3 Day Ride May 15-17 2009. *

Just three bikes and riders left Singleton on a cool but fine day. half way there most of the cold weather clothes had to come off. 23 degrees by the time we arrived in Inverell . Leaving for home on Saturday morning,  just 3degrees, a great run  home , passing the two day riders on  thunderbolts way. Just a wave and kept going.  

George

2 Day Ride May 16-17 2009. *

Saturday May 16^th,  Three bikes left Singleton Maccas at 8am heading to Armidale to meet the 3 day riders
Lyn & Max, John &  I headed towards Dungog for morning tea then on to Gloucester and up Thunderbolts Way for lunch at Walcha. We passed the three day riders on Thunderbolts Way coming home as Keith had to meet Sylvia at the Sydney Airport Sunday so they only rode for two days. A bit like ships passing in the night.
On arriving at Armidale and after checking in the Cherries and Williams went Ten pin bowling -  lots of laughs and I am not sure if there was a bit of cheating.   Max needed 3 skittles down to reach 100 in the last game and managed to only get one with his 1^st bowl then low and behold only managed one with his other  bowl,  so he couldn’t make 100
Sunday it was down the highway home. We got through to Muswellbrook & had some bike troubles.
One overheating which needed a lift home & while we were waiting for the tow truck we noticed oil all over the rear tyre of my bike. On to the truck as well. We were spotted in Muswellbrook by Shireen & Wayne, who kept us company till the truck arrived.   A good weekend
Everyone home safe & Sound
Barbara

Saturday 16 May. 

A day ride to Dungog Shine & Show & Ute Show was organised by a co worker of Dave's with an invitation to UH Ulysses Club members. Bikes left Muswellbrook at various times, we (Dave & me) left to meet up  with fellow Ulysses riders Jim & Cathy to let them know that some of the group not running to schedule.  About 15 minutes later we were joined by some of the other bikes then a short ride to meet up with the rest of the group.  What a ride, the cross wind was really strong and that road to Dungog from Singleton is not the best to ride on even on a good day.

Morning tea Gresford, then 9 bikes, 4 of these 2 up, off to Dungog.  Now I can't remember seeing a sign on the entry gate to say that the proceeds of the day was going to the Westpac Helicopter & Cystic Fibrosis, I may be wrong but it cost $25 per person entry fee.  During the day some of our

fellow riders had found out that part of the entry fee was going to these charity organisations.  There were bike clothes stalls, food & drink stalls, dirt bikes racing in the rodeo arena, bikes with fantastic art work on show and motor vehicles on show.  You could camp overnight, it would have been

freezing and the Wolverines were playing later that night. After watching bike and car burnouts which was a bit of a safety issue, it was decided that it was time to leave and head home. Homeward bound we travelled to Maitland then up the highway to Lochinvar for a drink and rest, it was here that they decided to stop to MM for dinner. Time to mount up and head home, now the little boys in blue were doing a random breath testing at the park when you first come into Singleton on the southern end and yes they waved in two of the bike riders.  Next stop Muswellbrook were we left our fellow riders at Macca's as the pigeons needed feeding and the cats etc.  The ride had been planned to be home before dark however it was dark and cold by the time we got home. To those who went on the ride thank you for a wonderful day it was great as always with no mishaps.

Happy & safe riding

Kerry M 

Friday 29 May,

Sydney Escape.  What a lovely day for a bike ride, one bike two up (Dave & Kerry) met Donna at 8 am MM in the rain, but hey, what are friends for.  Then off to SM to meet up with Bear then on to Branxton to meet Barbara, no John as he had to work and no rain.  Bear now has a two way on his bike which is wonderful but it needed a little tweaking.  Now Donna’s bike was being taken to Moto Guzzi at Revesby, to be there between 11 – 11.30am!!! for a final warranty service and to sort out a few hiccups.  Barbara was going two up with Bear as her bike was in Sydney and was ready to be picked up. At Branxton it was decided that the BMW would be refuelled at Freemans Waterhole, ok, right.  Morning tea would be at the Twin Caltex Service Stations and check the map, right, right.  Leading bike Bear, Donna in the centre, indicator and brake lights had been playing up and us as tail end Charlie. We started talking to Bear and he wasn’t coming through clear, it sounded like, he was talking down a tube.  Then no reply from Bear at all, it was strange, I didn’t think he would sulk but anyway stony silence from Bear.  Riding down the road Dave checked his fuel gauge, maybe we could go through to the Twin Caltex Service Station after all.  Now at Mulbring it was decided to pass Bear as he still wasn’t taking to us and then he would know we were not stopping, so we did and Donna also passed as she needed to be in the middle. So now we are on the freeway, good time for Dave to put on his cruise control and fiddle trying to find a radio station as his CD player doesn’t work.  Not a good idea to have cruise control on when you are passing semi trailers as it was pointed out to Dave at morning tea. He completely forgot about the tail wind of the semi trailers, I think he even forgot he still had cruise control on. Morning tea for us and the bikes and time to get rid of the wet weather gear, I felt like the Michelin man.  We found out Bear wasn’t ignoring us, his two way had stopped working, so we thought, well we’ll have a look at that before we leave. Now out comes the road map, this is where we have to go so if we go here and then here, here then here we’ll be right, ok, ok.  Dave’s two way still plays up rider to pillion, so the trip can be somewhat silent hence the need for Dave to fiddle to find a radio station. No, still couldn’t get Bear’s two way to work, time to mount up and get going.
It was decided hand signals would be the way to go in Sydney.  We had no idea where we were going, only Barbara knew. We did take one wrong road and had to turn around and go back past Sydney Markets, thought Barbara wanted to go shopping for a little while. I don’t know Sydney much except I know where the airport is and a few suburbs by name and a rough idea where they are, so I was well
Dave braked suddenly at one stage and I left the seat about 6 inches, the car behind would have had a laugh. Turn right into a side street ok, turn left into another street ok, take another left I think it was, hello must have lost our way, turn right into a narrow alley, what are we doing here.  It was the back entrance of the bike shop, at last, time get Barbara’s bike. You could have imagined the comments though, how on earth did they find that place. 
Now the plot thickens, Barbara knew how to get us to Revesby but not to the Moto Guzzi place.  Ok off we go, get to Revesby now where?  Wait we will phone, no answer, they did say turn right, right,  then left.  We tried that but didn’t get to turn left it didn’t look the right way.
Wait, we’ll ask old mate in his drive he may be able to help?  ok, right.
Mean while there was a postie collecting mail, tried to get his attention, he came over, we didn’t know the address, ok, what else can I say.  Man in driveway gets out his street directory, a lot of pointing going on, Bear starts to walk over to tell the girls the directions, forgets halfway turns to the man and he passes on directions.  Thanking old mate,  time to leave, we were not that far away from the address so we really hadn’t done too bad.  So we ride up the street looking for a sign and number, no luck so we turned around and rode back down the street and into a drive way that must have serviced 20 businesses.  No bike sign or Moto Guzzi sign, nothing. Parked the bikes walked into a big motor bike parts warehouse looking place and back out, hot on our heels was a nice young man by the name of Andrew I think. We’re their! So out came Donnas list and he was very helpful with her questions and enquiries.  So Bear asked him if he could have a look at his two way for him which he did and said it had something to do with the channel that it kept showing on the screen. That done and it was time to eat, we were starving and it is now 2pm.  We had noticed a sandwich bar just up the road so we decided that would do. We get off the bikes and look over the street to the sandwich bar, oh no, looks like they are closed and cleaning up.  The young lady sees us and waves us over, polity says they are closing but will get us sandwiches or what was left in the trays to eat.  Outside we went to eat out late lunch.  Thanking the staff for waiting for us to finish our lunch it was time to leave as it is a long way home and it was late. 
Now at this point I did warn the others it isn’t a good idea for Dave to get instructions and let him lead the way, ok. We go down to the end of the street turn left, through a roundabout, then turn right at the next roundabout, can’t be right, that’s a no thru road. Ok well turn left, and we are in the wrong lane, ride up the street, see man in his driveway, ask directions to freeway which he follows well until we get to the freeway sign.  Barbara in the left exit lane, we started off in the go straight ahead lane then changed lanes,  (after a bit of prompting from his pillion cause I was sure Barbara would have more of an idea than us).  Poor Bear and Donna were left in the straight ahead lane but soon caught up as we slowly road down the freeway.  Now Dave, who was born at Camden, nearly had a fit when he saw a sign pointing to Bringelly, we could go up the Putty he said, but a little bit more prompting from his pillion to follow Barbara was well heeded.  Next stop other than the tolls was the Twin Caltex Service Station for fuel then on to Branxton.  Time to say our fond farewells and say thanks to Barbara our Kiwi who knows Sydney better than the Aussies that went with her and put on the wet weather coat to help keep out the chill.  Next stop Singleton to say by to Bear and Donna, who was changing from bike to car to run Donna home.  Thanks Bear for the offer to take us home in the car too but the bike had to go home anyway.  We got home to McCullys Gap at about 6.15pm in time to feed the beloved pigeons.  Thank you for a funny day, you had to be there or at least be on one of those funny rides to really understand what I mean and the antics of the “Growing Old Disgracefully” lot.
Happy & safe riding to all
Kerry M.

The 7 Day Snowy Ride 2009

13th March to 19th March 2009 Garry Knight, Lucy & Graeme Lothringer, Jenny & Rob Merrick, Carol & Ross Morgan, George Robinson, Sylvia & Keith Smith, Barry Thomas, Dianne & Mark Walmsley, Steve Wordsworth.

Day One: We left Singleton Macca’s at 7.30 am sharp with 9 bikes, 14 riders, headed off down the Putty onto Bells Line Road to Mt Victoria for breakfast. It started to rain so on with our wet weather gear we rode on wet slippery roads through mud at road works through Oberon, down to Goulburn for lunch. By now the rain was gone; off we went through Braidwood to the beautiful sea side town Batemans Bay for the night. 580 km Day Two: Up early, we leave a foggy Batemans Bay down the coast road through Malua Bay, Mossy Point back onto the highway at Moruya onto Central Tilba for breakfast. What a beautiful part of the south coast, a must see. Then up Browns Mountain we went, great fun on a sports bike, onto Bombala down to Cann River where we were hit by a southerly storm front as we approached Lakes Entrance, got blown all over road and a bit wet. We went out for nice dinner that night at the R.S.L. The conversation turned to the subject of early courting days, I was amazed, and I’ll leave it at that. P.S. I ran out of fuel. 458 km Day Three: Rest day at lovely Lakes Entrance, up late for most. Before lunch everybody does their own thing some do a bit of shopping, coffee, we buy fresh prawns off the trawlers. Then we all went on an afternoon 3 hr cruise on the lakes, saw some bird life, lovely houses, very peaceful and quiet. Day Four: Ready to leave for Corryong at 8.00 am. Freefall (Steve Wordsworth) has starter motor trouble the rest leave, as myself and Steve stay back and try to get somebody to look at it without success. So my job for the rest of the day was push starter. Not to worry. So off we go up to Omeo, onto Mt Hotham, which was covered in clouds, 4 degrees at 11 am, quite chilly down through Harrietville to Mt Beauty, Bright for lunch and then to Corryong where we stayed at a very nice motel called the Corryong Country Inn? 424 km Day Five: Some stay in town (Corryong) to see the sights, have a rest, and do some shopping. Corryong is famous for the Man from Snowy River. While seven of us go on to ride what is called the Alpine Blast. Off to Khancoban, up to Thredbo for breakfast to Tumut Dam, back to Khancoban Road into Corryong. It is 348 km of the best motorcycling roads in Aust. That evening we meet up with a Japanese student, who was riding a Suzuki DR650 trail bike, we ran into him a few days earlier at Cann River where Silvia returned his credit card that he dropped in the servo. He celebrated St. Pats Day that night at the pub, drinking green beer. We invited him to come along with us the next day to Cowra. Day Six: Off to Cowra we go, through to Tumbarumba for a lovely breakfast at the Four Bears Café, the café is full of bears every shape and size, through Tumut, Cootamundra then to Cowra. Freefall, Ross and Pushimotto go look at the Japanese gardens. The rest relax, have a few beers then dinner that night. 400 km Day Seven: Off we go heading home. Just out of Cowra towards Bathurst we come across the road blocked by a tree which fell. Some fellow Ulyssesians going to the A. G. M., I presume, showed us an alternate route. Coming into Bathurst we go to Mt Panorama, take some photos, do a lap and have breakfast in town. We say good bye to our little Jap mate and head off home through Sofala, Bylong, and Sandy Hollow back to Singleton. 390 km In summary I would say the best seven days riding I have ever done, in great company, lots of laughs and a few beers, won’t forget it.
Barry Thomas

*Day Ride April 5 2009. *

4 bikes met at MM, Dave & myself riding two up (as the ankle is somewhat still sore) and three other bikes, one of which was also two up. Leaving MM we headed off to SM to meet up with the our other riders, 4 bikes in total with one being two up from Denman. Poor Barbara at a service station, had two minor mishaps with her bike but she and the bike okay, only the panniers were scratched. After introductions, chit chat and a look in the direction of the coast it was decided to change directions and go to Dungog for morning tea via Gresford, then on to Gloucester for lunch. Gary "Gasket" was our ride leader for the day and did a great job, thanks Gary. For the amount of traffic on that road one would think they could spend money to do a much needed upgrade. Great to see the landscape green and the dams full with water. After morning tea, which was well appreciated, it was time to mount up again and continue our ride. Arrived at Gloucester at about 11.40am, walked from one pub, which did not open for lunch until 12pm, on to the other pub that was open for business. We all enjoyed a lovely lunch and well earned cold drinks and decided as the afternoons were now starting to shorten, it was time to head off home. Then it was down Buckets Way, through Stroud and Booral, along this route John and Barbara stopped, email to Barbara later and discovered all was well. The weather had warmed up somewhat which was great to ride home. Then through Seaham Lambs Valley etc and home with a farewell at Singleton and thanks to Gasket. After a well earned pit stop at the Singleton Servo on top of hill, 5 bikes and 8 people, headed to Muswellbrook, parting company there for our home destinations.
Happy riding Kerry Moffitt

Gilgandra Weekend *Day 1, Saturday 18 April.*

What a nice day for a bike ride. 8 bikes, 3 of these being two up, gathered to leave at SM with a send off part of 2, Max on his bike and Lyn on her scooter (aka girl Lyn). It was good to see new members David and Sue on the weekend ride, hope you enjoyed the weekend. The group departing SM at 8am to meet with rest of the group, Donna, Jill with her sidecar, Dave & Kerry at MM to depart at 8.45am. However we (Dave & Kerry) had one little prob, the trusty BMW had a flat battery. Thank goodness our son had just got home from night shift to give his dad and the bike a push up over the ramp by our house, because I certainly couldn't do it. A quick ride to Aberdeen to put some spark back into the old girl (that being the bike fellas) fuel up and a quick trip back to MM just in time to meet the group leaving. Strange to see Jim solo on a weekend trip, hope your better Colleen. Morning tea at Murrurundi, the light breeze was somewhat fresh, as one would expect for there, but still a nice morning. On to Gunnedah for lunch and refuel for some of us. What a shame we had to leave as there was a market on, we could have picked up some wonderful things and if we had asked Jill nicely, she may have let us put them in her side car. I enjoyed being pillion as I had never been from Gunnedah to Dunedoo before, although it would have been a good run for me on my bike. Next regrouping stop Coonabarabran, while here, George checked Donna's bike as the rear wheel seemed to have a white residue on it. Thank goodness for cable ties and riders who carry bits and pieces, Jill needed a cable tie to secure her number plate on her bike. David and Sue rode through to Gilgandra were we would meet them for drinks. When everything was sorted and fixed, off to Warrumbungle National Park and Siding Spring Exploratory , only to find we were 5 minutes late. Of a weekend it is open only between 9am and 2pm, weekdays 9am to 4pm!!!!!! We were not the only people disappointed with the closure time, surprising how many people arrived after us and were unhappy with being told wrong times. Time to mount up and our next stop Tooraweenah at the pub. Now many of us rode through Tooraweenah not seeing a pub, but could see a tennis court on a corner. Only for our fearless leader giving directions to George who was doing corner duty, thank goodness, as we could have easily come unstuck, how to get to the pub. So we chucked a "Uie" and came back and turned at the tennis courts, were there was a sign pointed to the pub. We joined a few of our group there for a nice cold drink in a nice quiet pub and the publican is a fellow Ulyssesian. Time to mount up again and ride to Gilgandra, fuel up and go to our motel. It was decided to meet at the pub for drinks, time for a quick tub, change of clothes and off to the pub just up the block. Now there happens to be a wedding in town, so off we go to the pub, maybe we can find a cowboy here for someone. The bar area and beer garden of the pub is chokkas with wedding guests. So we meander through the guests to what would be the sports area and a few of the wedding guests ended up there also. The wedding guests were only there until 5.30pm as they were waiting for the reception venue to open. Now it was decided that the girls would get to choose our dinner venue, the Pub or the Chinese, it was decided we would stay were we where, sorry Keith, who would really have liked Chinese. What a wonderful meal, I don't think anyone complained about their meal and the poor girl taking our orders was only learning, she did well. Now the chef and staff may have been sorry when we started singing, but we certainly didn't care. After much merriment and Jim singing a rap song, it was time to leave and do our own thing. Time for a nice hot cup of tea and bed, others stayed behind to watch the footy and others went back to the motel to continue the party. *Day 2, Sunday 19 April. *7.30am meet at the Roadhouse on outskirts of Gilgandra for breakfast and fuel up the bikes, another nice morning. Time to mount up and a nice ride through to Mendooran and onto Dunedoo for regrouping and a pit stop. Next stop Merriwa for a nice hot drink for some and a cool one for others and a well earned drink for the bikes. Some chose not to stop but ride home as they had chores to do!!!! What a change in the weather, will we get home without getting wet? Not by the looks of those dark clouds and was it chilly. Time to get on our trusty bikes once more and head home before getting wet. We parted company at Denman Road, Golden Highway turn off and then for us home to Muswellbrook. A safe and great weekend was had by all.
Happy riding Kerry Moffitt

Sunday 3 May.

What a wonderful morning to go for a bike ride, the weather far better than they predicted. One bike, two up left McCullys Gap to meet anyone at MM who may have been going on today's ride. As the pilot thought we were late we slowly rode up to MM but alas no one there, so we rode on. No one waiting at Muscle Creek turnoff either, well, must be just us this fine day. A little way down the road, over the 2way was a familiar voice wishing us a good morning, it was Wayne. He had seen us go past the turn off while he was leaving home. Now it was on to Singleton, fuel up and meet our other fellow riders. We were greeted at SM by Barbara and John W., soon after by John and Terry and finally Garry (Gasket). After much discussion on our destination for the day and well, how were we going to get there and who was going to be our ride leader, a unanimous vote was taken by all that John not John (Willow?) would be our ride leader to Kulnura, our morning tea stop. 7 bikes, one two up left SM for a nice ride through Broke then onto Wollombi. Now I don't want to get anyone excited, but maybe they are finally going to fix the dirt section of the road. They have cut down some of the trees close to the road and on the bank of the corner on that section and have pink tape up as a marker, so maybe in a few years time, as you can't rush them, it may no longer be dirt. Regrouping at Wollombi it was then onto Kulnura for a well received rest and morning tea. Some great furniture being sold there, not the sort you would move too often, it may be a little heavy. Thankyou John for a wonderful job of ride leader to Kulnura. So whom was going to be leader now and what direction do we go. Wayne decided if we didn't mind doing U turns, he'd be the ride leader, no one objected so off we went. Now we just followed Wayne, who was just following the signs, how hard is that too do. Then when he did ask our opinion we just said yep, that sounded good, we would follow him, sounds like Lambs to the slaughter doesn't it. Blow me down if we didn't ride past Westfield Shopping Centre. Now it got funny from here, I said we could go shopping but Wayne had the hide to tell me there was interference on the 2way and he couldn't understand what I was saying. I tell you, how rude was that? After riding for awhile, Wayne decides to tell us that coming up on the left was Auto Barn, where he brought his Christmas tree. Now you could imagine some of the comments, John was pleased Wayne shared that piece of info with us. Barbara wanted to know if it had gold in the bottom of the pot, Dave or Moff or "God" said that sounds as handy as tits on a bull and I lost the plot with laughter. There was also the red light incident, as some of us had been left behind Wayne informed us that there was a red light, where he would wait for us to catch up to him, but we decided we didn't want to ride on the railway line. Many more comments and laughter were passed with Wayne telling us we would keep, but all harmless fun. Now after a brief stop at Morisset it was time to mount up again and head towards Wangi Wangi with Wayne as leader. He thought that perhaps Dave would like to take over the lead position as he had a live GPS on his bike who knew the Wangi area. Now the live GPS told Wayne that she visits her Mother at Wangi but knew how to get there from Toronto, but that she did know there were two entries into Wangi, so if we missed one, we would get the other. Not to worry, we arrived at our destination of Wangi Workers Club safe and sound. What a nice club, food and outlook. At this point Dave took great delight in stirring me about going to see the pigeons he has at Redhead. The reply came very swiftly as you could imagine, we were on a bike ride not here to check on the stinking pigeons. Time to leave this lovely spot and head home, Wayne decided it was a good opportunity to visit his sister, so we said our goodbyes to him there. Now this must be a first, Dave got to be ride leader and with a little help from his pillion (aka live GPS) got everyone to Toronto. Time to fuel up at Freemans Waterhole, change of ride leader then onto Cessnock, leaving John and Barbara there to buy food for Johns lunch and John and Terry to see their mate. We took a back street and lost Garry somewhere. A few kilometres out from Cessnock we decided it was a good idea to put on the wet weather gear, just as well or else we would have been drenched. The rain finished before Branxton, not another drop did we get and the wet weather gear stayed on until we got home. To all the Mothers, I would like to wish you a Very Happy Mother's Day. Thank you for a great day, Happy and safe riding to all.
Kerry M