SUFFER! SUFFER! SUFFER!
What a absolute, fantastic, ball snappin weekend!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Have ya been to the Atherton Tablelands lately?, no! well ya don't know what ya
missin.
Just hang on while I get my breath back.
Thats better I've composed myself somewhat so now I can tell you all what you
missed out on.
Thursday morning,7am, Trish and I hit the road to Townsville on the Phantom. We
have travelled about 750 meters and the Phantom starts to imitate a kangaroo
literaly hopping down the road. This lasted for some distance before it calmed
down and acted like a trike again and decisions were made.I decided to give her
the benifit of the doubt and quietly whispered that we would return home if she
did it again. She heard me and never missed another beat all the way to
Townsville where we overnighted with family. Friday saw us on the road again at
7am heading to Ingham where we had a breakfast appointment with Tony the
Secilian. Off again at about 10am this time it was straight to Innisfail where
we fueled up and headed up the Palmiston Highway. Now this is something to see
if ya haven't already, I have a few times but it never ceases to amaise me with
it beauty. We arrived at Atherton around 1.30pm and booked into the Caravan Park
then headed off to get some groceries.
Saturday we headed off early and checked out the Crystal Caves gem shop before
meeting up with Bubba (Colin Schreiber) and Peacock Bob (Bob Ramsay)and his wife
Dianne.
We are off sight seeing, Herberton was the first stop followed by Ravenshoe then
the Chocolate & Chees factory, The Crater and Lake Eachem.
Yes, The Crater, here we again kangarooed into the car park with the same
problem we had leaving Mackay. I was so pissed off with the trike I just
wandered off and looked at the sights. When we returned I gave the trike a try
and bugger me if it didn't fire up and no more problems. (Gremlins)
We dinned at the Ramsays place on Saturday night and of course we were spoilt, T
bone steaks, Chicken Wings, Indian chicken curry and Vegs washed down with a
bottle or two of wine.
Sunsay Morning we headed to the markets at Tolga before meeting Bob and Steve at
the Tolga Woodworks. Steve is a new triker from up North and rides the latest
Rewaco HS4 IRS trike blue in colour.
We headed off to Mareba to meet up with Glenn Bedwell and Francis but they never
showed, we found out later that Murphy's law played a hand and he broke a
throttle cable and had to be taken home by RACQ. Bubba was waiting for us at Mt
Malloy and we all headed to Port Douglas.Not to beaten the Bedwells hopped into
a flash Audie car and met us at Port Douglas where we caught up for a coffee and
a chat before heading off to Ellis Beach for the same leaving Bubba at Douglas.
At Ellis Beach we said goodbye to Glenn, Francis and Steve as they were heading
to Cairns and we headed up the Kuranda Range back to Mareeba and then to
Atherton. Damn! that was a great days ride and sight seeing.
Sunday night we dinned at the Barron Vally Hotel where we discussed our 2010
ride location which will be LONGREACH.
At this discussion a club motto was greated and it was adopted.
Club Motto "Stand up and be counted or bend over and be mounted"
or something similar.
Monday 6am, pitch black, we headed for home. Took the wrong turn at Malanda and
ended up on the Gillies range, not happy Jan.
Great trip home except for the two idiots who crossed onto our side of the road
and the rain between Innisfail and Ingham. We arrived home at 5.40pm and had
travelled 1900k's for the weekend.
Thank to Bob, Dianne, Steve, Colin, Glenn, Francis and Trish.
I must admit I felt for Bob when only one of the original crew made the effort
to attend this years ride. Maybe we will get more next year seeing it's a little
closer to home.
"Keep Ya Motor Runnin"
Pilch