Despite the ominous date, the sun rose early and gifted us a magnificent dry, sunshiny day — too good to waste. So I bounded out of bed, looking forward to a ride with the lads.
I was the first person to arrive at our regular Heathcote starting point — never happened before. Odd, I thought to myself (this was the first sign of things to come). Around 8:30, Dakar rocks up, just as I’m checking the ride calendar (probably should have done this before I left home, methinks), which reads:
“As tomorrow is the Ulysses Memorial Ride, today has been set aside as a meet and greet for anyone who cannot make tomorrow’s ride.”
Hmm… okay then.
Dakar was up for a short ride — suits me. He suggests Mainbar Café or Bald Hill (just like in the old days, me thinks). We’re chatting away when we notice an angry horde of pushbike riders. I say “angry” because there were at least two incidents of all of them shouting at cars passing them in the middle lane (this was the second sign of things to come). Then, just before go-time, we were joined by Shrek.
So today it’s the Three Musketeers: Shrek leading us, Dakar on his new (to him) Ducati, and Magellan (me) as TEC. Destination: Bald Hill for a coffee. Sounds nice, doesn’t it? A little ride through Nasho, a caffeine hit waiting for us, soaking up some sun and chatting with the boys while checking out the many other motorcycles there…
Sadly, this wasn’t quite what we ended up with.
Off down the highway, we turn into the National Park at Waterfall. All of five minutes later, we come up behind about five cars — not so bad — except in front of them is the angry horde of cyclists. This time, I’ll add “entitled.” Do we think they could maybe ride single file? You know, the whole “the road is there to share” thing? Let’s not be silly now…
Eventually, after a very slow ride down to the T-intersection, Shrek takes us left to avoid the previously mentioned vehicular hazards, and we head up the hill. Some of us were more game, with inventive overtaking manoeuvres; others, not as game. Up top, it was decided we might be okay to chuck a U-ey and head to Bald Hill. Sounds good, right? Should be clear… RIGHT????
Sadly, halfway to Bald Hill, we see the error of our ways.
We’re now again behind dozens of pushbike riders, plodding along (barely), all side by side. Some additional creative overtaking followed — including a “change my underwear manoeuvre,” where for a second or two I locked up my front wheel on a wet road marking — and we finally had a little clear air. We emerged at the top of the park to see what we assumed was the start of the Wall to Wall Ride for Remembrance, with a Highway Patrol car pulled over and a dozen or so motorcyclists gathered.
Finally at Bald Hill, coffee in hand, we chatted for a while — previous Bathurst 100 activities (a bit too bawdy to repeat here), Dakar’s triplets’ 21st birthday party tonight (born on the same day as the man himself earlier in the week)… so four birthdays for the price of — well, four birthdays.
Time had come to head off. Thanks again, Dakar and Shrek, for coming out today!
Lastly, guess what mob left just before me as I headed up the hill to the Burgh from Bald Hill? Yeah, you guessed it — single file because it’s uphill?. Oh, don’t be ridiculous…
Cheers, Magellan (Steve the web guy)
