Hi all,

As raised by TacKler ( https://www.k100-forum.com/t18115-southern-ride-23 ) I indicated I'd be happy to organise a Southern Ride for next year.

With some assent and no dissent, my suggestion of 4th and 5th March will be the basis of planning.

I'll contact Walwa Hotel with a view to meeting there again, but failing that I'm sure I can find something somewhere that won't require a tent if you don't want it.

Doubtless there will be associated plans for those who have a liking for the long cut and various meet-ups along the way. I'll leave my planning to the nights of Friday 3 and Saturday 4 and join in other plans where I can.

Any further inputs and suggestions are welcome. (Internationals would be especially welcome.)

Bill

Definitely interested.  I probably have a bike available for any visiting OS visitors.

Al

Good to get a date out there Bill. Like many of us this year my riding trips have been pretty limited so that gives us a target to plan towards.

Maybe the waters will have subsided by then.

Thanks

Bill! I'm definitely IN. (Of course, depending on issues like balance, mobility etc etc...)

Sounds good Bill. Count me in.
Cheers Nige

G'day Bill, Sorry count me out for this event. I have another commitment that clash with the proposed dates. Bugger. Cheers Tom

I'm in William thanks. Let me know if you are doing a recce at any stage.
RT

Is this an invite? This old yank would like to have a look around OZ.

caveman wrote:Is this an invite? This old yank would like to have a look around OZ.

Can't see why not.  

As long as we lock in the dates and Bill gives the thumbs up for the location.

caveman wrote:Is this an invite? This old yank would like to have a look around OZ.

You would be only too welcome. Now we just have to find you a bike and some accommodation.

Just confirming that I've booked us in to Walwa Hotel again. Under new ownership/management since last May.
Friday 3rd, Saturday 4th March.

I've provisionally booked us in for 10 people, on the basis of room sharing but not bed sharing. There are a couple of rooms with a double bed only if anyone wants to go solo.

Under the 'herding cats' principle, I know that people can't do a rock solid commitment at this early stage, but anyone who has an interest in coming, indications of interest and to the extent possible an indication of the likelihood of being able to actually join us would be welcome and helpful.

Thanks.

(I've sent caveman a PM expanding on the expressions of welcome already in this thread.)

Yes 

Well all,
I'm going to try to work this out. The timing is good for me I just completed a work project/commitment that was started as a year but with changes in scope of work and the pandemic it drug out for two years so I'm going to take some down time. I'm heading out to Montana to visit my daughter (she is due to have a baby the second week of December) and help out on the ranch for a month or so. Normally I get out on the bike for 6 to 8 weeks out of the year but the last two years i've only got out for a couple of weeks. It is time for me to get back to my normal!

Yes

Rick G wrote:

caveman wrote:Is this an invite? This old yank would like to have a look around OZ.

You would be only too welcome. Now we just have to find you a bike and some accommodation.

Any K forum member is welcome here in Bathurst.  My RT is probably available but not really suited to taller people.  I can guarantee that the fuel filter won't blow off mid ride.

Al

I would be only too happy to show you round some of the sights and a few nights accommodation but my extra ride is already reserved for one other international traveller.

Bill, I’m a Yes barring the usual contingencies at my age i.e. I’m still healthy enough to ride.

Cheers

Al, you forgot to mention that the owner of the said bike with a fuel filter problem also tried to steal your watch.

Stan wrote:Al, you forgot to mention that the owner of the said bike with a fuel filter problem also tried to steal your watch.

Count me in Bill
A double bed room would be fine.

To keep a running tally, I'll put a list here, and amend it as people indicate what's happening.

indian036 (me)
Rickmeister
Holister
RT
TacKler
caveman     
AL-58 + Marie
Gaz
smithy
Rick G
wicky
Matthew-Brisbane  + Grumpy
Pegasus

(I might have to contact and book the whole place out! And its not even December!)
I've booked the whole place and they have an emergency overflow room and space for tents if necessary.

OK, so we are now definitely over the official room capacity of the place. Given that we don't know who's circumstances might change, we won't get into who might need to bring a tent until much closer to the time. (I'll be the first to do so if its needed.)
There is also a riverside caravan park nearby which has some cabins. Problem is that its about a 1km walk back to your cabin after dinner and a few drinks at the pub.

So, this post, as amended from time to time, will be the authoritative list to save people having to troll through the whole topic to find whether the person you'd be happy to ride with, (or the person you want to avoid  ), will be along.

Bill

Better add me in then Bill don't want to miss it.

Hello Bill

When do you need conformation?
If I can make it fit in with work. I would like to do the ride

For the Queenslander / Northern NSW guys what would your plan be Thursday or Friday start ?

It will be AL-58 + Marie, leaving Friday for Friday night. Bunks available Thurs night in Bathurst for any heading down from further north.

Al

Matthew-Brisbane wrote:Hello Bill  

When do you need conformation?
If I can make it fit in with work. I would like to do the ride  

For the Queenslander / Northern NSW guys what would your plan be Thursday or Friday start ?  

Hi Matthew,

Ultimately, confirmation will be on the Friday night at Walwa.  

In the meantime I've put you in. Doubtless there will be pluses and minuses along the way between now and March. Just keep me up to date with any developments as they arise.

Bill

indian036 wrote:

Matthew-Brisbane wrote:Hello Bill  

When do you need conformation?
If I can make it fit in with work. I would like to do the ride  

For the Queenslander / Northern NSW guys what would your plan be Thursday or Friday start ?  

Hi Matthew,

Ultimately, confirmation will be on the Friday night at Walwa.  

In the meantime I've put you in. Doubtless there will be pluses and minuses along the way between now and March. Just keep me up to date with any developments as they arise.

Bill

Cheers Bill 
We are a bit short staff at work, and they can't find replacement staff 
and at the same time upper management complain that I have to many annual leave hours but can't afford me to have the time off  

Just had to looked up where Walwa is on the map as it sounded really familiar   

I had been in that part of the country when at the Army Apprentices' school and on numerous Kosciusko rally's    

Hopefully you're not looking at doing the Wee-jasper Road

I have bad memories coming back along that road from the BMW NSW touring club on New Year's Eve 2019

After a Wombat (pictured with the bike)  that hit me on the wrong side of the road  

PS this is the bike that im still riding 
which just shows how good that the K series are

  

And the wombat?

Matthew-Brisbane wrote:
For the Queenslander / Northern NSW guys what would your plan be Thursday or Friday start ?  

This year we headed down on Thursday and stayed the night at the pub in Merriwa.  Usually I'll meet up with Rick first, then go from there.  Walabadah has a pie shop if you wish to avoid Tamworth.  

The overland route from Werris Creek was closed so it was down the NE Hwy all the way.  I arrived late due to my battery giving up the ghost.  The following day we caught up with the Newy Krew and visited the Dog on the Tucker Box and in that way.  

Return journey, the forum appears to enjoy invading the Globe Hotel at Rylstone from where it is about 800km to Brisbane.  There is always the possibility of a pub stop further west which we do on the RossKKo Run.  

I may have conned convinced Mick to come along as well.  

A nice time of year to travel and a good run because we kollect people on the way down through the New England, Bathurst and Young.  No rush to get there and Daveyson turned up as the local representative.  The pub does not open till mid arvo.

Dai wrote:And the wombat?

Those things are made from rocks so it probably just waddled off wondering what all the fuss was about

Rick G wrote:

Dai wrote:And the wombat?

Those things are made from rocks so it probably just waddled off wondering what all the fuss was about

The young bloke was from the township of Wombat which has a population around 200 and are all related to each other no branches on the family tree   

A Wombat just Eats, Roots, and Leaves 

He was definitely from Wombat as he was on the wrong side of the road and decide it was easier to drive over the top of me than be on his side.

Then he got in his car and left me stranded till Grump came from Canberra with a trailer to pick me up

Dai a Wombat shit square cubes and they can stack them on top of each other as well

I'm in.
Not sure if I'll take the K1100RS or the G650X Challenge.
I'm thinking about selling the RS.
It's getting a bit heavy to deal with due to my ongoing health problems.

Matthew-Brisbane wrote:Dai a Wombat shit square cubes and they can stack them on top of each other as well

I actually knew that! Nearest thing to a stupid wombat that we have is a badger. Just about the same size and mass and equally good at fetching you off a bike. I've had two close calls with them and 'close' is about as close as I want to get.

It's white tail deer around here.  My current cage is nick-named the "Deerslayer" since I have bagged two of the damn things in the past three years with it.  My lifetime automotive deer harvest is now five. 

My sister-in-law has the family record, two in one week with two different cars.  She got the second one with her husband's car while her car was in the collision shop.

Funny story, the Chinese restaurant in a neighboring town got busted a few years back for serving roadkill venison.  The health department raided the place and found two deer in the cooler while they were butchering a third.

Hello Bill 
To get the thread back on track  

So I'm a yes to for the ride + 1 Grumpy (from Canberra) is going to come along he on the forum but he a technology dinosaur  

I have a couple of question as I have not done the southern ride with the NSW crew before

1) So we make our own way to  Walwa for Friday night (Do I need to make a booking) 
2) Do we stay a Walwa on the Saturday night, or do we travel to another township?  (Do I need to make a booking) 
3) I assume on the Sunday we all start making our separate ways homes?

Matthew-Brisbane wrote:Hello Bill 
To get the thread back on track  

So I'm a yes to for the ride + 1 Grumpy (from Canberra) is going to come along he on the forum but he a technology dinosaur  

I have a couple of question as I have not done the southern ride with the NSW crew before

1) So we make our own way to  Walwa for Friday night (Do I need to make a booking) 
2) Do we stay a Walwa on the Saturday night, or do we travel to another township?  (Do I need to make a booking) 
3) I assume on the Sunday we all start making our separate ways homes?

Grumpy added to the list.

Technically, yes everyone makes their own way to Walwa for Friday night, but if it fits in with when you can get away from work etc., joining with others from parts North makes it a more pleasant ride. (That's the disadvantage of living here - I miss some of the good riding and good company between North and down this way.) Between forum posts and PMs, it always seems to work out well. Reach out (good current corporate jargon!) to anyone from up there and find out what's going on.
We stay at Walwa both nights. I'm liaising with the hotel, so people only need to keep me in the loop for any changes to plans for the Walwa nights, and no separate bookings are needed.
Making your separate ways home on Sunday is correct, but as with coming down people usually coordinate with each other for company on the road and any overnights. It all comes down to where people are going and any time constraints they have.

Note that some people are also known to prefer the scenic route, also known as the long cut, so if you're travelling with such people you may find yourself travelling an entirely unexpected route. Always good if you can manage it.
You'll also find you are unlikely to spend much time on a freeway. Efficient, but boring as I'm sure you know.

Bill

Cheers Bill 
Yes I will be doing a long cut on the way down 

Will probably leave on a Wednesday and stay to somewhere just north of Sydney  
Thursday I have wanted to go across Wiseman ferry as it has been years since I have been in that area than a right turn and run up the range towards Jenolan Caves and then cut down through the middle to Canberra 
Friday / Saturday with everyone  
Route home undecided

Hopefully I will be travelling with Tackler and meet up with Smithy and Sean along the way.
Last year we went Merrriwa then met up with the hunter crew at Bathurst then Young the next night for RT. We could make it a nice leisurely 3 days or two days with a bit of a push.
See what is happening after Christmas and new year is prolly best.

Rick G wrote:Hopefully I will be travelling with Tackler and meet up with Smithy and Sean along the way.
Last year we went Merrriwa then met up with the hunter crew at Bathurst then Young the next night for RT. We could make it a nice leisurely 3 days or two days with a bit of a push.
See what is happening after Christmas and new year is prolly best.

Does that mean I need to add Sean to the list, Rick?

Setting plans in concrete as this stage would be an exercise in futility and 'prolly best' avoided as wisely advised.    Plans will evolve and we'll deal with what comes when it comes. Good to have a basic idea, though, as is happening.

(Down side of setting a date this early is that you have to wait too long for it to come.)
Bill

Sean did say to me he wanted to come but was not at all sure so maybe we best leave it up to him.

Evening Bill and all,

I'd love to make this ride, but unfortunately can't commit until much closer to the date. There's a fair chance I'll be in Germany.
Best not include me on the list at this point.
If it turns I can do the ride but the rooms are taken I'll bring a tent along and even if I camp at the pub or nearby, that'll work. Publicans usually don't mind too much if you throw up a tent out the back or somewhere.
Sorry for any confusion.

Schoorn.

Saxon7 wrote:Evening Bill and all,

I'd love to make this ride, but unfortunately can't commit until much closer to the date. There's a fair chance I'll be in Germany.
Best not include me on the list at this point.
If it turns I can do the ride but the rooms are taken I'll bring a tent along and even if I camp at the pub or nearby, that'll work. Publicans usually don't mind too much if you throw up a tent out the back or somewhere.
Sorry for any confusion.

Schoorn.

No worries. I checked with the pub. They're happy to have tents if necessary.
Be good if you can come, but understand about committing. Final commitment happens at Walwa on the Friday evening. 
Germany will be forgiven if you send us a postcard. 

Bill

Hi Bill. Just to confirm my participation.
Back at work these days so I'll probably be traveling down on the Friday from Newy and heading back on the Sunday.... via the fast route unfortunately, but I'll see how it pans out closer to the date. I might hook up with one of the "Long Cuts" if I can fit it in.
Cheers Nige 

Hello all
I have rebooted my little Honda with Pirelli MT60 s in the hope that it will give me a better chance to slide down my driveway and road instead of having to park in town overnight in case of rain.
I know you all feel sorry for me.
Catch you all on the flipside of Xmas. Can't wait to get away. 
RT

It looks like there will be a route modification due to the road between Falls Creek and Mount Beauty being closed. There is a landslide that is still happening - a bit like a dirt glacier still moving slowly.
With any luck, it might be passable by early March, but nobody is making any promises . . .

One promise I will make is that the route won't be changed to the 65km of not-fun dirt road. (Some good GS riders might argue with my 'not-fun' assessment.)

Bill

Is the Mitta - Omeo - Mt Hotham - Bright - Mt Beauty - Tallangatta - Granya - Walwa loop too long for a day's ride. I don't know how many Ks it is, but I sort of did  it after Casey beat Valentino at Phillip Island a few years ago. I had the Yellow Beast at the time.
But...I keep forgetting that the body is much older and fragile than it was then.

Rickmeister wrote:Is the Mitta - Omeo - Mt Hotham - Bright - Mt Beauty - Tallangatta - Granya - Walwa loop too long for a day's ride. I don't know how many Ks it is, but I sort of did  it after Casey beat Valentino at Phillip Island a few years ago. I had the Yellow Beast at the time.
But...I keep forgetting that the body is much older and fragile than it was then.

But you have something more sophisticated than the Yellow Beast now, which would likely be easier on the older body. 
Lounge chair on wheels isn't it?

Rickmeister wrote:Is the Mitta - Omeo - Mt Hotham - Bright - Mt Beauty - Tallangatta - Granya - Walwa loop too long for a day's ride. I don't know how many Ks it is, but I sort of did  it after Casey beat Valentino at Phillip Island a few years ago. I had the Yellow Beast at the time.
But...I keep forgetting that the body is much older and fragile than it was then.

Followed up with Google Maps:

As described, 7h 45m, 540km so a big day. (Plus the compulsory coffee and lunch stops.)
If we skipped Bright and Mt Beauty, which both involve a double back to get back on the track, and skipped Granya and went the more direct way from Tallangatta to Walwa (retracing a bit of the mornings' steps) it comes out as 7h 11m, 502km.

As always, I'm in your hands. Whatever the Krew are happy with.
It'd be good if the road was sorted by then, but its as hard to turn back a landslide as to turn back the tide. (Just call me Canute.)

Bill

Canoath more like. 
Looks like I better get some more padding under the bum before attempting that.
On a sad note, went to the local Rissole club last night, schooners $7.40 for non members, $7 for members. back to the home brewing
kit for me.
Can t wait to see what the pub in Walwa charges. 2 Schooner Bob, that's me.

Maybe 3
RT

RT wrote:2 Schooner Bob, that's me.

Still a cheap date then?  That'll keep the wife happy, though.