Now how do I put this, we bailed out a day early. And for that transgression, I was punished by riding the last 100ks of expressway home in pitch dark with only a front parker bulb working. The tail and brake lights were fine, the cause could be, WATER, even more WATER, roads destroyed by months of WATER, and a non-dialled-in set of shocks on roads only a mother would love. It's surprising how well you can see when you have to, happy some Cop didn't see me at this stupidity.BTW the toll of drowned bikes was substantially higher this time, Guess why. Fuck me there was a lot of rain, the only bit of gear that was dry was my boots. Till I was told in no uncertain terms, don't try this crossing with your feet up. He was right. My biggest error was thinking the short grass next to the muddy uphill track from the river might have more traction, err no to that. It also didn't help by turning the fuel off while watching the river hijinks and then trying said hill still with the taps off. There should be plenty of videos.
Bellingen 2022
- Thread starter 81Lav
- Start date
I forgot to add how great it was to see so many familiar faces from all over the Oz Laverda world. And especially Bruce and Naz and all involved for all the work to pull this off. I love talking Laverda shit with all involved. I might have a little lie down now. Tomorrow will be for drying my stuff out.
martymoose
Hero member
- Location
- Sydney, Australia
martymoose
Hero member
- Location
- Sydney, Australia
We hadn't been to Bello for 8 years, the place hasn't changed, there are just an extra million people there now. We used to line up all the bikes in front of the pub, we ended up parking in the handicap spot, well, I was feeling very handicapped.....
After 3 hours sleep the night before, and a quick 500 km up the freeway before lunch, a burger and a beer where needed before we headed out to Bruce's farm. "You lead", what me? Fuck, I've been there 3 times before, but usually with one of the Queenslanders leading. Ok off we go. That road in my memory was fast and furious, now it was terrifying. Pot holes, washouts, slippery bridges, made it without loosing anyone, ah, no, some where relying on google maps, big mistake... I get there and Horny is trying his best to herd us down the drive. I needed a moment to catch my breath. Chat later, get in the river, was the call from Brett. Why was I leading? Oh fuck fuck fuckity fuck!
Riding around Oz is easy, crossing the Kalang River, on the other hand. I get to within a bees dick of the other bank, and Marmalade cries enough. Clutch overheated, pipes and ignition full of water, but we are still upright, just.
TC comes past me, only to bin it half way up the bank. This is going to get interesting.
After 3 hours sleep the night before, and a quick 500 km up the freeway before lunch, a burger and a beer where needed before we headed out to Bruce's farm. "You lead", what me? Fuck, I've been there 3 times before, but usually with one of the Queenslanders leading. Ok off we go. That road in my memory was fast and furious, now it was terrifying. Pot holes, washouts, slippery bridges, made it without loosing anyone, ah, no, some where relying on google maps, big mistake... I get there and Horny is trying his best to herd us down the drive. I needed a moment to catch my breath. Chat later, get in the river, was the call from Brett. Why was I leading? Oh fuck fuck fuckity fuck!
Riding around Oz is easy, crossing the Kalang River, on the other hand. I get to within a bees dick of the other bank, and Marmalade cries enough. Clutch overheated, pipes and ignition full of water, but we are still upright, just.
TC comes past me, only to bin it half way up the bank. This is going to get interesting.
martymoose
Hero member
- Location
- Sydney, Australia
Pull up to watch the others cross, some make it look easy, like Tom the wrecker, some you think it's going going to go tits up any second, like Batto on the RGA. I think there was 5 drownings.
The next challenge is the track up to the campsite, not sure how I didn't bin it, Crossed up all over the place.
A great night catching up with everyone, drinking way too many beers, and being kept awake all night by TC the DJ. An offer of a trailer ride back across the river was way too enticing, so we bailed.
Thanks Bruce and all the Queensland crew for organising, cooking, and setting up a memorable weekend.
Quote of the weekend, "beers not only for breakfast you know".
The next challenge is the track up to the campsite, not sure how I didn't bin it, Crossed up all over the place.
A great night catching up with everyone, drinking way too many beers, and being kept awake all night by TC the DJ. An offer of a trailer ride back across the river was way too enticing, so we bailed.
Thanks Bruce and all the Queensland crew for organising, cooking, and setting up a memorable weekend.
Quote of the weekend, "beers not only for breakfast you know".
martymoose
Hero member
- Location
- Sydney, Australia
Didn't see Serge, heard he only made it to tallangatta
Reunited Chris
Senior member
- Location
- Sydney
Sorry to hear of your plight Drikko, but welcome to the club, I've had the same for the past 7 years.
Your body gets used to situation and together with good cardiac advice conditions will ease in time. The important thing to do is to relieve pressure and relax a bit more. I still manage to get out on the bike almost daily (weather dependent) and at times teach the younger ones how to ride, hah hah. You'll still have good and not so good days, but hey that's life. Get out and enjoy the day.
Dizzy spells, well that could be possible due to the atrial fribulation but get checked out for vestibular vertigo, yes I got that too. Feels like getting pissed up to the eyeballs without drinking. Cheap thrills.
Reunited Chris
Senior member
- Location
- Sydney
Many thanks to Bruce and the Queensland guys for organizing a memorable enjoyable weekend, great to see all the Lav's assembled together,
all 38 of them and to meet up with old and new Laverdaphiles.
all 38 of them and to meet up with old and new Laverdaphiles.
I forgot to thank Steve and Leslie for the mass trailer tow over the river, with the risk of a bike drowning and ever wet boots before a 6-hour expressway ride home it was a thankful me who got on that queue, in my case only one bike tied on plus Steve B and Richard S plus me holding it upright. It was some ride in that trailer. BTW zero hero stuff from me, just dumb luck usually, EVERYBODY will have tails to tell from this ride. Again whoever saved my arse on that slippery grass, I could hear a woman's voice but couldn't tell who was pushing thanks a hell of a lot, I was in big trouble.
Chris was that you behind me with the high beams on, it took a while to come to that conclusion. I could see from the other car's headlights plus the reflective white lines on the expressway helped and the street lights in Sydney. Only a couple of times it was quite bad, riding into my unlite shed was a new one at the end. Would rather not repeat that experience.
sergioC
New member
- Location
- Melbourne, Australia
Pat:
I rode up with the others and got as far as Taralga, outside Goulburn, after 800kms of riding in poor weather, often torrential rain which made visibilty poor. I found out how rubbish my wet weather gear is, and ended up soaked and freezing. I bailed and went home, so 1650kms round trip to get nowhere and miss out. I was at each of the other three Bellingen rallies, so disappointed, but I was spent.
Reunited Chris
Senior member
- Location
- Sydney
Yes Vince, guilty as charged. tried to keep behind you most of the time, didn't want some clown to cut across in front of you and also thought I could shed some light on the road for you, noticed your reaction to the high beam so resorted back to dipped. Just trying to look after you Son.
We parted company when you turned off the Pacific Hwy.
Glad you got home OK.
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That wet and cold is so horrible, hypothermia can kill. Just enough foggy brain from that is not good. I should have stopped for more gear to wear heading to Walca, wet gloves and arms and didn't and arrived not in a good way. That hot shower was bliss. We are so dumb. Chris, it was a shock and I reacted with some rear brake light activations, and then the penny dropped, it was a good idea. The traffic was very good, it would have been a nightmare on the Monday end of the long weekend.
Legs
Hero member
- Location
- Adelaide Hills
Think you need a new nickname Vince, how about H triple D (Heroic Deeds Done Daily)?
Legs
Hero member
- Location
- Adelaide Hills
Really wished I was up to the trip to Bellingen; Ian and I had to satisfy ourselves with a ride out to Swan Reach on the Murray on a beautiful, 24 c day.
Yep, that was an amazing rally.
Thank you Bruce and Naz for putting that on and to the all the Queenslanders that made it possible.
As usual when so many Laverdarists get together there are many tales of bravery and heroic acts, but will leave those to another time.
As Marty said. I made it across the Kalang River just fine, then trying to get up and around the bank I see a patch that looks safer than the rest,
Only to have the Jota say no way and promptly lie down in the soft mud.
Worst casualty was the KTM adventure bike....
Poor Ash, after having his Laverda give up the ghost in Victoria he went back and got the KTM only to have it throw him off at the first sign of adventure.
Brett, Ash and many others worked on that KTM till about 11pm that night and finally got it going
Always carry a special KTM spark plug spanner it seems.
The food was great, lamb cutlets to die for and then a full roast, What a top night night, Simon and I kept the music going till about 4.30 when I think Brett canned it as he and Chris P where sleeping directly behind the speakers.
Anyway here are some pics.
Thank you Bruce and Naz for putting that on and to the all the Queenslanders that made it possible.
As usual when so many Laverdarists get together there are many tales of bravery and heroic acts, but will leave those to another time.
As Marty said. I made it across the Kalang River just fine, then trying to get up and around the bank I see a patch that looks safer than the rest,
Only to have the Jota say no way and promptly lie down in the soft mud.
Worst casualty was the KTM adventure bike....
Poor Ash, after having his Laverda give up the ghost in Victoria he went back and got the KTM only to have it throw him off at the first sign of adventure.
Brett, Ash and many others worked on that KTM till about 11pm that night and finally got it going
Always carry a special KTM spark plug spanner it seems.
The food was great, lamb cutlets to die for and then a full roast, What a top night night, Simon and I kept the music going till about 4.30 when I think Brett canned it as he and Chris P where sleeping directly behind the speakers.
Anyway here are some pics.
