RS 30th Birthday Party - Oz

[Garnet]

I've been riding with Eric on his choice of shiny new Ducatis .

That's what I want in my next life -
a "choice of shiny new Ducatis".

Or at least that kinda money.

[Sibbo]

Eric's not rich , just kinda one pointed in how he spends his dollars .

I've been riding with Eric on his choice of shiny new Ducatis .

That's what I want in my next life -
a "choice of shiny new Ducatis".

Or at least that kinda money.

[SteveD]

The ride to Tintaldra last week supplies a nice contrast to this weekends ride, albeit not a Boxerworks ride.

Last week was just shy of 1000ks, one night out, camping by the river. Beautiful weather, with a cool and cleansing shower for the last hours ride home.

This week eleven of us rode up to Dinner Plain and back. That's a bit shy of 900ks return.
Jeff almost got it right.

In that case:

Saturday, rain snow developing
Sunday, rain snow easing

It didn't snow, but the rain was heavy and constant all the way to the top of the mountain. Towards the summit, the road is marked by bright orange poles, with an occasional sign that says "stay to the right of the poles". The cloud was so thick up there, that we couldn't see the next pole, and the constant moisture on the visor just made it worse. It was miserable, but we all stayed in good spirits, "enjoying" the challenge.
We arrived at Currayong Lodge on time still, as planned. One of the lads, riding a 1993 Ducati 900ss was last to arrive. Just out of Harrietville he needed to avoid a car on his half of the road, and was forced too close to the edge where he lost the front wheel. As he was up against a bank his body slammed into the bank hurting his shoulder.
He was the tail rider, and was alone. The car didn't stop. So Mick picks the bike up, and rides the thing up 30+ ks of tortuous mountain road to Dinner Plain where we all hear the story and inspect the damage. "Are you alright?" "Just an ache in the shoulder ", he said. Upon inspection, his left clavicle was about 1cm higher than it should've been where it joins the shoulder blade at its outer end, looking subluxed (stretched joint). Ice and some strapping, and then a call to the Omeo hospital...no Dr. available 'til the following afternoon. So what to do? Stuck atop a mountain, it's dark and wet and there's no other option available. There was only one real option. Drink beer and wine, take painkillers, have dinner at the DP Hotel, more ice...sleep on it then ride home 440ks! Poor bugger said it was a stiff headwind riding the quicker route down the freeway to home, after separating from us at Bairnsdale. We're awaiting the diagnosis and treatment required. He'll be fine, as he has accumulated over 1000hrs sick leave (paid!!!)

For the rest of us, the morning started with wet roads, no rain but more thick fog just before Omeo. Then the sun came out and we had an excellent ride home thru the north edge of Gippsland. We were all stopped and breathalysed in the middle of nowhere, amongst the dairy farms, but that was our only sighting of a LEO that appeared interested in us.

So, two weekends, both very different and both great fun despite some difficulties. Mick will be fine, and the bike will recover after the insurer sorts out some new bits. That's motorcycling, or least, this weekends version of it.

Next weekend? Work. Bugger.

[Sibbo]

A great report Steve, a good weekend ,even for the poor bugger who broke himself .He'll survive and be fine in a while. I'm trying to imagine rain and fog right now and it's not working .Up here it's heat and heat .... nice riding in the evenings though .

[SteveD]

Imagine riding thru a heavy mist, atop a mountain, the bright yellow lines on the road are your only guide to where the road is. The fog is too thick to see the next orange pole, that are about 20 metres apart. There's nowhere to stop, everything is exposed up there. It's not really raining, 'cause you're already in the cloud, but the moisture forms incessantly on the outside of the visor. The water invades the inside of the visor too, forcing you to open it up. Vision improves a bit, but the needle prick sensation on your eyeballs forces you to lower your eyes, then the visor again. Remember, that hand operating the visor might be attached to a limb with a damaged shoulder. Now you only have one hand on the bars, and still can't see properly.

Despite that, it was fun in an unusual way. I doubt Mick will see it like that now as he awaits an X ray at hospital!

Oh, and remember the thread we had on waterproof gloves and staying warm a while back? Well, my BMW gortex gloves finally failed yesterday. They were sodden. I was dry from shoulders to umbilicus, but the water even managed to wick up and under the jacket from around the hips. Sodden, but I wasn't too cold. Another half hour and I might've been, such is the beauty of the RS fairing in reducing wind chill

[Sibbo]

Yeah ,well I wouldn't have done so well mate .No fairing on Tilly and I wear glasses .The bloody things get wet and I'm blind . Did you have Mr Sheen or similar on your visor ?
I went out for a nice long ride yesterday about 5pm and hit the afternoon bug swarms .mashed bugs thick on my visor ... lift visor ... thick on glasses .

[Airbear]

Thanks for the write-up Steve. It sounds like all were pushed close to the limit (of comfort at least). I'm sure you'll take the advice I posted earlier a bit more seriously next time - about avoiding the weekend of the Bethanga SR500 Rally. We really appreciate the rain they bring, but it is not a good weekend for riding.
I totally failed to get any pics this weekend, but here is one of Phil the sidecar man during a brief lull in the weather last year. He always has something novel hanging off his bike.



Perhaps I should post this pic in the Women on BMWs thread.