Unfortunately, Twin 1, Errol (aka Graeme from ACD/PIWYR), had been in Brisbane for most of the week and Mrs Errol had a swag of chores line up for him for the weekend - scratch Twin 1.

The Bureau of Meteorology (aka BoM) was predicting a few showers for Sunday so I left it to a last minute decision to call the ride.

At 0630 there was blue sky above, by 0745 the grey had returned.



Twin 2, Masterminder (aka Muzz from ACD/PIWYR), beat me to the punch. Muzz didn't like the look of the leaden clouds as far as he could see in all directions, he thought BoM was going to be right - scratch Twin 2. Oh well, still leaves one Ozmigo.

0800 I started calling the roll:

To paraphrase, "Are you ready Jon, Rick, Andi ? Alright fellers (and gal), lets go"

Andi had already contacted Dean and he was in. Dave, Andi's father, was also coming for lunch. Jon's HD friend had also baled (at about 0630 much to Jon's disgust - "just let me sleep")

So, green light

I had planned to take the GV650 despite the very slow fuel leak seeping from the rear seem - Andi is looking for a windscreen and I wanted to let her evaluate the stock Hyo sportscreen. Alas, when I kicked the bike over I got two short bursts of fire and then nothing - almost like no gas - multiple crankings saw the battery tire. Guess someone was trying to tell me it wasn't a good idea. Time for Plan B, fire up the GT250. This meant I needed to refill the tank - 15 minutes behind schedule and NO way I can make it up in traffic - I don't lane split.

I pulled in to Thornleigh Maccas behind a bunch of other bikes, circled the carpark (the wrong way ), and did not see the Banana Bus. Odd, I'm 15 minutes late and he lives quite near. I pull in next to a Yamaha FJR1300. I take a look around, still can't see the Banana Bus. One of the bikers from the group that rode in ahead of me comes over and asks about the GT, what did I think of it. We chatted for a few minutes, then the Yammy owner came back and we discussed the merits of equally adjusted front forks ( his mech had replaced the seals in one tube and had not reset the damp and rebound adjusters so the bike was all out of shape, he broke out a spanner while we talked and corrected the settings).

Finally a van moved and I spotted the yellow Harley, shortly after I spotted Jon wandering around looking for me. 0945 - if we hustle we can still get there on time - this means the freeway and taking the learner speed limit with a little poetic license. I lead the way, since I figure its better to break the speed limit by an amount I'm comfortable with than to travel at the speed of Yellow.



We pull out onto Pennant Hills Rd, I slam my right wrist down hard and start changing gear in the stratosphere, at least it gives the 1600cc WideGlide a little to think about. Off the end of Pennant Hills Rd and onto the F3, through the 80kph zone and into the 110. I run the GT up to 100, I figure this is a fair compromise, and start looking for white and blue Fords. I hold 100 up the big hill, accelerating to 110 to overtake a slowing car, always with the Banana Bus large in my mirrors.

The speed floats around 100 till we reach the construction zone and I back off to roughly the 80 kph workzone speed limit. Out the other side and its back to 100ish for the run down to the Hawksbury River bridge, then its up the other side into the 100 zone, suits me fine. Through the 100 zone and back into 110 territory the speed starts to vary a little, we are still on target. Down to Mooney Mooney bridge picking up speed for the steep climb up the other side, check the windsock, good no crosswind, go for it!

Check my speed for the speed camera, OK, good thing they are not smart enough yet to register L plates Turn off at the Ourimbah dual roundabouts, duck down Burns Rd under the railway and onto Enterprise Drive, accelerate up to the posted 90, that big yellow WideGlide is still right behind, rider feet akimbo. We turn right onto Berkley Rd to cut across to Wyong Rd where we turn right. Then turn left onto the Central Coast Hwy for the run down to The Entrance. We pull into The Entrance Hotel carpark at approx 1100 almost bang on time. Andi, Dave, Dean, and his young son Tristan are there waiting. We park and dismount. Intros all round.







Andi has #13



Time to have something to drink, sit down and shoot the breeze.

Father and daughter:



Father and son:



Then its lunchtime, may as well stay where we are. A bunch of Harely exhausts thunder into the car park, some turn out to be people Andi and Dave know.

Lunch over Dave can't stay, and Dean has a car to fix so we decide to all ride up the coast to Swansea. Dave's Boulevard roars off with the GVs and the Banana Bus in pursuit. The poor little 250 doesn't have the torque to do spur of the moment overtaking moves like the others, I need more of a run up so I'm left a few cars back from the pack - even from this far back I can still hear Dean's LC Super Slashers, they are even drowning out Jon's HD exhaust.

We pull over near Belmont, Andi points out that my little yellow mudflap, the bane of my existance, has folded up against the back wheel and is quietly shredding itself to pieces against the tyre. Dave is to leave us here but suggests we all ride around the top of the lakes to Speers Point where we can have a final refreshment before Dean and Andi head north and Jon and I head south.









As you can see the weather has not changed much all day and we are still all dry. After a drink we say our farewells and head our separate ways.

Jon takes the lead despite his pleasure in finding that the Banana Bus uses far less fuel when driven nearer learner legal speeds and in a more learner friendly pattern. We hit the F3 again and wind up to 100 increasing to 110+ to overtake slower vehicles. While cruising at 100 we are overtaken by a blue and white - either my mudflap is sucked up out of sight or they don't care as they sail past.



Near Hornsby we hit a traffic snarl and abandon the freeway in favour of the old highway - a slight improvement. Back to Jon's for a coffee to see me home and a natter, then it on the road again heading for home. Refuel the bike again at my local, 11.5 litres for the day - 350km, all good. Home about 1930.

My little yellow friend hung in there and a little over 1/2 of him made it home...