Another D’s adventure

What do you do when the youngens go visiting Nanna and Pop for the night and day?

You go riding.

The little D’s were dropped off on Saturday night to spend the night and up to 1.00pm with with Nanna and Pop D.

Kylie had a new pair of boots and her pivot pegs to try out so we thought lets go for a blat before Nundle.
Both the bikes got some lovin yesterday, new oil and filters, air cleaners cleaned and a general check up. Kylie’s bike got a new set of grips and the grip warmers installed (although not connected).

Now where to go?

We could do a local ride but after me prattling on all week how good the longest weekend out was, we thought we would do a mini longest day (well half a day) of our own.
We done the aborted Denman ride earlier this year and enjoyed the Cooranbong to Putty bit so we thought what the hell we will do that. Except extended it a bit by riding from home (an extra 30 or so K’s each way).

The alarm went off at 5.30am for a 6.00am leave time. Quick shower and gear up we were off at a little bit after 6.00am. The neighbors must be getting the shits by now of the early morning leave times at the D’s 4.30am last Saturday and 6ish today – oh well shit happens.

We were off, first stop was the servo at Freemans for some fuel and a chocolate. After leaving the servo it was off to the Watties. I had to stop before the turn off up to the Watagans as I had lost a shroud bolt, cable tied it up and we were off again (this wasn’t the only bolt that I lost today – but more later)
I pedelled a bit from the Pines to the Laguna turn off thinking I will get a quick smoke in before Kylie got there, but bugger me I just lit it and here comes Kylie wanting to know why I was stopping. Had Kylie found her mojo early? Or is that Kylie really really likes the WRR and likes to go fast on it? I think it was a bit of both.
We decided to eat the chocolate at that time for energy. We continued on down towards Laguna. The road down from the Watties to Laguna was graded not long ago but the fourbies are making short work of it. Once we got down off the Watagans road we were heading towards Laguna. The Laguna Valley must be the coldest place this side of Antarctica, I froze my arse off last weekend through there and it was the same today. I only wish that I had spent more time yesterday wiring up the grip warmers. By the time we got to the intersection at Laguna I couldn’t feel my fingers anymore. Kylie was OK she was smart enough to wear winter gloves.
Now we were heading towards Yango. Once we got back into the bush at Yango the feeling started returning to my fingers and the sun was coming out. We were peddling along at a good pace, there was next to no dust and everything was good. My tyres were a bit of a concern feeling sum what skittish at the best of times. But considering the rear was a retread with over 800km on it and the front a hand me down from TB with who knows how many km on it, I shouldn’t complain.

Kylie was having a ball, she was keeping a cracking pace never far from me all day. There was some concern if I would make it on a tank of fuel, considering I hit reserve last weekend pretty much at Putty Road and that was leaving from Chickens place at Cooranbong , but what the hell we had nothing to lose so we carried on having fun.

We made it to Putty Road quicker than what we anticipated and I still had not hit reserve so all was good.
I did have to go to reserve a little bit further down the road, but we were close to the half way house by then. It was now time for the second bolt to fall out of the 450, this time it was the other side radiator shroud. I wasn’t keen on stopping so I held it down with my knee to the servo.

We reached the half way house and it was time for a sausage roll and a can of Mother, plus a drink for the bikes. It was nice just to sit at the half way house and have a hot sausage roll after feeling a little bit chilly on the way. A couple of ciggies and a drink and we were ready to ride again. Before I left I whacked another cable tie around the radiator shroud – I now had a matching pair of cable ties.

The bikes at the Half Way House

The ever smiling Kylie

Enjoying the ambiance

I hate getting wet feet

Parting the waters

We headed back towards the bush for our trip home – given that we told mum D we would collect the kids by 1.00pm. The trip back was a bit quicker than the trip there. Must be that we were feeling a little more energized after our stop at the half way house. Kylie was really in the zone today and she was enjoying the ride and this could be shown by the speed that she was riding at We swapped bikes for a little while so Kylie could have some 450 lovin. It was only a short swap cause she loves her 250 that much and reckons it’s a better bike (for her).

We took turns at leading which was good. There was still jack shit dust which was also good. There was minimal traffic though Yango, we only met up with two fourbies and a couple going for a ride on their beemers. We decided to stop at the Laguna wine bar (cause its one of those things that’s gota be done) no Vitamin B this morning at Laguna a little bit early for that. So it was a drink of water and a smoke for me. Third bolt for the day fell out sometime on the way from Yango to Laguna – this time out of the headlight.

From Laguna it was back up to the Watagans and the dash for home. Kylie really had the race face on today setting a cracking pace all through the ride. Since getting the WR Kylies riding has really improved. Finally we have found bikes that we both really like.

The only traffic we had in the Watagans on the way home were some unregistered dickheads, one on a quad and the other in a buggy type thing. Lucky enough we where only poking along when we came across those tools. We stopped at the Onley Headquarters for a pit stop and to listen to some Lebbo’s crap on and try to light a fire with a gas bottle WTF. Have to say their Hilux was fooly sick man with da bonnet scoop and all. Definitely had the pussy magnet in that Hilux.

We rode out of Onley heading towards Cooranbong so I could fill up again (I am going to have to get a bigger tank for these longer rides). Going down the hill from the Watagans to Martinsville I hit reserve again. When I got to the bottom of the hill I turned around to see where Kylie was and bugger me she was on my back wheel AGAIN, this seemed to be the trend today.

I filled up again at Cooranbong and we were off on the home run.

We got home at a bit after 12.00pm with 267km under the wheels for today. And with still plenty of time to pick up the little D’s before 1.00pm.

It was a great ride with my best mate.

However – I did learn a lesson today that is really a no brainer, if you take a bolt out make sure to do it up with a spanner not just finger tight.

Also Kylie has finally found a proper pair of boots to wear – so TB you wont need to cut her silly road boots up at Nundle and she is starting to like her pivot pegs too.

One stuffed tyre – not bad I suppose for a retread with over 1000km on it.

Our afternoon was family time taking the kids and the dog for a walk

THE END