May's Magnificent Kenilworth - Mapleton Falls ride

What great weather we had for this ride through through some beautiful landscape on classic biking roads including Mt Mee, Maleny-Keniliworth and Obi Obi Rd.
It was a great community with nealy 30 bikers on the ride...lots of first timers who reflected our riding commandment 10 .....came back safely with a big smile on their face!

Scott,Leigh (new Triumph) and Tony

Sorry didn't get pics of everyone...but come back and I will sort. We had pickups along the way at Samford, Dayboro and Mt Mee and had about a 330km ride ahead of us.

But first we had to navigate some city traffic ....the nice city and South bank vista's were over shadowed by the busy Saturday morning traffic (make note to avoid next time).
Having previously had problems with the group splitting I had to over emphasised our corner man processes and accountability during the briefing and along with a number of consolidation stops, the group stayed together. 

Finally escaped the traffic towards Samford as we picked up a number of bikes and a support vehicle and headed for the first stop at "the Pit Stop".

So we enjoyed a great morning tea and community at the Pit Stop...love them rolling into the site below.

A couple of riders had to leave us there with the best to come. It was off across Mt Mee and down the mountain...great road.

So it was a great run down Mt Mee , consolidating at the D'aguila highway for the run through Woodford and up to Maleny. On the way up the Mountain we got a timely reminder of the dangers of riding when we came across a group of Harley's and biking accident ...2 fire trucks, 3 Ambulances ..hope the rider was fine.

Harley biker in the culvert on the RHS behind the Ambulance

It is amazing what you come across when riding....the same rule apply's though..the bigger vehicle has the right of way.

We road a little more mindful of conditions but thoroughly enjoyed the twisties through to Kenilworth Bellbird Cafe....where we had an unplanned LONG lunch (how long does it take to get a Devonshire tea)

despite the service there is always some interesting motorcycle equipment usages

enjoying some Band of Biker community

 it was then off to Mapleton Falls via the iconic Obi Obi Road ...an experience for the first timers.

what does that sign say...

some amazing views

So it was a quick top up fro some at Mapleton then run down through the packed Montville to the Maleny Cheese Factory for a final drink and a goodbye as everyone found there way home to various parts.

What a great way to finish the ride with an awesome group of riders...we all had to get away for the long ride back to Brisbane...with a fuel up and drink at BP Caboolture I didn't hit the door at Mount Cotton till 6pm....tire but with a full heart and a big smile after another awesome Band of Bikers ride.

check out our video blow

A delightful Darlington Range and Lake Moogerah ride in April

Riding bikes with the Band of Bikers always brings a smile to your face as Ray & Craig demonstrated on our April ride. This one was full of awesome roads and vista's with a few surprises thrown in as we took a diversion from Beaudesert, down Kerry Rd and over the surprising and beautiful Darlington range then looping around Lake Moogerah and back to Beaudesert via Boonah.

a brief taste of the ride

So with the route over 300km and plenty of twisties thrown in it was a challenge to keep everyone together...in fact we lost 2 tail-end Charlies on the trip which is a whole other story :)

great catchup with newbies and olbies before the ride

Dam ute ruining a beautiful picture of Crusty Customs bike

So another great route that we have done a few times ...this time, shock horror, no Maccas's stop at Beaudesert but Everyday's Cafe instead...different and enjoyable..good chats over coffee and m/tea.

come on steve ...smile :)

Whilst at "Everydays" cafe we spied a couple of old AJS British bikes (how did we know...they were leaking oil) with equally old blokes heading off on a short roadtrip...there is hope for me yet.

a great surprise at morning tea

So onward down Kerry road and open pastures and narrow roads to the turn for Darlington Range...its always a wonderful surprise as the bike points down the road with a surprising sharp right hand turn before we burst onto more rolling open fields....awesome.

We meandered through the myriad of back roads to Rathdowney where we consolidated for a rest stop though getting them back together is like herding cats :)

So then off on a great stretch of road towards Boonah before a sharp right onto more narrow country roads to Mt Alford.

now tell me...how many wheels does Steve have on the ground?

From Mt Alford it was onto another great twisty stretch to Lake Moogerah and more consolidation and story telling of close encounters with the ground :(

impromptu prayer meeting and laying hands on bikes slightly battered VFR

Lake Moogerah...a beautiful spot

Alas the cornerman got a little impatient and we lost a few of our group at this point but they made their way to Flavours cafe for lunch as planned and we finally caught up for some good food and conversations.

So after filling our tanks ( bike and selves) most wound their way back through Beaudesert and on home having enjoyed another delightful day with a few surprises thrown in ;)
Check out the video.

March Sunshine coast hinterland ride to Pelican Waters

Band of Bikers at the Pitstop Cafe on Mt Mee....with some artistic effects

The weather for the ride quickly improved to beautiful blue sky's in the morning though thunderstorms were threatening for late in the day. We met up again with our 4WD group so it was all gathered to depart on our fun for the day...plenty of banter as usual :) 

always wanted to know what the view was like from a Goldwing...thanks Geoff...note artistic treatment :)

The ride was a little over 300km and covered some new roads in the Mooloola Valley which was awesome. After ending the ride at Pelican Waters some made their way back down the more picturesque Steve Irwin Way.

When I saw Des and Dave today I was reminded off those old men in the Muppets throwing cheap shots from the bleaches ..a good laugh to start riding

About 15 bikes left Gateway to meet up with another 10 up at Kallangur Macca's and our fearless leader for today's ride....leaping leprechaun ,Leigh McQueeney....though he was not thrilled with the yellow safety vest :)
As we headed off and navigated some traffic out of Petrie to Dayboro and Mt Mee we were wondering if the rumours of large police presence enforcing the new 60km speed limit on Mt Mee were correct ...but fortunately they weren't
So we wound our way up Mt Mee and its windy roads and beautiful vista's to morning tea at "the Pitstop cafe"

As usual we enjoyed some great community and food ....It was one of the clearest times we have had on Mt Mee and we could see the City from the Pitstop.

most of the Band of bikers enjoying a family pic before heading off

So with our coffee hit well and truly running through our veins we headed across the top of Mt Mee with its awesome views of the Sunshine coast and down the tight bends to the Dáguliar highway, through Woodford thwn back up the moutain towards Maleny before rolling down into Peachester and off to some awesome roads in the Mooloola Valley.

had Sean chasing my rear camera all day ...this vintage treatment give the Honda R1 a new perspective

with the drift camera's playing up I missed most of those amazing Mooloola Valley rides ...but trust me, we will do the run again!
So we made our way back down the highway to Caloundra and some hectic Saturday lunchtime traffic heading to Pelican Waters Tavern for a very nice lunch and more of that amazing Band of Bikers community.

Leigh was happy with his days riding

So as this was the end of the formal ride everyone found their own way home...I took the opportunity to get off the highway and head down Steve Irwin Way ....with obligatory Australia Zoo photo opportunity.

So with the storm clouds brewing it was a little extra  gas to get back to our clubhouse...to watch the show.

Check out more of our ride on the video below

It's a Mouthful of a ride- Numinbah,Tyalgum,Tumbulgum

Another magic day in the great south-east , 30 deg, windy roads and beautiful vista's ... a great day for a ride. With around 20 bikers and a few more to be picked up on the road we also welcomed a few new riders...couldn't be more contrasting bikes..a Ducati 999 Testretta and a Honda Goldwing

The boy's we giving me the hurry up to get going ...too much technology on my behalf

checkout our route here....on the way back we got off the freeway for a detour through Canungra and home

So off we headed picking a number of extra riders as we headed to Numinbah Valley

Pete on his last ride on the Custom 900 :(

Magic Numinbah...watch those tight bridges though

With everyone hanging out for a cup of coffee we headed off doe MK cafe in Numinbah Valley enjoying the initial twisties then lust landscape of the Valley.

Hugh and his big Goldwing bearing down on me

 Alas  when we arrived at the cafe was closed as were the other cafe in Numinbah Valley....bikers..I mean Brenton not happy :) ..so it was off to Tyalgum and Flutterbies Cafe for brunch.

We were warned about some police hanging around outside of the township but didn't seem to be interested in us..we gave them a nice wave :) 

We then enjoyed climbing out of the Valley then navigating our way over the border then down through Chillingham and the beautiful rolling landscape to Tyalgum

By the time we made it to Tyalgum we could eat a horse but had to settle for some coffee and pancakes and great community as usual...the temp was hot down in the Valley.

nothing like sharing great food with friends...whats with the phone Paulette?

Little did we know that the engine red light that appeared on the ducatti when he pulled up was to present us with some issue on leaving....some 4o minutes later after attempting push starts...ringing mechanic friends etc it was decided to leave the bike at the post-office and get it picked up ...thanks to a BMW100RT and Honda Goldwing the stranded bikers were given a different but comfortable ride home.

waiting and sorting strategies to help that beautiful Ducati 999

So with everything sorted we headed off for our lunch stop at Tumbulgum Pub ...I always forget the daylight saving time but got in before closing.... we had a great lunch and views right on the river...jet ski's...houseboats lovely

It was then a great back through the cane fields and along the ridge toward Tullebudgerra creek connection road and our end point at the West Burleigh Caltex ...unfortunately due to some communication issues our group got split so not everyone got to ride this last stage but all was good and everyone enjoy a fabulous day of riding food and friends!!!

amazing vistas through the cane fields where we came across a cycling event...ohhh, so much lycra :)

so... check out our longer than normal video , appologies for the over dubbing narration..trying something new.