Grampians Meet, 4-5-6 march 2016 (cancelled until further notice)

First topic message reminder :

Whilst we were in Parkes there was some discussion around "the next one". The Grampians was mention as a possible area.

Happy to start the ball rolling and get the discussion happening

This year (after winter) or next year??
Other locations??

Who's Going 
Madmax
Chook 
Kaylah

Hammy wrote:Something to think about.

Can some thought be given to organising the next meet around some other event ?  I would be very keen to go to the Melb' F1 GP. So if the meet was the weekend before or after, then that would be great. Maybe a couple of other rev heads would be interested and we can plan it together. It is a long way to ride, just to meet up with some folks and then turn around and go home. But, as has been stated before. The fun is in the journey.

The Melbourne F1 dates are 24th to 27th March 2016
Labour Day weekend is 12-14 march

I had a bit of a browse of accommodation, the Grampians Gardens Tourist Park has about 30 cabins from basic with no en suite to luxury spa cabins and they allow dogs (cue Barry and Axle)
I might even be able to talk my other 1/2 into driving over for the weekend if she can take the dogs, that might also be the only way Kaylah gets to go next year as I'd like to stretch it out longer than just a week end and she wont be able to afford the time away from year 12

http://www.grampiansgardens.com.au/

Maybe I don't want to go to the F1.  It was "BORING" .

Right on there mate. I wouldn't pay good money to watch that.

Hammy wrote:Maybe I don't want to go to the F1.  It was "BORING" .

I didn't miss one when it was held in Adelaide. often the F1 was boring but the support races were usually good racing. I'd still go just to see if Melbourne can put on a city street race anywhere near as good as Adelaide 

What about superbikes at Phillip Island?? normally third(ish) weekend in Feb - could be followed by meet-up the weekend after? That would mean the last weekend in Feb.

Could be a couple of days riding in between at people's leisure. Great Ocean Rd?? Then Coonawarra (Penola) for a night for local fare? Easy to duck across to Grampians from there.

Just some thoughts.

Hammy wrote:Maybe I don't want to go to the F1.  It was "BORING" .

I've been there Hammy and you get a much better view on the telly.
I only went because it was free entry, free booze, free lunch, did I mention free booze.
Ended up watching it on a screen at the bar anyway.

Still there is always the atmosphere

Rayman06 wrote:What about superbikes at Phillip Island?? normally third(ish) weekend in Feb - could be followed by meet-up the weekend after? That would mean the last weekend in Feb.

Could be a couple of days riding in between at people's leisure. Great Ocean Rd?? Then Coonawarra (Penola) for a night for local fare? Easy to duck across to Grampians from there.

Just some thoughts.

If we set it around the superbikes I would suggest the meet is at the island and do the Grampians a different time.

WSBK is always the last full weekend in Feb so that timing would work for me.  It would provide for an opportunity to do the Great Ocean Road on the way.

Chook wrote:

Hammy wrote:Maybe I don't want to go to the F1.  It was "BORING" .

I didn't miss one when it was held in Adelaide. often the F1 was boring but the support races were usually good racing. I'd still go just to see if Melbourne can put on a city street race anywhere near as good as Adelaide 

Not a hope Chook

Another idea for the next meet.  ( I know. I have to much time on my hands )      How about a "Convoy"  to where ever we are going ?  eg. Say I am the furthest rider. I head south and meet up with the next rider. It is his/her job to set the route for the next rendezvous, and so on. We have twelve months to plan things so times should not be to bigger factor. When someone commits themselves to the ride we mark their home on a map. When all names are in we will have our route. We can zig zag a bit just to make it more interesting. Pub stopovers are a MUST.   Thoughts  ??

I like the idea.

2wheelsagain wrote:I like the idea.

So do I, once Hammy has headed North and picked up BanditDave they can collect reddog in Perth on the way to meeting Paul, Rayman and me in Adelaide

Chook wrote:

2wheelsagain wrote:I like the idea.

So do I, once Hammy has headed North and picked up BanditDave they can collect reddog in Perth on the way to meeting Paul, Rayman and me in Adelaide

I am liking this idea even more

For the first time, I try to talk some sense. And what do I get ?  The sort of replies that normally comes from me.     Guess I deserve it. 


From now on I will be the silent observer/critic. 

Probably have to factor in a couple of extra days of travelling.

I lived in Perth some years ago but the postcode was 7300.

Did anybody consider Drake (or Tenterfield, Stanthorpe etc.) as a venue. I quite enjoyed it and didn't even get murdered.

BanditDave wrote:
Did anybody consider Drake (or Tenterfield, Stanthorpe etc.) as a venue. I quite enjoyed it and didn't even get murdered.

Been there done that!

Hammy wrote:For the first time, I try to talk some sense. And what do I get ?  The sort of replies that normally comes from me.     Guess I deserve it. 


From now on I will be the silent observer/critic. 

I kinda liked the idea of a travelling road-train, not sure how far to go with it though as the miles for the initial starters could add up, but for a regional meet sounds great

I think it's a great idea, it would take 2 or 3 separate "trains" to work. Anyone coming from WA, NT (big ask I know) or even Broken Hill could pick us up in Adelaide, those from further South could meet us at Tailem Bend or Wellington, perhaps even meeting Lyn en route would work as well (assuming she can put up with us for another trip )

Bruce has suggested Broken Hill, which we did about 5 years ago (in a duststorm) the weekend of the AFL grand final. Plenty of pub accommodation or motels, the ride to Silverton is an easy one, the Mundi Mundi Lookout, the Symposium, the miners lookout, museums, pro hart gallery, and lots of drinking time. We had a good weekend, and wished we had stayed longer.

SuzySuzuki wrote:Bruce has suggested Broken Hill, which we did about 5 years ago (in a duststorm) the weekend of the AFL grand final. Plenty of pub accommodation or motels, the ride to Silverton is an easy one, the Mundi Mundi Lookout, the Symposium, the miners lookout, museums, pro hart gallery, and lots of drinking time. We had a good weekend, and wished we had stayed longer.

Broken Hill would be good for you and not bad for anyone from Adelaide (more "no corners sections" than the trip to Parkes though), for anyone else it'd be a bit of a drag

If everyone else was up for it I'd go

I had a yarn to my pillion in a million. If we can make next year's meet during school holidays, she would be happy to come along.zoe is in year 12 next year. I'll check out to see if NSW & SA school hols align in April next year.
10th-20th April 2016 is the window for us in NSW & SA for alignment of the school holidays.

Kiwisteve wrote:I had a yarn to my pillion in a million. If we can make next year's meet during school holidays, she would be happy to come along.zoe is in year 12 next year. I'll check out to see if NSW & SA school hols align in April next year.
10th-20th April 2016 is the window for us in NSW & SA for alignment of the school holidays.

Same issue with Kaylah, she'll be in year 12 next year although we are lucky to be close enough for me to ride over earlier and the other 1/2 to drive over with her for the weekend

Kiwisteve wrote:I had a yarn to my pillion in a million. If we can make next year's meet during school holidays, she would be happy to come along.zoe is in year 12 next year. I'll check out to see if NSW & SA school hols align in April next year.
10th-20th April 2016 is the window for us in NSW & SA for alignment of the school holidays.

The problem with school holidays is everyone else is there as well. April school holidays will include Easter making the crowds even worse and accommodation even more expensive.

Exactly Max.  Don't take this the wrong way people. But we organise these rides for the riders. Not for school children.