The Show Mut Go On

Day: Saturday
Date: 2nd
Month: June
Year: 2007

After a rest day it's off to Inverloch, leaving Lake Entrance early on a very cold and wet day we arrived at Inverloch (population 2100) Vic, around 1pm.

Note: to those interested don't spray wet weather gear with water repellent sprays. Thankfully, I found out prior to leaving home that gear is not water repellent now, however, The Pom also sprayed his gear and was soaked to the bone by the time we reached Inverloch.

Next port of call should be "Portsea" tomorrow.

The dreaded lurgy has struck us all, which makes riding in the rain equally difficult when ones nose keeps running. The Pro ( who has many skills and makes sure he passes them on to us ) advises just stick you're tongue out ( LOL) at least I hope he was joking.

Signing off "The Pilot"...Note: the Navman did find accommodation for us in "Inveloch" when the NRMA failed Three times. So one up for Navman ( just as well ).

Rain Drops Keep Falling On My Head

Wee....Hours of 1st June 2007.

Deep restful sleep...dreams of idyllic surrounds, lapping waves, water splashing against...............OH NO!........

Black Blob, escaping room or is that getting in (brain does quick flash back to days past) mouth opens......words escape............"For F..K sake Mum what are you doing"....(having been the dutiful son and nursed sick mother with dementia), "where do you think you're going"??????

Comes reply....."Quick, quick (as trying to escape through wardrobe), where's the (lots more explanatorys) light, find the light, quick must have light, before i wee(not word used) myself, hurry need to get out".

Groping in the dark, trying to realise that I'm awake and not in some horror movie......We find light and yes you guessed it.

"The Amenities Room" a hole room just for that one purpose ( not tea making facilities)......."Oh to be a part of "The Adventure Men Team" you jealous things you".


Stay Tuned..."Fellow Ulyssians"

The Meeting Place

Day: Wednesday & Thursday
Date:30th & 31st
Month: May
Year: 2007






Having successfully (after a few technical hiccups) made our way from Goulburn to Batesman Bay, we found The Pro and spent another warm and content night in the comfort of four walls complete with medicinal liquid, showers, lights, floor, kettle...not a converted amenities block......and last but not least soft comfortable BEDS......( what a wonderful invention) someone deserves a pay rise, for that thought.

Thursday..............rise and shine........yeah that's what you think...........bring on the top end of OZ........it's another bleak day complete with wind and cold (predictions 7 - 14 deg), travelling to "Bairnsdale" today.

Three Adventure Men are we, travelling this great big land you see.......any more of this and I'll be asleep.......It's time to stop, just can't go any further and with that we decide to spend a couple of days in "Lakes Entrance" didn't make it to Bairnsdale. But at least we are headed in the right direction, must be getting better at this.

More bad weather with rain to boot, another night indoors,( much to The Pro's disgust, but i did notice that UGG Boots & Gown brought a homely touch), to our surrounds. The Pom sends a big HOWDY to Maso in Melbourne..

Family have again called, actually, i suspect they ring to make sure the inheritance isn't being spent in the one place (LOL).......

Tomorrow (must do the washing) .....The Pom and Myself are having Internet withdrawals, so may find Internet cafe somewhere, do some sight seeing and check with The Pro as to our next port of call.



Later one and all...........from The Adventure Men!

2 Merry Men are we No more camping for us you see!

Day:Tuesday
Date:29th
Month:May
Year:2007


LOST please find us, if only i knew how this Navman worked. Warmth ah yes that does feel good, although it would be nice to reach a destination ( just once ) in the specified time frame.


Having packed the bikes we are ready to leave Narabeen, with a smile and happy nod we bid The Pro farewell and make arrangements to meet him Wednesday. Hoping to miss the worst of the Sydney traffic we make our heading "Batesman Bay".


Navman set I "The Pilot" in lead head us out, soon to realise not all is going according to plan (how unusual). Some time later OK well it was one hour, we made our way to, oh no, not there again.....................quick ditch the tents...........make out we never had them........cause were back at "Narabeen".


But never fear, cause were getting out no matter were we end up, so rode we did straight down the highway. The Pom having a blast at some unmentionable speed, with hands and feet freely testing the wind as we rode.


Sometime around 3.30pm we reach the town of Goulbourn........yes it is in a different direction to Batesman Bay, but who cares. We located a very pleasant park called "Governers Hill Carapark" the owners are helpful, with very clean and comfortable cabins.


After a great meal at the local servo, its back to the cabin to settle for the night, with warmth, comfort, and NO TENTS...................we are laughing!!! For all those camping lovers out there may the gods go with you.

Tomorrow............We have to find Batesman Bay and The Pro.............maybe the gods had better go with us. Until then stayup right.

3 men 6 wheels & 2 escorts

Day:Sunday

Date:27th

Month:May

Year:2007

As all good Sundays go this was our day of rest, relaxation, meeting and greeting. Lunch with members of Tamworth Club, touring the area and consultative meetings with my fellow

" Adventure Men".

For want of better names my loving family decided that it was appropriate that we be named as follows; The Pro ( having travelled Oz twice before), The Pom ( due to the nature of the man) and The Pilot ( as I have the Navman).

A relaxing and pleasant day was had by all, which is just as well for what lay ahead one will never know.

Day: Monday

Date:28th

Month:May

Year: 2007

Another day takes fold in the beautiful down town Coffs Harbour. Up at a sparrow .... i stealthily make my way to the light switch hoping not to wake other fellow bikers, this proved to be a mission in its self. The art of jumping, climbing and discreetly tiptoeing having left me many years earlier.

Carefully, having prepared my weetbix in bowl with sweetener the night before i consumed another wondrous breakfast delight that only someone of my age could appreciate.

Then as all good mornings start it's off to the ....wash room... again keeping noise to a minimal, ghost like i enter their room as that is where ( in the wisdom of the motel establishment) they had thought was the best location for the wash room, along with a sliding door that is almost off its runners. Lifting and sliding to the best off my ability still didn't prevent what was to be the awakening call for my fellow room mates.

Once we were all active and breathing the fresh morning 5.30am air, it was time to pack our 3 truck loads of gear back onto the bikes. As it appeared that rain my be prevalent the wet weather gear was required. Once all was in place it was off to the servo, fuel up and find The Pom. As my trusting son-in-law had long since lost faith in Navman he decided that he would lead the way. Through sheer luck he managed to find The Pom and it was off down the highway to meet The Pro.

The Pro has been around Oz twice now and seems to have a certain knowledge as to where we are headed. Since we have made no set arrangements, we are mapping our travels as we go. The Pro has booked us in at a camping area somewhere near Narabeen (Sydney). Once the family have seen us to the meeting spot they headed home via the Dorrigos. Three wise men head off on their life changing experience.

And a life changing experience is exactly what it was, who ever invented camping should be strung up. The Pro advised us that we would be thanking him for the experience, after pitching TENTS........ we rolled out the swags..........walked 5kl ms to tea ( nearly had heart attack & The Pom had sore feet). As The Pro was staying at his friends place for the night ( yeah, no he wasn't camping) we decided to taxi it back to the campsite, having given direct instructions to the cabbie (go straight down this road) he thought he knew better, went his way, and yes you guessed it.......his navigation skills........had us lost. So..... we went back to the start and he followed our direct route, whilst informing us that a ride that should have cost us $5.00 was now $10.00....lucky us.

Night came oh so quickly, dark, quite, cool, cold, freezing.......no feeling, until I could no longer take it. Trying to don all my riding gear in a tent at night with no light, feeling the wonderful experience ( thanks Pro) of leg cramps. I left my star accommodation and head for "The Wash Room". Only to visage a huge black blob sitting on the toilet fully clothed, ah...The Pom.... who very quickly told me it was far warmer in here than the tent. He also commenced to let me know that he had a leg cramp, whereby, i asked "what just one". Looks like his bottle of OP Rum didn't do the trick after all.

With that we proceeded to make coffee in the toilets, staying there until daybreak remaining somewhat warmer in our new environment.

Having decided that maybe camping is an experience that we need to work our way up to instead of jumping in at the deep end first, we made a decision to move onto "Batesman Bay", whilst The Pro has a few days here. Once he is finished he will meet us further down the track.

Fellow Female contingent has had knee operation, having a metal plate placed in her knee and reconstructive surgery. Hopefully, everything will go well and we will see her back upright again soon. Note: she found our camping experience hilarious and it brightened her day.

Take 2

Day: Saturday

Date: 26th

Month: May
Year: 2007

Grandaughter shows me how

Take 2
After delivering female contingents bike and gear back to her home (night before), I settled into pizza, coke and TV. Before sleeping away what can only be thought of as the worst take off in history " Huston we have a problem"

Finally morning arrives.......Family (son in -law & daughter) arrive on their bikes to escort me to Coffs Harbour AGM, were i'am to meet the Pom and the Pro.. (LOL)

Daughter & Son-In-Law

After 6 hours travel having stopped at Hospital to visit ex female contingent and getting update of condition, we arrived at registration point for AGM only to discover it no longer existed and had now closed. Therefore, we went to showground and spent an hour locating and registering for the Saturday night dinner. A big thankyou to Naomi and the Coffs Harbour Club for all your help.

Having a quick look around showground discovering that most vendors had now closed, and not being able to spend any money on all the great bike gear ( at some stage daughter suggested i purchase a beanie so that my head would be warm whilst away, I assured her I would not be camping for anyone) that i had been told would be there, went to locate motel.

I as the Pilot took the lead, with my trusty Navman. After taking every turn possible back and forth i finally asked a friendly Policeman who kindly gave us an escort to the motel.

Dispatching what seemed like 3 truck loades of gear into the room, we had 30 minutes to shower, change, make yourselves presentable for the dinner. During this time we had numerous phone calls from our fellow Ulysses members most concerned if they should keep seats for us.

me in hotel room what i can now describe as hevan on a stick

Thanks to the great service from the local United Church ( and a recent Ulysses Member) a bus service pickup came to the motel door every five minutes. Didn't need Navman for this one.....

Had great meal, company from Tamworth fellow Members, few laughs, and unable to locate the Pom or the Pro. Caught bus back to room nearly got lost, and curled up in what can only be described as heaven compared to.

Daughter InQue

Fellow Tamworth Members

Its Got To Be My Turn Next!!!!!!

AND WHAT WAS TO COME....................................................!

STAY TUNED MY FELLOW BLOGERS

.....................................................................................................................................

Parting is such sweet sorrow!!!!

Day: Friday

Date: 25th

Month: May

Year: 2007

Well this is it i have finally made it to D day, for those wondering its departure day. 4 old and (over 65) slightly adventure seeking Ulysses members riding around oz.

First port of call:

Meeting with the only female contingent member of the group and travelling from Tamworth to Coffs Harbour for 2007 AGM.

Having left my wonderful home warm home in Nundle with family following closely to assure that i can travel at least 65km safely, we arrive at safely at departure point.

waiting waiting waiting

Time: 9:45am

ETA: Of female contingent 10:00am

ATOA(actual time of arrival) 10:20am need i say more.

Female Contingent

So with alot of hugs, kisses and more photos than any Jap tourist could take were off, YEAH WOOHOO.


pilot with family


Now we get to Uralla and for those who may not know that is only about 1 hour from where we left.

Coffee, cake and a little chit chat never hurt anyone right, well don't be fooled. Murphy's law suggest always expect the unexpected and unwanted, in this case both. Note never wave to fellow companions whilst bike is packed to limit as ones balance becomes nonexistent "The Pilot".


After much deliberation, a few calls, an ambulance, and family on way, I'm sitting at a truck stop with female contingent (seriously in pain). Waiting for son-in-law to ride one bike without front brake leaver, back to Tamworth.


So.................................... back to Tamworth we go, and female contingent has constructive surgery on knee and will be out of action for 6 months.


DOWN TO 3 Adventure Men.............................................................................


SAY TUNED FOR NEXT INSTALLMENT......................................................