I spotted his new Mean Streak in the parking lot as I walked into Kirrawee Macca's at 8:45.
He was finishing breakfast as I walked up and said G'day.

After a few brief words I grabbed a coffee and sat down to wait the arrival of the other 2, BEAR and Benixau.
Darklord and I chatted about the new wheels (his and mine) for a while before BEAR arrived. I thought to
check my mobile phone at this point and there was an SMS from Ben - "in no fit state to ride, sorry, must
give it a miss" - hope he just means he tied one on on Friday night being young and ... well, young.

Time to mount up and head for Bulli Tops to meet the other 2, Geeman and Steve the Flying Pom.

We were a tad late getting to Bulli and pulled in to the carpark to find Geeman and Steve waiting for us.











After suitably examining the Mean Streak it was time to remount and head down to Albion Park and a refuel. I also took the opportunity to tweak the tyre pressures, I was about to do some hard cornering.



We saddled up and headed for the base of Macquarie Pass. I pulled over near Lothlorien for a quick photo.





I suggested to Steve he might like to go first.
"No, I'm going to be good" he said.
"Well don't complain I'm holding you up then" I replied.
"No no" he said "I'll ride the tail"

We pulled out onto the road and I started building revs. As the road started to climb I opened the taps on
the GV650, through the first right-left pair, through the second, here's the pair where the biker went over
the edge last time, he must have really been moving because at semi-sensible speed its an easy couplet to navigate.

By this stage I've lost sight of the group in my mirrors, lets see if I can get far enough in front this
time to get a pic of them riding at the top. Through the S's. Right sweeper, left. One hairpin, two, three,
the really nasty left-hander. Thru some more sweeping S's and the road opens out, here's the straight, brake hard, stop, dismount, camera, yes, here they come.





I walk over to Steve, "Hey, I didn't say I was going to be good!" He gives me a thumbs up.
OK, on to the pie shop.







After a bite to eat, a loo break, and a crude analysis of the ride up the pass its on to Kiama via
Jamberoo.



The road is narrow and has some tight turns.





As usual I lose sight of the tail. About half-way down we come across a workman holding up traffic and
stop. Darklord and Geeman are behind me, "I think we've lost someone" says Geeman - there's no sign of BEAR or Steve.
We turn around while the workman holds the traffic and head back. About a kilometre up the road we meet BEAR and Steve coming down. Quick turn around in a suitable turn-off and we catch them up and all pull over.

Turns out BEAR has had a small spill. He's OK but the GV250 has bent handlebars and has lost a mirror.
There is also some minor damage to the righthand footboard and the right hand crash bar is a little out of
place - good thing he had them. Also a good thing he was wearing armour.
Surprisingly there are very few scratches on the rest of the bike - a soft landing.

BEAR locks the steering, I hold the forks, Steve hangs onto the left side handlebar while Darklord heaves
on the right. After a couple of iterations checking the alignment between takes we get the bars somewhere near where they are supposed to be. Its just as far up the road as it is to continue down so we suggest BEAR goes first at whatever speed he is comfortable with and see how the bike handles so he can decide whether to continue or head for home.

We once again reach the workman and turning the corner find out what is going on - a mobile crane has
attempted to recover a crashed car from the side of the road where it has gone over the edge and in turn
has overbalanced and is up on the left side set of wheels.

Seems the little Hyo cruiser is made of tough stuff because we get to the T-intersection at the bottom and
BEAR says "Its OK, lets continue on".



We turn right and head for Kiama and lunch.
"Lunch?" says Geeman, "I just had 2 pies at the pie shop, wasn't that lunch?"
He manages to choke down some Subway at Kiama while the rest of us dine on fish and chips.



From there its on past Gerringong



to Berry and across to Kangaroo Valley - another narrow winding road which would be great if it were one
way and we didn't have to slow right down at every blind corner to watch for oncoming cages that want to
take the whole road.









We reach Kangaroo Valley and the historic Hampden Bridge.



From there its on to Fitzroy Reservoir for a pit stop.



There is no sailing today but often the local sailing club is out in force



A quick blast from there to Bowral (Birthplace of Australia's greatest cricket batsman, Don Bradman) to
refuel and then onto the Southern Freeway to head for home.

On the freeway Darklord and Geeman blast past me. I accelerate but decide I'd rather keep my license and
back off somewhat.
I'm still passing traffic but Darklord and Geeman are disappearing into the distance. BEAR stays with me
and Steve falls back a little, he must really want ot protect his license.

At the next on-ramp we are joined by a large group of Harley's - at least 60. Probably due to the recent
bikie gang troubles none are wearing colours so I don't know which club they are. I gradually work my way
to the front of the pack (they are in the left lane, BEAR and I are in the passing lane).

I see Steve's distinctive dual headlight in the mirror at one point, he's still back there.

There is one bike in front of me (I'm not sure it was part of the pack) that insists on riding in the
middle of the lane and periodically drifting from side to side. Takes a long time till an opening presents itself and I take it. Seems it woke the guy up as BEAR also manages to slip past and we accelerate away from the pack.

BEAR wants to be home by 17:00 so I once again roll on the throttle and try and make up some lost time.

Onto the M5 then right onto Heathcote Rd - 16:30 - BEAR's going to be a little late.

Across Woranora River, climb up to Engadine, left onto the Prince's Highway, right onto the Bypass, right
onto President Ave, not far now. BEAR peals off when we reach his turn - about 15 minutes late, not too
shabby.