[katrina ratcliffMember]

Hi Bollocks….

Love it when you post into dirty girls!!!

You are quick off the mark on TBAM. It was only released last week. Yes CathiM and I are thrilled with the write up and if it achieves our objective of getting more girls dirty in the sport then I’ll be a happy girl…..

This is the first time I’ve read TBAM and love some of the adventure articles of guys doing some amazing rides both in Australia and overseas…

Happy reading…. and don’t soil the pages…. :woohoo:

[katrina ratcliffMember]

Krusty and bike !!

Lotsa with help from Choot & Jeffro getting ready for a tow:

Jeffro doing an expert job at towing Lotsa:

Meeting up with OWL 01 & 02:

[katrina ratcliffMember]

Kat’s Version:

Left Hornsby at 5.30am and got to the meeting spot at 6.30am and did a slow rendition of getting myself together. I so shouldn’t have gone out Friday night to see Dragon and more importantly I shouldn’t have danced my socks off… my knee was already sore and I only had 4hrs sleep. It’s going to be a long day. (Why do I do this to myself everytime!!)

Krusty turned up minutes later and we got both bikes and ourselves ready. Lotsa arrived at 7am. We headed off and did the Red Hill dirt road then headed up the dirt road to Laguna. There we were met by MickP, Choot, GavB and Jeffro. After a welcome/introductions and general chat we decided to head off. This is where Lotsa found out his battery went flat and after much grunting from Choot and finally a tow from Jeffro up the hill it started and we were already to head off …. but somehow the engine cut out and Lotsa was looking for another tow. But alas we were off again and heading for Putty Road. Thankfully I did this section with Krusty and TB the other weekend and knew what to expect but realised its different when you’re going in the opposite way. The most surprising revelation is the difference the steering damper made as it wasn’t on the other weekend. The sand sections were a lot easier to manage. Jeffro did a fantastic job at sweeping and wasn’t concerned that I was bit slower.

We hooked up with OWL 01 & 02. Thanks to OWL02 I refuelled and ready to roll again. The ride to Denman was eventful with OWL01 doing a spectacular jump into the bushes. The brain had to stop and calibrate how a bike could get into a position like that (you could only see the arse of bike sticking up out of bushes but below that was a steep down hill full of trees). I still don’t know how OWL01 didn’t do a steep dive. Unfortunately by the time I got off the bike to reach for the camera the bike was pulled out of the bushes.

The next interesting section was a down hill that seemed heavily rutted. The first section was ok but realised I put the bike in wrong position for next section. Thanks to Jeffro for repositioning me (no dirty thoughts please!!). GavB was watching with great interest… maybe he saw an opportunity for some entertainment. Well I didn’t let him down and did a graceful flop halfway down that got me pinned under the bike and couldn’t move. GavB sprinted down the hill and it took 4 goes to lift the bike off me. Once at the bottom Jeffro gracefully brought down the VStrom and kindly thanked me for showing him where NOT to go.

We made it to Denham at 1.30pm and by this stage my tummy was on empty. Not having breakfast was a bad mistake. After hamburger and chips washed down with a schooner of rum and coke I was feeling normal again. We refuelled the bikes and after some discussion we agreed not to go back the same way and try Apple Creek rd. Took couple of tries to find the right road but we were off again. We did get some entertainment watching MickP do a gradual roll when waiting for the gate to open. It was poetry in motion and took 2 guys to help get it back up.

TB asked why it took so long for the ride…….it was due to the KAT FACTOR. I’m a lot slower than the guys and I have never ridden on trails in the dark so my speed got even slower…. Again Jeffro was amazingly helpful and the boys were not grumbling tooo much when I caught up. I suppose it gave some of the boys time to have a smoko. We got to Wollombi in the dark and said our goodbyes to Choot, MickP and Jeffro. Then mad dash back to Wyong that seemed to go for ever….. it felt like “are we there yet”. Back at the car at 8pm and then 1hr drive home, pick up thai dinner and bottle of red. Had enough energy to eat/drink and undressing was difficult. I so wish I had help as the cramps weren’t fun. The shower waited until Sunday morning….. all up epic day that has really freaked me out about how I’m going to do this ride across Australia….. Thanks again guys for your patience.

Will post photos on Monday at work.

[katrina ratcliffMember]

mickp wrote:

Quote:

Hi guys and Girl,

Gavb and I are going to depart the Caltex servo at Morrisett interchange at 7.00am and head on out through the Watagans via the Pines and Watagan Creek rd and meet Lotsa and crew at the Laguna turnoff to the Yengo track.

Those coming from the northern ends of the coast are welcome to come with us or travel to Braithwaite Park and meet up with Lotsa and depart from there.

Mick

What time did you want us ready to ride at Braithwaite Park?

Choot – tell your mate that he won’t need to worry about being left behind as I’ll be keeping him company down the arse end of the group…. plus I guarantee to fill his fun bags with lots of laughs with my antics on the trail..

[katrina ratcliffMember]

gavb wrote:

Quote:

And if thats not enough fuel Kat there will be plenty of fuel in the KTM for you.

Gav

Thanks GavB.. Looks like its going to be an epic LONG day.

[katrina ratcliffMember]

TB,

If your weekends work out and Salina is available I would love to hook up with you both. Let me know. I need to top up my ‘fun bags’ that weekend :silly:

[katrina ratcliffMember]

Thanks Stuart for posting it up.

CathiM – if you and Riggs are going I’d love to come along. I’m trailbike-less for month of September so this would be a good ‘filler’ for something to do. I think I’ll ride the BMW out there… :woohoo:

[katrina ratcliffMember]

OK I’m in for sure. My plan is to meet at Wyong.
OWL02 has confirmed he will trailer in 20l for me. That will get me from Putty to Denham and from Putty back to Wyong. I’ve been getting about 120k on full tank (10l tank). I will carry a small bottle of fuel in my pack in case I need it. This will be my last ride before the bike goes into final preparation and packing for it’s trip to Perth. So I definitely wont be doing anything on the day that breaks me or the bike.

[katrina ratcliffMember]

Welcome XR650Bob,

I’m a girlie that likes riding the red variety too.. I’m on a Honda 230L but the boys don’t hold it against me…. the size that is!!

I’m one of the slower riders as I’m only 1 year into riding motorbikes fullstop but the boys have been very supportive and the advice flows freely!!.

Welcome and hope to meet you on a ride soon.

KatGirl

[katrina ratcliffMember]

I’d love to come but my bike doesn’t have the fuel range. Has anyone got any good suggestions? Otherwise I’ll stay at home and have an upside down smile.

[katrina ratcliffMember]

If you have 15mins to waste here is a YouTube created by Leisa who was wearing a helmet camera. Lots of funny falls captured.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8L23A7MqWuI

Kat

[katrina ratcliffMember]

Hi menace… great to hear you’re sore and you survived. The photo’s should be a classic…. Bill submerged in 6inches… hope you got that on film…

KatGirl.

[katrina ratcliffMember]

6 weeks and 3 days to go….. OMG :ohmy:

Took my bike out to Sutto’s last Monday just so I could throw more money at my bike to ensure the trip is easier on my body. :side:

I have to say a HUGE BIG THANKYOU to Brian and Mal at Sutto’s for looking after me. After much tweeking they installed a Scott Steering Damper, greased the head set bearings, replaced my blinkers that hopefully will now stay in one piece and lastly replaced my alloy sprocket for a metal one.

Not only did they do a professional job on the bike but my wallet was spared a flogging.

Drove out to Belangalo Forest and meet up with CathiM and Riggs to try out the damper. I read the instuctions very quickly but best approach was to get on, find as many rocks and BIG bumps and play with the dial. Even found some sand to try out. It was amazed at the difference it made. I’m sure that by the end of my trip I would have worked out the best settings but so far so good.

I also wanted to give TB a kiss :kiss: for guiding me with these mods and checking in with Sutto’s.

The bike is booked to be crated and transported to Perth on Monday 6th Sep. Got the best deal for only $840 – ouch.

TB has kindly offered to look over my bike and educate me in the process on Saturday 4th Sep.

Jobs on the list are:

Check brake pads and disc thickness
Check Spokes
Check Wheel bearings
Check Clutch and accelerator cables
Check Clutch plates
Check Valves
Do Oil Change
Check my spares
Chew the fat
Drink Bundy and Cokes
Take photo’s
Meet Salina and kids

Can’t wait to get dirty. :S

KatGirl

[katrina ratcliffMember]

Great report and photo’s Lotsa & Jeffro. The speed sounds scarey but the rest sounds fantastic. Would love to do it one day but maybe after the trip when my speed improves.

[katrina ratcliffMember]

Don’t go soft on us….. I thought all OBT were of the ‘hard’ breed. Where are you riding Sunday?

Sounds like tonight you need to get a good ‘interesting’ video, lube up then you will sleep like a baby.

I’m getting my second wind and heading to a 20th birthday party… at Hornsby RSL…. will be funny…. just got to behave….. well try to.

Katgirl :silly:

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