the trees onto perfect single tracks with plenty of water pockets lingering in the whoops and lower flats, ups and downs, big washed out ruts and the odd sections of rocks keeps us all on our toes. While some fallen logs and odd creek crossing add to the variety its off to Micks Big Dipper, well thats what I call it. Completely stuffed me the first time I tried it back in April, 3 goes and thanks to FT Allens top shot is my profile pic. This time all made it first time so top effort to all but no good carnage pics for the gallery.

A short rest regroup a bit of BS and were of again heading to the rivers of Babylon (or is that the name of a poxy song from the past no sure). Ross has now taken on the sweep duties and Jacko is in the pack. I keep thinking if I get the right spot Im going to roost him big time with mud as payback from Billy Bobs ride but is just great following him and watching the smooth consistent master at work. Have to keep and ear out for the roar of the a slightly mad man on a KLX gaining fast and passing on the back wheel, no names but take a guess. I think I saw Pete on the most corner marks today of anyone. Mike530 pulls some good wheelies and WaynoVB is very happy and basting along on the new smaller cc KTM.

Water and more water and I think my boots are 10kgs heavier. Enter Tommy to the rescue with some flash Yoga moves. Followed in some water filled creek beds for a bit, but by this time I was happy to take the high road option where possible, had water on the plug, water in the boots, water up my crack, everywhere.

Left Jacko on a corner, my fault and with fuel getting short my DRZ range was choose to turn back. Found Tommy and Pete, Ross was already on the case and soon all where reunited. Picked up a hitch hiker in the form of a little guy I like to call Skully hanging in the bash plate. We travelled a few Ks together until some whoops scared him and he bailed, no thank you, just gone. 100ks of fun and time to head out to Bindoon for pit stop number two.

All set, some fast sections of gravel and following some lines that led into Gingin for a about 4pm. Five wives waiting with beer, snacks and dry clothes, what a welcome. Packed the bikes up tight, lots of locks, blocked in with cars and time to hit the showers.

Meet up in the bar, pre dinner drinks and intros choosing from a top menu. More drinks and lots of yabbering followed with more drinks and then it starts to get less clear what happened but I do remember having a great time with good mates.

Big thanks to the partners for coming up and joining in as this made it a very special event. Look forward to some more socials.

STOD This has to go to Tommy. With all the days riding and no major off in some testing tracks at high speeds, a slip in the 20 mtr walk from pub to the motel units saw Tommy arse up in the car park and ankle pain although I dont know if he felt until the morning recovery.

Day 2 By Tommy
Day 2 started a bit slow as last nights cleansers didnt work too well and we all felt a bit tired form the night before only two riders have pulled out with medical notes from their wives. Mick took us along some fence line tracks that werent as hard packed as we would have liked them to be just what we needed to get us warmed up and then all of sudden we were at a spot that we had been at on one of his previous rides only now there was some water there and a few of the boys had a play in it while we had a regroup. Then he did his usual trick and heads straight into what looked like impenetrable bush and finds a track that takes us in the direction we need to be going. Along more tracks and we pull up for a fuel stop. This next section I had been dreading soft boggy sand and 4X4s not a good mix. Sure enough within a klm we go round a corner and there are 4X4s backed up along the track but Mick has a cunning plan and heads off down a side track. No 4X4s and the sand is firming up a few klms of this and we hit some of the best tracks of the day open fast sweeping ups and downs everything you would want and it keeps on going a few crests that launch you into the air some of the faster riders get some good air time aahhh heaven.
Another refuel for the bikes and us its starting to get warm and we are glad to have a few minutes break before we head off to the sand dunes for a play. The usual crew cant get enough of this and are up and down everything they see while the other usual crew are just happy to watch and take a few short cuts when we can. After 200ks on day 1 and 100 odd so far on day 2 we are getting a bit tired well at least I am and I witness a few others overshooting corners and others almost flipping their bikes I lose it over some whoops its been a long hard 2 days filled with the best tracks and the crew were great also.
We get to the top of one hill and are admiring the view and the cool breeze but when we look south the dreaded urban sprawl is there right next to us.
A short ride back to Micks place get changed load the bikes and he has one last treat for us a few coldies and snacks before we head home tired sore and very very happy.
ROTD Mick450