It was quite a cool day today, 13 riders today, ready to be put through their pacers by todays Ride Leader, Shrek. We started with 9 riders, with Halfway Dave promising to complete at least half the trip. We headed straight down the OPH, taking the Picton Rd exit where there was a HWP man hiding in the bush’s just before the exit.
We travelled down Mt Kembla, got back onto the Hwy to the Fowlers Rd exit, took Marshall Mt Rd, headed through Caulderwood, and then up Mac Pass to Robertson’s Sunrise Bakery, where we were greeted by the South Coast contingent, Casper, Avachat, Craig Carfoot and Peter Simpson. After a leisurely morning tea, Bullfrog and Halfway Dave both passed on their goodbyes and Christmas wishes to all, before we moved onto our lunchstop, Wingello. Tim didn’t make it to Wingello, Unfortunately he had been called to sort out a work issue, and had to go, we hadn’t seen Tim for many months, turns out he had an accident on the Goldwing, somewhere up near Saddleback, where he slipped the back wheel wide on a corner and damaged the bike and his wrist, he said he was a bit rusty today, with a sore wrist, at least the goldwing is all nicely fixed, back to its former glory. It was also great to catch up with the south Coast guys again, while we chewed the fat over lunch, and introduced Shane Orr, and Daine, who hadn’t meet any of them before.
After lunch, it was back some of the way we came after another round of goodbyes and Merry Christmas wishes, with the South Coast guys heading straight down to the KV road, while Shrek lead the rest if us home, the long way at every turn, we went via East Bowral, Old South Rd, the Y towns, Thirlmere, Picton, Douglas Park, Appin and up the OPH back to Heathcote, where it was round 3 of goodbyes and Merry Christmas wishes, Thanks everyone of those 13 riders that attended today, and of course to our ride leader Shrek, for all 355 km covered from Heathcote and back to Heathcote, and our TEC for the the day, Red Williams.
Last of all, I would like to wish every Ulysses member, including their better, not so disgraceful halfves, a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, from my wife Louise and I.
The Colonel
