Parkes Bandit meet 2015

For various reasons I thought I wouldn't make the journey to Parkes, but at the last minute I had a change of plans and heart.

I was very fortunate to be able to travel with Mark [Bosco] and Chris' [Polly67].

What follows is my version of 3 days of Bandit mania.

To save time and because we've done the local roads a hundred times we took the new Hunter Expressway out of town to link up with the Golden Highway.

First stop Denman to stretch legs as Chris and Mark were sharing a bike.

The Almost-a-Bandit and At-Least-it's-Still-a-Suzuki parked in Denman


Then on to Bylong Valley Way which could do with a bit of repaving here and there but is still a good run.

The GSX needed a little drink here due to a brisk pace and riding two-up.

Mark at Bylong.


Then onto Rylstone for for lunch at Cafe47 better food and service than Denman.

Cafe 47


We took the Lue Road to Mudgee as I like to avoid highways where possible.
Next stop Wellington.

Bosco inspects the engineering on Wellington's Suspension Bridge.


The run from Mudgee to Parkes via Wellington turned out to be a pretty good choice, roads OK and not much traffic, just a shame about the fairly uncomfortable cross-wind.

We arrived in Parkes about 4PM and soon joined the others in the bar.

Nice photos & report Re-Cycled  ................Did you spend the rest of the 3 day meet in the bar ?   

For St. Paul the Patient.

Sir Henry famously hitting High C


Day 2 was a slow start and to be easy as many people had already traveled a long way over multiple days.

I was ready too quickly so decided to check out the War Memorial, Baz and I had noticed on our early morning walk rather than sit around getting hot in riding gear..

The At-Least-It's-not-a-bloody-Honda at the Memorial.


We headed off to Forbes where we enjoyed a tour of the Auto Museum, even scored a group discount.

I enjoyed looking at the old cars and bikes, well worth the $8.

What is wrong with Honda-people?


Then back to Parkes for some relaxation, no lunch for me due to the Big Breakfast from the Paragon Cafe, highly recommended.

Then we rallied the troops for a photo opportunity at the local Suzuki Dealership, just across the road.

Suzukis plus one


Then we went for more photos at the Radio Telescope. We found the dish had had a dishling.

Parkes' claim to fame.


Back at Parkes we split up for dinner, I enjoyed some good lamb shanks at the Leagues Club with the even better company of Ewok, Mark and Chris, before returning to the Coachman for more factual stories and responsible drinking.

Re-Cycled wrote:For St. Paul the Patient.

Day 3, some were keen to get home, judging by the early starts.

After another wholesome Paragon breakfast we headed home, Bylong Valley Way again but via Bathurst and Sofala this time.

Kiwi Steve had a last minute change of plan and managed to catch up with us while we were admiring Mt Panorama.
Photo opportunities were a bit limited by rev-head convention that had part of the course closed off.

Bit dry at the top of the "Mountain"



Bosco likes to ride visor up for the full bug experience.


Bathurst to Rylstone is a good ride except where did all the caravans and trucks come from?

Rylstone for lunch.


Steve admires a trike.


It was getting a bit too hot by now, I don't know how those in leather managed I was hot enough in the dri-rider mesh jacket.

After a quick stop in Denman we waved goodbye to Steve near Singleton and Bosco and I parted company at Wallsend.
Arrived home at 4:15pm to a welcome sea breeze.

Thanks to Steve and everyone that had a hand in organising  the meet, I had a great time and can't wait for the next one.

Awesome write up Re-C.
I'm glad you changed your mind & made the trip to Parkes. I also have to thank you & Bosco for the guided tour of the Bylong Valley.
I think Bosco copped a really good sized bug in the mug going through the Bylong Valley too!

The Honda four wheeler at the museum was just absorbing the coolness from the Suzuki water bottle parked beside it Re-C.

A big thanks to everyone who took part in the Parkes gathering. Unfortunately the flu that clobbered me for the four days it is still with me, and I feel like death warmed up. Was great to see some old familiar faces , and even better to see some new ones. We certainly had a huge cross section of bikes and riders. Great stuff.
I could not fault the choice of the accommodation. It had everything that we needed and I think the meals were excellent.
I ended up doing the whole 1021km dash for home on the sunday.  11hours 42minutes. Minus stops for fuel and refreshments. Just could not pull myself into unpacking into another hotel for one more night. I saw a huge Billy goat standing on the side of the road somewhere. Two Emus. Ran over a poor lizard. Flagged over a truckie to notify him that his large metal " Extra Long Load " sign was flapping dangerously around at the rear of his rig. Pulled over to the side of the highway to let an escorted load that stretched from the white lines on each side of the road past.
A massive thanks to a special couple that helped make my journey such a pleasant one.
Hope to see you all again next year.  Where ever that may be.

Ride safe.

Hammy out.

Twas great to meet you Hammy, and thanks for the hat.

Great write up Peter. Wish I was there now

And there's nothing wrong with Honda people

It was great to read your route, I should probably jot down ours lol
It was also great to actually talk to those who partake in the online banter. Now Bruce and I are in
discussion about next year...

SuzySuzuki wrote:Now Bruce and I are in
discussion about next year...

Only because they're talking about meeting 5 mins from you're place

It has to be in WA next year

Kiwisteve wrote:

SuzySuzuki wrote:Now Bruce and I are in
discussion about next year...

Only because they're talking about meeting 5 mins from you're place

ha ha... 3 1/2 hours, checked the google maps lol Although... it might still be high fire danger down there again, at that time of year..

Parkes ride was a great catch up i enjoyed meeting the people behind the Avatar.  We decided that we would leave Thursday as i had some work appointments in Canberra but that fell over so it was decided we would have a lunch time start, i arrived at Tags place in a bloody gale.
Day started very poorly with Tags helmet blowing off the retaining wall and me dropping my bike to try and save his helmet, i bitched like a bastard at the $400 crash knobs but they certainly paid for themselves with only minor damage to clutch housing and the knob it self.

After a quick run up the coast with a stop at Mogo


John and Tag (Terry)
then it was up the clyde mountain to braidewood and to our first night stop over. The loaded dog hotel it Tarago it was also where we met up with Baz and Hammy, the loaded dog is a great pub with good meals and clean affordable accommodation for $40 a night i highly recommend it.






Hammy ( the Virus giving Queenslander), Baz, Brett, John and Terry 



the next morning it was off to Goulburn with a meet up with Boatz then off to crookwell for a custard tart and chai latte



then a quick fuel up and then a run from crookwell to wyangala dam, i must admit i wasn't really looking forward to the straight roads of western NSW but the run to Wyangala was bloody awesome




Terry 




Boatz 






Hammy 



then it was on to Parkes, Saturday was interesting










Jimmy the Boy






Terry
 
Sunday we tailed Jimmy back to Temora and he showed us some of the finer roads that were on offer





once we got to Temora it was off to the Aviation museum









from the museum it was lunch time a quick bite to eat and a refuel it was off to Junee then to our stop over at Adelong





thats Baz's bike being shy



Breakfast in Tumut and find a chemist as i had a dose of the hammy flu, then was back onto roads that i am use to, Cooma for a yummy lunch and and i arrived home about 2:30.  to the guys thanks for a great weekend

reddog wrote:It has to be in WA next year

If you can make it to the Grampians you can have a bed here on the way over and way home in Adelaide

Top report & photos Jim , but you needed name tags in the photos ...........I recognised Hammy Itag & Baz , who are the others ? 

Chook wrote:

reddog wrote:It has to be in WA next year

If you can make it to the Grampians you can have a bed here on the way over and way home in Adelaide

& if you got here early , we could show you around our fair city & hills   ( wherever we meet )

paul wrote:Top report & photos Jim , but you needed name tags in the photos ...........I recognised Hammy Itag & Baz , who are the others ? 

All Fixed Paul

Jimcoleman wrote:

paul wrote:Top report & photos Jim , but you needed name tags in the photos ...........I recognised Hammy Itag & Baz , who are the others ? 

All Fixed Paul

That's great ..thanks Jim

Paul, the 2 Jim's didn't want a name tag. But Tag had a tag!

Kiwisteve wrote:Paul, the 2 Jim's didn't want a name tag. But Tag had a tag!

Did you have to write anything on it  , or just left it blank ?

paul wrote:

Kiwisteve wrote:Paul, the 2 Jim's didn't want a name tag. But Tag had a tag!

Did you have to write anything on it  , or just left it blank ?

Buggered if I'm writing on Tag, he'd probably smack me one

I did the hard yards, Paul.
I tagged myself with a tag reading Tag.