TRAVERSE 27
prelude to the day? We all hope so, it’ s a great ride in great country. It’ s a spectacular sight, so many bikes on such a tight track.
A main road follows before we take to a smaller bituminised lane. It’ s great riding, a good mix of conditions, every rider has a grin like a Cheshire Cat.
The bitumen continues until we reach the town of Oberon, where we’ ll wait for the more‘ hardcore’ riders to come in. The riding has opened everyone up, there’ s no longer whispered conversations, everyone looks on at the bike admiring each and all. It’ s a friendly bunch and the comradery is coming through. It’ s a good day for a ride.
Back on the dirt, nothing serious, just country roads. The riding could be fast, it’ s corrugated yet comfortable, the many riders producing enough dust for a challenge, in fact it’ s like London fog. This is winter, why is there dust so thick?
A great mix of forest lined roads and farmland tracks lead us to the O’ Connell Hotel, a great place for lunch and more banter. Someone suggests that there’ s too many young people riding BMW’ s, there’ s laughter as someone replies,“ you’ re too old to ride a Suzuki”. It’ s the nature of the day, of this ride.
Amongst merriment we get back on the bikes and head back to the dirt. A great short road that leads back to the bitumen at the town of Rockley, perhaps an ominous name, for not too far back on the blacktop our Suzuki Australia donated bike begins to wiggle at the rear end, a puncture. The ride is
TRAVERSE 27