TRAVEL FEATURE - AUSTRALIA PHIL LALOR
MASTERCLASS
A regular bunch of mates , tied by occupation and a passion for motorcycling . Individually the passion for motorcycling started at very differing times but has been a shared interest since an ‘ Outback Odyssey ’ in late 2014 . Every year since there has been a gathering of the ‘ Orange Nuttas ’ – orange you say , must all be KTM riders ? Nope , orange is the colour that binds us and is the colour of the organisation we all work for .
Since that ‘ Outback Odyssey ’ in 2014 , the Orange Nuttas have contributed immensely to the motorcycling economy . Amongst the six of us there have been multiple new bike purchases and the gear that must go along with each bike , as well as the adventure equipment ; the lightweight cooking gear , the sleeping bags , the tents , the straps , the boots , the cameras , the adventure suits , the freezedried foods and of course the odd refreshing beverage shared over tales tall and sometimes true .
The annual gatherings have taken us to many locations – outback Queensland , NSW and Victorian High Country and the North Coast . While debate will continue to rage over ‘ adventure riding ’, for us an adventure is riding with a group of mates , enjoying the opportunity to catch up , seeing parts of the country not necessarily seen before , finding great country pubs , sitting around a campfire , and extending ourselves outside our comfort zones from time to time .
With the idea of stretching ourselves and learning some new skills , the concept for ‘ Masterclass ’ was born . A 7-day ride starting in Walcha , travelling through the Barrington Tops to Wollombi , then to the Blue Mountains and then on to a 1300-acre property near Lithgow . Thirteen hundred acres providing an opportunity for each Nutta to
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