Ulysses Club - Clarence Valley Group

Jim, a little ride report and some pics from a trip with Wayne Hadaway (Ducati) that you may wish to put on the site.

Keep smiling

Paul M

Northern NSW amigo

02 6640 1068 - answers not always guaranteed!

Life looks better from inside a helmet

From: MALCOLM Paul D
Sent: Wednesday, 16 February 2011 4:57 PM
Subject: FW: Black top ride to Imbil, Sunshine & Gold Coast - 12-13Feb11

Spontaneity is always a factor, and this time Wayne rang on Tuesday and said he had to go to Buderim. Was I up for a ride? Silly question!

Route to Buderim and several diversions planned in MapSource and downloaded to the GPS; an email to friends in the Sunshine Coast & Gympie areas, to check out roads and then all that was left to do was to sort out accommodation and riders.

Sadly most of 'the regulars' had other things on and yes, Eri missed you Kim; she must have been keen on a bit of support!

Left home at 06:30 with Gary; met up with Wayne at Maclean; a good coffee and then off to round up Peter at Alstonville.

Straight up the Hwy, past the GC and Brisvegas and onto the Ettamogah Pub for a refreshing embibement. There had been plenty of traffic and it was a tad warm.

Across to Buderim where Wayne got his work done and then back into the village for an 'all day brekkie'.

Great service at both Maclean and Buderim coffee shops; the staff were excellent and very friendly. Not sure if my T-shirt had anything to do with it; with its printed message, "Give me my coffee and no one will get hurt!", widely displayed across the front.

From Buderim we zig-zagged up and along the hills behind the SC to Boreen Point; great views, great roads. 

Settled into the Apollonian Hotel and took on some more refreshing embibement and shared some tall tales but true, when Mac arrived from Noosaville. Make a mental note to self: Self - A good pub and accommodation for any future explorers up this way!

We discussed some rough details for the "Mac-ride" 9-10April and sadly we had to part; Mac back home and us off northwest to Kandanga and Imbil for the night at the railway Hotel - the only one in town!

Did I tell you Imbil is a small village? Someone in our group (who shall remain nameless), all fired up after the days great riding/chasing, cruised straight on through town; so we waited on the far side of the village for the Red Duke to come back!

Checked into our rooms; some precursory glances over our machines, to make sure they're ready for tomorrow and then it was into the bar to meet the locals - have to be sociable you know! 

Honey and I slept well and were oblivious to the cavorting and carryings-on of the locals as the pub closed for the evening.

Up and at 'em about 06:00; all packed, loaded and ready to go while the cheeky lady next door was warming up the grill for breakfast. Some more big brekkies ordered and mostly sunk - she stopped three of us; then it was off south to the GC and pick Eri up.

Thanks to Dave O for sending us a great little route down from Kenilworth, following the Mary River Valley and up a great yarma; well a nice little one anyway; great views out across the valley. Wayne was a little sore coz he couldn't stand while ascending - sports tourers do have their limitations. Took pity on him a bit though (sometimes) and cut down on the gay Italian espresso machine comments.

The scenery was excellent, the weather brilliant (just like home - thought I'd get in with that one, before some cane toad makes a comment).

Back into the traffic and battled on past Brisvegas again. Damn full time job keeping an eye for silly tin-top drivers and their evil ways; speed cameras and any suspiciously parked vehicles with tinted windows. Where's the fun gone?

Left the lads at Oxen-whatever to get lunch and fuel, while I continued on down to Palm Beach to pick Eri up. Guess who got lost coming back? The trip down and back, plus several unscheduled detours cost us an hour and a half. Bugger!

Reunited (well for five minutes anyway) the team headed off to Mt Tambourine. Lost the Duke at the first roundabout and sadly never saw Wayne again for the rest of the day. He went haring off on a different direction, chasing three other similar coloured GSs. Fair dinkum, what's the odds? Peter, Gary and I joined the procession of day trippers up over Mount Tambourine and into Canungra for a late lunch. By the time we got news from Wayne, it was getting late and he would be another 90 mins to catch up. Sadly we had to bid each other farewell for the day. Wayne headed south and we scooted up the hill to O'Reillys in the Lamington NP. Most of the traffic had gone up for the day, so we had an exhilarating run up through the twistys. Eri was quite and light and helped make cornering a breeze, as we chased Peter and Gary up the steep climb. Once at the top, a short wander around and a bit of parrot feeding, before a coffee, yarn and then getting booted and spurred for the return home - sadly.

A quick run down the hill; dropped Eri off and then we headed southbound for home.

Peter invited us to his place for a coffee and so at the back of Byron, along the Luckrow ridge, we speared off the highway at Newrybar and weaved a track through the old dairy farm hills on narrow roads typical in the area; under tree canopies, as the sun was down over the horizon, we enjoyed last light. Peter put on a great coffee for Gary and I and we relived past glories and the tales of the day. Skid lids back on at about 20:30 and it was over to Sam's to bang on the door while loudly announcing "Police"!

Left Sam's about 21:45 and after a little rain for 30 kms or so through Tabbimobil forest, Gary and I split up at South Grafton. I was opening the garage door to put Honey away at 23:00. 1260 odd k's completed.

Another great weekend. Memories of the days with good friends and great country rolled through my mind, as I tucked Honey in for the night.

Until next time....

Keep smiling

Paul Mex

02 6640 1068 - answers not always guaranteed!

Life looks better from inside a helmet