Winter Wonderland Tour - Day 2

After a long first day ,we enjoyed a good sleep and breakfast we were ready for an action packed day starting with a ride out to Cania Gorge. It was another beautiful blue sky day and after avoiding the obligatory "grey nomad" convoy's and a few grazing kangaroo's we made it to the lookout with some great Aussie vista's.

A great photographic opportunity was had by all....I don't know how that MX 5 got in the picture...and Anita and Dave were working hard on warming up Grahame's cold hands

As we were planning to ride back to Monto Danny remonstrated that we must go the real gorge if came here....but you know we are dressed to ride a motorcycle not walk km's into a ?>@#$ gorge...but thankfully he had his way and it was another highlight.

 During this time a real life drama was being played out ...with a miraculous ending...for some mysterious reason Phil's dropped has "Bandit" whilst getting off at the Gorge, snapping off his clutch leave in the worst possible way...immediately we all laid hands on the bike and prayed for a miracle...I mean healing is one thing but finding a replacement clutch is another thing...but guess what they were lead to the right plus where a guy happened to have an old Honda and $15 later, Phil was on the road!!!

the guardian Angel's on the back of the Ute

After all that drama we enjoyed a great morning tea at Rainbow Cafe back in Monto ....some would say enjoyed a little too much?

After our fill we headed off back down toward Gayndor...we needed to make up a little time to get to our Clovely estate wine tasting

Anita enjoying the BIG Manderine

We finally made it through to Clovely estates for an amazing afternoon of old bikes, great wine and community

It was then off to Wondai and "The Cecil Hotel"for the best value overnight stay in the world...for $50 we had a magnificent roast dinner, accommodation and a cooked breakfast. With bike secured in the back of the pub we settled in for a great night.

It was great to be in a placed that really value Motorcycle riders, we even had our tables reserved...how good is that

all power to Wondai ....we love "The Cecil Hotel"

 ...and so ended another fantastic day on the "winter wonderland tour"

"Winter Wonderland Tour" - Day 1 an early start

It was an early start for our first day of "Winter wonderland"road trip on a beautiful Brisbane Morning...and the ladies were rugged up.

Marjorie, Maree and Anita

With 19 adventurers in total , 10 bikes , 3 support vehicle we were ready for 1,200km of the most amazing blue sky riding and community ever.

As the city was waking we made our way onto the Gateway motorway for our quick run up north to our quick coffee stop at the big BP..... dave was still taking phone calls on his headset or just checking emails? We  then the run up Steve Irwin Way, Landsborough to Maleney for well deserved morning tea break

Wow how magnificent was the weather as we rode off down the hill to Kenilworth, then Gympie for a fuel stop and drink...and onto Kilkivan (thanks Des for the heads up) for lunch at the "left bank", Anita wondered what it was like to sit astride the mighty Kawasaki Custom.

oh...yes, its alway the young one with the flashy yellow sports bike that runs out of fuel.... no guage is always going to get you in trouble Reuben ...but there was plenty of help to the rescue.

After lunch it was great ride on the Kilkivan-Tansey rd shortcut ,then onto the Burnett Highway up to Gayndor for some of Maree's fantastic soup and crusty bread.

 True to form we had a little more drama with Leigh breaking his visor screw and whilst he was off looking for a replacement we headed off to the rest area for our soup...and we did tell Leigh didn't we? Anyway..after a futile search attempt and numerous calls we had to continue onto Monto without him. Unknowns to us he had headed off to Monto earlier with a broken phone...and had been enjoying some welcome refreshments at the Hotel Albert as we were worrying where he had got to.

So after the little interlude with the missing rider and empty fuel tank we were running into the afternoon sun directly into our eyes...difficult riding conditions but we finally made it to Monto,later than planned but grateful for a refreshing drink.
They say things come in threes...we already had two then we had to do the with the shortage in beds (so it was mattresses on the floor for the De-Bruin's, thx guys)....despite the VERY SLOW service we had a great night together...and Phil swore he would not order the calamari again!

Now check out day 1 video.....

Wrong way round ride - a chilly August day

Finally it started feeling like winter with the temps down and blue sky abounding...after a planning disruption with land slides on the way to Queen Mary falls, our Guest route planner ,Ron Grant, came up with a Gem of 340km. This took in some new roads to explore SE of Beaudesert, a fantastic up and over Darlington range and then, for me the wrong way around from Rathdowney, up and down Summerland way to Lions Rd then back to Beaudesert.

We enjoyed the company of over 20 people on 19 bikes including a Mustang convertible support vehicle.

Trevor & Jan

Ride leader, Ron and his not so beloved Guzzi Californian

so...how does that "corner man " thing work Ron?

Cav and drew enjoying a man cuddle

assembling outside Gateway

Ron, an experienced biker (loves the dirt) introduced us to the "corner man"strategy where on every change of direction a person if left to direct the following riders..they then join the group when they see the "sweeper"who is the last rider come along...apart from the latter not having a fluro vest it worked a treat...no one got lost and everyone rotated through the group.
We made our way out to Macca's Beaudesert, picking up a couple of riders along the way....we manage to pack out the outside area....scared off a few kids.

Came across an interesting site when we were topping up the tank at Beaudesert...as the owner of the car said..."I can leave $1,000 cash on the dashboard and leave the car with no problems"!

We left Beaudesert for the 200km round trip run south-east over Darlington range , through Rathdowney, and some great descents, twisties and even smoke from a burn off

finally stopping at "Ripples on the Creek" for a good , if not slow lunch. It was a great relaxed time.

There was impressive and interest line up in the car park

the twins - kawasaki 900 custom

the intimidating "Hoggs inc" with Daryl & Brett

A greeting from all the riders......

A postscript to the ride .... do you want to buy a Guzzi Des?

July ride started so well...............

The weather leading up to our ride and forecast had been quite bad so it was the hardcore who turned up for this run up Mt Nebo, Samford village , Caboolture ,Mt Mee, Daboro and home.
We were greeted with a great morning but prospect of rain later in the day...hmmm could this be a problem.
We greeted a number of new riders 

Flemming

Jonas & his Ninja

With the weather forecast to turn everyone was focused on weather protection... especially our ride leader..Leigh (check out the video)

We enjoyed a great ride out of the city and up Mt Nebo, despite the dry morning the road was a little wet. Came across large groups of lycra lads ....they can pick up lots of speed down hill.


We stopped at a delightful and a little quirky lunch spot at Samford village.... we observed an interesting ritual during lunch...I thinking its think its the mating dance of the "Scalar rider G4 &and G9".

Pete and Dave just can't communicate

Well we made it the mountain safely...so instead of enjoying a nice lunch, dry  and around a fire till the storm passed at the Mt Mea Restaurant ..we ended up saturated and munching on a pie at the Daboro Bakery...a lesson learnt.

This sign in the loo returned a smile to our face though.

A perfect Junes Winters ride

A chill was in the air and the sky crystal blue as over 20 bikes a number of pillions gathered at Gateway for our monthly ride...this time through the cane fields to Jacobs Well, then a steep climb up Henry Roberts Drive to an even chillier Mt Tamborine.

appologise for blatant promo but did enjoy the bakery

We again enjoyed the company of about 8 riders from the social riding group "the Newbies" for the second time, it was awesome to see the front of Gateway full of bikes and people enjoying some community.

 We had a wide variety of bikes on the ride from early model guzzi's and triumphs to the latest BMW's....big cruisers to smaller sportz bikes...and the obligatory support vehicles with John and his MG and our periodic photographic crew in the form of Andrew and his liberty......all are welcome !!!

It was a long convoy that snaked its way out of Gateway for our run down Mt Cotton Rd and the fantastic short ride down West Mt Cotton Rd.
It was then on to the cane fields of Jacobs Wells and nearly 30 people descending on a small bakery (see pic at the top) ,we had to wait a little longer but enjoyed the opportunity for some community time.

Sarab and his sporty hysong 250

Mike and his BMW

From Jacobs Well we headed off to the steep climb Henry Roberts Drive to North Tamborine...making our way to the hang gliding launch site...it was cold as can be seen by the pics

its not a bandit...just Don keeping warm

Paul keeping warm in the helmet...with Richard

its camera's at 20 paces with Mike

a lovely De Bruin family pic

With a chilly wind blowing on the mountain across we headed off to the warm fire on offer at a cosy Irish bar....arriving a little early for lunch we settle in for a good chat and refreshing drink. Half of the group made their way up the main street for an early lunch, the rest set in for a nice time on a cold Saturday on the mount...a great time get to know newbies and sharing community.

the boys enjoying some Irish hospitality

tow mikes enjoying a chat

check out more photo's from our photographers on the road HERE