Dan and I (yeah, there were only 2 of us) headed off in the general direction of Tasmania. We left about 10.00 am (in heavy rain) and made our way to Werris Creek for the night, staying at a hotel.

SATURDAY (March 4, 2006)

We headed for Gundagai where we stayed in a lovely riverside Caravan Park.  Nice ride on country roads. I did my usual trick and ran out of fuel about 5 km out of a town. Dan headed in to get fuel for me and while he was gone a local farmer came over and offered me some fuel.

Stopped for lunch in Sofala

SUNDAY (March 5, 2006)

Best ride of the trip, over Snowy River highway. Stayed in Lakes Entrance.

Pics taken on the way up the Snowy River Hwy

MONDAY (March 6, 2006) 

Headed into Melbourne. I took a detour to Cora Lynn (where I spent a few years in my childhood) to find the place where I lived while Dan headed straight to the Ferry Terminal. I spent about one and a half hours wandering around Cora Lynn yet still arrived at the terminal just after Dan who had spent that time being lost.

We hung around the terminal for a fair while before they let us in for security checks. Then we waited on the wharf for an hour or so before we loaded the bikes and headed up for dinner and a few drinks. Got very rough on the way to Tasmania so I was glad I had a cabin to sleep in while Dan toughed it out in the seats.

Pictures (Click on picture to view all Monday's Pictures)

TUESDAY (March 7, 2006)

Up at 5.30 am to check out the arrival in Tasmania. After breakfast we were called down to our bikes to get ready to disembark.  After we got off the boat we headed over to Ulverstone to register and set up camp.

Very windy in Ulverstone when we got there, I had trouble setting up the tent (big 4 man tent). After setting it up I headed into town to get some longer pegs and ropes to secure the tent in the wind, also I picked up some blankets at St. Vincent de Paul and some groceries. I was amazed when i arrived in the town's centre. Firstly just about every shop and building had some sort of welcome sign and all the locals (especially the children) would greet all the Ulyssians very warmly.

(Click on picture to view welcome pictures)

After fixing the tent and finding Dan to tell him where I was going (this turned out to be the last time I saw him). I headed back to Devonport to pick up Sharyn from the airport around 3.00 pm. She arrived at 4.00 pm tired from travelling on 3 planes and we rode back to Ulverstone. After settling her into the tent we went to the local pizza place for dinner and had an early night.

Before dinner we had phoned Dan (he wasn't at his tent) to tell him we intended to travel to Stanley on Wednesday and invited him to come. The next morning I saw him heading back from the showers just before we went, but when I went over to tell him we were leaving he wasn't there. I phoned him, no answer. When we got back from Stanley Wednesday night I went over to his tent but it had gone. A neighbour told me he thought he had headed for Hobart. I phoned him a few times over the next week, but still no answer, and I didn't see him on the boat on Monday night so I hope he got home ok.

(Click on picture for full sized view)

WEDNESDAY (March 8, 2006)

Got up early and headed towards Stanley on the north coast stopping in Burnie, Somerset, Wynard, Boat Harbour, Sister's Creek and finally Stanley. We ran into the official organised ride to Stanley and met a couple who I'd first met at the Geelong AGM. They'd admired my VTX and told me they went straight home after Geelong and bought one. I guess I'd make a good salesman :)

Returned home from Stanley and had baked spuds for dinner at the AGM site and went to bed early.

(Click on picture to see Wednesday's pictures)

THURSDAY (March 9, 2006)

Up early again, destination for today is Port Arthur. Stopped in Devonport for breakfast and took some pictures of the Spirit of Tasmania (the ferry I came over in).  We stopped in nearly every town on the way to Hobart, including Deloraine, Oatlands and  Kempton. Had afternoon tea in Hobart and headed over to Port Arthur to stay in a motel. We were amazed that even though we were on the other side of the island we still got a free breakfast the next morning because we were Ulyssians.

(Click on picture to see Thursday's pictures)

FRIDAY (March 10, 2006)

Up early and toured the Port Arthur Historic Site. Left about 10.30 am and headed for Richmond. Later we stopped in Campbell Town and a few other places and didn't make it back to Ulverstone in time for the dinner. We ended up having pizza again and having another early night. By this time we're really starting to get buggered from the travelling, looking forward to the Parade tomorrow and a light day (riding wise).

(Click on picture to see Friday's pictures)

SATURDAY (March 11, 2006)

Headed over the the marshalling point for the parade and enjoyed lining up on the football ground. Plenty of bikes to check out and characters to talk to. Parade turns out to be amazing, the locals turned out in droves (The Mayor of Ulverstone was quoted in Monday's paper saying there were 10,000 people watching the parade).

When we arrived in Anzac Park for the Official Opening Ceremony the public followed us in so it turned out to be a great opportunity to thank the locals for their amazing hospitality. We had young children sitting on our bikes and people chatting to us. The highlight for me was a young fellow sitting on my bike revving the engine (sounded great with the new pipes), we had dozens of kids getting their photos taken sitting on my bike, I had a ball.

We hadn't realised the ceremony had started because the PA system was pretty ordinary, but we headed over to watch and listen. After some very long speeches we headed off back to the AGM site to check out the trade displays and the bikes.

.

(Click on picture to see Parade pictures)

Unfortunately most of the traders had already closed down, so Sharyn and I headed to Penguin for a look around. When we got back I had a cuppa while Sharyn had a rest and took a few photos around the site. I've included some pictures from the North West Coast Branch, Tasmania of the site with mine.

(Click on picture to see Penguin and site pictures)

We headed over to the main tent for the Saturday dinner. Fay and Phil Johnston saved seats for us so we spent the evening with the Coffs Coast Group. They're all pretty excited about next year.

 (Click on picture to see Saturday Night pictures)

SUNDAY (March 12, 2006)

Up early again for a big day. We headed to the Tamar Valley which is around the river leading to Launceston. We visited Exeter, Beaconsfield, Yorktown, Greens Beach, Bell Bay, George Town, Low Head, Lefroy, Pipers River, Lower Marsh, Turners Marsh, Launceston, Westbury and Deloraine (again). Very big day, we might have been a bit optimistic trying to pack in such a big day at this stage of the trip, but we did it! We were determined to see as much of Tasmania as we could.

 (Click on picture to see Sunday pictures)

MONDAY (March 13, 2006)

Up early to pack and get Sharyn to her plane. It had started raining in the middle of the night so it wasn't much fun packing up in the rain. Got Sharyn to the plane in plenty of time and headed back to pack up the tent. Patchy rain still so packed it up wet (We were supposed to be out of the showground by 10.00 am, as it was I finished about 10.45 am and was the third last to leave).

After a cuppa in Ulverstone I headed to Latrobe to look around, then to Sheffield.

Then I went to the ferry terminal and waited a few hours with around 800 other Ulyssians before boarding the ferry and saying goodbye to Tasmania.

Another very crossing so once again I was glad I could head up to my cabin and sleep through it.

TUESDAY (March 14, 2006)

Still no sign of Dan, so after disembarking from the ferry I headed towards Bendigo, having breakfast in Kyneton. Visited Bendigo (I lived there for 14 years and it's Sharyn's home town) I headed to Inglewood (Vic), where I lived for 3 years, visited Kingower (a tiny country place where I started playing cricket) and headed to Deniliquin to stay the night in a beautiful Caravan Park by the river. Went to the pub that was about 100 metres away and spent a good night with the publican and his girlfriend (the only people in the pub), pizza for dinner again.

WEDNESDAY (March 15, 2006)

Raining again as I get up, delayed start until around 9.30 am. Deniliquin hasn't had rain for 6 months but it decides to rain while I'm here. Rode to Lake Cargelligo to stay the night. Once again, just after I set up my tent it starts raining. Hasn't rained here for 6 months and no decent rain for 5 years. It must be following me. 

THURSDAY (March 16, 2006)

Wake up and it's still raining. It's 970 km to home and I'd like to get there tonight. Finally get away around 9.00 am. End up riding through Ebor and Nymboida in the dark, but get home at 8.30 pm.

All in all I had a wonderful time at the 2006 AGM. The hosts did a great job and our only complaint about the whole event was the ordinary amenities at the AGM site. The locals were amazing with their hospitality, it was very nice to have little children seeking us out in the street to say hello and every shop or cafe we went into welcomed us to Tasmania, every petrol station someone came out to have a chat while I filled up the bike. Not only in Ulverstone, but all over Tasmania.

Everyone I have spoken to who was there agrees that the parade was definitely the best they've ever seen.

The newspapers had articles every day about the event. Here are some photos taken by the North West Coast Branch.

I hope you enjoyed my report of the 2006 AGM

Cheers,

Jim