Another ride..... more bad weather

What the hell have I done to piss the weather gods off so bad?

On the last ride to Coffs a few weeks ago I got home very cold & very, very wet, and nearly got blown & washed off my bike between Dorrigo and Ebor- literally!! The following weekend we took the new van away and it poured then too.

This trip I decided on an early start for my impromptu 4 day solo ride...... well, so much for that idea...... at 2.20pm on Monday when I was finally ready to head off (Destination: Steve’s @Tamworth) it was 39deg, so for this ride I started with wet clothes that I purposely wet to stay cool!! It was nice to be heading up Thunderbolts rather than heading down, as has become customary. The temperature change was dramatic tho. Within an hour I went from 37deg, to a cool 24deg and then back up to 35!!! Felt like someone was playing with the a/c remote control!!

After a very good night and the odd shandy or 2, plus a bourbon or 2 as well, I really had no choice but to lay low on Tuesday and sober up & recover before getting back on the bike on Wed. The rain chased me outa Tamworth but it was no match for the mighty Bandit, and by Bendemeer we had outrun it and had dry roads and nice riding weather- AT LONG LAST!!! Heading towards Grafton and my fav- Armidale Road, I had a leisurely and somewhat spiritless (read: slow!) ride to Grafton without really getting into the groove which troubled me. So, on the return run I stopped and uncharacteristically (at least while riding or driving) I stopped and had a couple of beers at The Coaching Station. Now feeling relaxed and even less motivated I decided to have a rest and a swim in the river to cool off. Back on the bike at 3.30pm and finally my mojo had returned & I enjoyed an energised & spirited ride back to Armidale...... and I was dry and comfortable!!! 

Hmmm, Today I woke to grey skies and disappointing weather forecasts.

AGAIN......... FFS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

As a regular victim of Murphy’s Law, I decided to don the wet weather gear from the get-go and see if reverse psychology might scare the clouds away. Alas, it didn’t work, and by Walcha I was again revelling in the challenge of brisk riding on wet roads as I headed home via the familiar downhill run on Thunderbolts Way. The weather situation deteriorated at the top of the mountain with temps as low as 15deg, and a couple of sudden and heavy blankets of fog! Regardless, I enjoyed the dynamic challenge of trying to find the balance between speed and traction that wet roads pose.

Home around 1pm with the rain getting progressively heavier the closer to home I got. After only 1200 odd k’s over three days of riding it wasn’t my most gruelling or rewarding ride ever, but still good all the same.

Now: what to do with the Bandit? I feel it’s time to move on and update, BUT, after nearly 50,000kms the thing still blows my mind, the power still rattles my eyeballs and I can’t fault it..... or decide on a suitable replacement..... ???

Cheers
Neil

Great ride report Neil . Thanks for sharing. As you have said. What would you replace the Bandit with ? Until a worthy replacement comes along, keep enjoying. And I hope that your next trip is a dry one. Cheers.

Good ride report.
Black bikes will go anywhere in any conditions.

Boozer wrote:
On the last ride to Coffs a few weeks ago I got home very cold & very, very wet, and nearly got blown & washed off my bike between Dorrigo and Ebor- literally!! The following weekend we took the new van away and it poured then too.

That's where we went wrong, going with you

Thanks for taking the rain away from us on the last day (oh and thanks for your warning to go a different way).


The weather certainly looks bad in the photos.

thanks guys

that pic was taken on Monday arvo.....

blue skies-yes ,
friggin hot- yes!!!

Good RR boozer, thanks for posting it up. One day I will remember my camera AND charge its battery for a ride. Ewok takes the pics of my bike for me when we ride together.