A bit of an early bash in Bago

Itsagas was keen to do a early morning Bago ride on Sunday,the plan was to meet near Timbertown at 6.30 am. As I had been pretty crook during the week, I declined the invitation to tag along as I had been on the turps all day Saturday too.

Sunday morning dawned clear and cool,well it was at 5.30 am when I dragged myself out bed to face the day. Sitting on my verandah having a hot breakfast (smoke and a coffee),I began thinking how good the conditions would be out in Bago and all of a sudden I decided I would rush about and get my act together and join the boys.

I ripped down to the shed to find the XR on reserve and about 2 liters of fuel in my jerry can, I proceeded to milk anything that had unleaded in it in the shed, including Tripper’s bike,I ended up with 8 liters,more than enough for a short blast in the bush.

I made it to Timbertown to find the crew Kitting up and getting their crap together, another quick durrie and some gdays and we were away with Itsagas leading the charge.
We had a crew of 6
Bigdog WR450
Puddles WR450
Itsagas FE450
OL mate KTM450 (who’s real name escapes me)
Prottty KTM250EXC 2t
Mick XR650

A few singles had us warmed up when we got to the first hill of the day,it was about 1km long which had a shaley step up about halfway up. We grouped at the top only to be missing Puddles and Protty our sweep rider. No engine noises were coming from down the hill so we presumed Pudddles was having a “rest“ half way up. WE were just about to go back down and wake him up when we heard the 450 fire up and a bit of revving and snorting saw the WR at the top. This is the first time I have ever seen some one take their helmet off and steam was belching out of the top of his head. Kinda like in the cartoons.!!!!

Once under way we rode the single trails along the rim of Bago. After the rain the dust was minimal and the tracks were in great condition with plenty of grip,which is a good thing as the Xr’s rear tyre is all but destroyed, with close to every second knob missing.

At one rest stop everything went to shit for a while as Itsagas took off, he darted down a side trail presuming that the the fella following saw him. Well Bigdog hadn’t seen him and roared straight past the turn with ol mate on the Kato in hot pursuit. BUGGER I thought and took of after them to stop them and turn them around,by the time I got the XR started they had a good 400 meter head start on me. I was going like the clappers trying to catch them as they were fair peddling along the fire trail. It took me the best part of 6km to catch the first of them. When ol mate on the Kato heard the XR behind him he obviously thought “beauty a race” and wound it on!! I eventually got around him and stopped him and then headed after Bigdog who was in the zone and peddling,I eventually rounded him up and turned him around after a 8km chase.

Anyhow, after regrouping we did the Big Jurassic park trail,over the big log and then up prick Hill,down Kokoda trail and back to Butchers Arm road, where a bade farewell to the guys as I had left a note to the missus saying I would be back at 9.30am.
I arrived home at 9.35 having done just on 60km for the morning,a great way to start the day.
We spent the rest of the day in the shed putting the last bits of Tripper’s project XR together while sipping a few sherbets. Not a bad day all round really.