After a small amount of confusion (where did the bloody road go???) I pull up outside Errol's at 08:55, pretty good timing if I say so myself. Errol is ready to go and a quick wave to Mrs Errol and we are off to MasterMinder's. A welcome coffee and cake at MM's, meet Mrs MM, admire the tree-trunk outdoor table and we hit the road about 09:20 headed for Kariong where we are to pick up the next members of our motely crew. Errol takes the lead, then me, with MM riding drag (its those pipes mate ). To my surprise Errol takes the freeway, we cruise along at 80-90kph (Errol isn't quite sure if I'm still sporting loonie plates, MM - "ya can't miss knowing from where I'm sitting") and arrive at Kariong at about 10:15 - Ted is waiting at the lights and throws a U-turn when he spots us, guess we were a tad late?



We meet Brian and Kim and their HD Custom 1200 with ScreamingEagle exhausts (OK MM I wont say anything about your exhausts again, ever)



and Ted and his HD 883 Skirtster/Sportster.



After a quick introduction and bike inspection its back on the road headed for out next port of call near Somersby and the last member of the crew, George (no not OBX, this one's a wee bit older at 80 years of young and a whole lot madder ) and his Trumpy 500.



For some reason we seem to pull up in two camps, the red corner:



and the blue corner:



With our crew complete we once again hit the road heading for our next stop at the Lagua Trading Post. We take the Wiseman's Ferry Rd then turn right onto George Downes Drive.



Following George Downes Dr we come across a good example of how not to take a corner even on an R1 and why narrow winding roads like these are dangerous.



There is no sign of the rider so we continue on our way to the Trading Post at Laguna for a drink stop.













Having refreshed and relieved ourselves we once again mount up and ride to Wollombi (the "Home of Dr Jurd's Jungle Juice") where we are to have lunch.



Here we find a sogasboard of bikes - everything from Hyo's (GV650's, GT650, and ours), thru Ducati's, the usual Japanese assortment, to a number of HD's including an 09 NightRod - and guess what, nobody took any pictures Lunch is hamburgers and chips, without doubt the largest burgers I've seen for a very long time.



We have reached the end of the ride...







...so its time to head home. We say goodby to George and Ted who roar off up the road, George's elbows flapping in the breeze. Brian and Kim accompany us back to the gas stop where we first met George, along the way we stop at the Trading Post for Errol to top up his gas tank.



We say goodbye to Brian and Kim and head for Mt White and home. We stop at Hawksbury River bridge for one last photo stop.









MM takes the freeway home while Errol and I continue along the old highway to Hornsby where I bid Errol goodbye and head for Dog's Country in the Sutherland Shire. Round trip - 329 km. Great trip, thanks to all concerned.