Despite a weather report suggesting thunderstorms, quite a number of Lockyer Ulyssians took a chance and fronted at the BP Blacksoil this morning. Unfortunately, not all of them were going on the Mystery Ride - most headed off in the opposite direction for a barbecue at the base of Mt Glorious! Hopefully they had as good a time as we did.

With 5 bikes heading off on the Mystery Ride, we were short in numbers but eager to see some sights and prove the weather man wrong. Attending were ride leader Loan A Ranger (Ashley), his partner Sparky (Tess), Paul B and wife Di, Bruce, Andrew, Lindsay and Jen. We waited until after the other Ulyssians departed, waited a bit longer to see if anyone else was coming, but at 8.55 we headed off along the Warrego Hwy. We turned off at the Walloon turnoff and motored through leafy Walloon, past the Walloon Saloon and on past Amberley Air Base. From there, we turned onto the Cunningham Hwy and headed toward Aratula. We took the Harrisville turnoff and proceeded through the sleepy town at a sedate pace, then headed for coffee in Boonah. Lindsay and Jen decided to continue on, as Jen had to work, but we were hopeful of seeing them at our destination. A half hour stop saw everyone refreshed again, particularly Andrew (who put away a huge feed and tall ice coffee), and we all re-mounted and headed out past the Dugandan pub toward Rathdowney. We took the Queen Mary Falls turnoff and tooled through the green countryside, before heading up the mountain along the switchback road. The 4 bikes climbed into the clouds, and we stopped at the Queen Mary Falls Caravan Park for a leisurely lunch. Lots of greenery, and unfortunately also lots of flies, but nothing could deter Andrew from his food....

After lunch we climbed aboard our bikes again and headed down the other side of the mountain, riding through Killarney before following the Settlers Route back toward the Cunningham Hwy. Lots of great scenery and a few sleepy hamlets along the way, before we rejoined the Cunningham Hwy and headed toward Aratula. A brief stop at the top of Cunninghams Gap saw everyone getting circulation back into their butts and legs, and then back down the mountain we went heading for a fuel stop at Aratula. All the bikes were fueled up, as was Andrew, who was hungry again..... The skies looked threatening, and we all decided to make our way home from there as best we could. Unfortunately, as is often the case, the weather man finally got it right - about 5 kilometres out of Aratula, the heavens opened and it bucketed down. Ashley and Tess kept going into the storm, while the others peeled off and sought shelter at an old servo. Wet arses indeed! Moby the Great White Whale was certainly enjoying her swim.

A great day was had by all who attended, and we have the happy snaps to prove it. Thus ended Lockyer's last gazetted ride for 2007 - roll on 2008!