Just want to re-iterate what every said above wrt thanking the Rallymasters and assistants, the cameraderie among the Participants, the inaweness (yes I appear to have made that word up) of the placegetters, the positive result for Crappy in his adventure etc etc.
I woke @ 430am Monday, and still being awake at 450am I thought it best to get a move on. Freeway drone to the Derrick VC Rest Area just south of Sutton Forrest (Can you believe those things are only 41 kms apart!) for a powernap. (When I get around to organising a rally they will feature!)
Replan saw me divert via Harden, Cootamundra, Wagga before completely losing momentum by dropping into Burrombuttock Pub for a beer. Then realised i was <20kms from a 2nd cousin's (who rides and I'd only just met about a month ago) place in Ettamogah, and he was home so there went another hour or so.
In essence if I'd come straight through from Taree I c/would've been home about 5pm. Butt, if I'd come straight through I would've been caught in the mess after an excavator tried (and lost) to take on an overpass through Albury, shutting the freeway for a while before diversions were in place.
As it was, I had a truckie (One of Thompsons from Castlemaine) take a dislike with the Erica's on low (by turning on his rear facing light as I came past, then SWERVING into my lane after I'd gone past with his (ironically
) rather pathetic full beam / driving light combo! This, after I'd turned the Erica's off (and it wasn't like I was hanging out as I passed him either). I passed the truck in front and turned em back on - they're aimed a little low if anything and I've other truckies say they're no problem but there's always one..
I had trouble getting a bite on the way into Melbourne (Wallan KFC closed, didn't feel like Macca;s, HJ's in Kal Kallo mopping floors even though lights on freeway implying they were open) so I took the Craigieburn exit to the HJ's on Mahoney's road. (Thinking about this now I should have just stayed on the bypass and taken the Sydney road exit, but i digress), Dining room with people, doors open, I go to order and the 17 yr server informs me that the dining room is closed but I can go through the drive through.....
Head in hands I drop my elbows to the counter like I'd just been informed of nm unexpected death. Server takes one look and she says "I'll make an exception this time"
They did manage to put pickles in my meat and cheese only burger, but since a) she'd served me via exception , b) they'd closed the doors behind me and c) I really couldn't bother suiting up and trying to exp[lain all that to the drive thru server so I just removed them and fed the seagulls. Home @ 1130pm
I think my favourite part of the weekend was the BS'ing in the parking lot Sunday arvo and dinner Sunday night.
Before I forget, I also had a coke at the pub in Harden. There's a fella there who has a face helmet and a leather jacket for sale. He's sold his bikes and now gets around on an invalid scooter. Judging by his age, the condition of the scooter and the fact he was surprised Triumph were back in business I think its safe to say both the helmet and jacket would fit in the classic category, but I did say I'd pass it on. There's a sign on the wall of the pub if you need his number! (NB. I didn't check if it was an XL Arai Corsair V in Mick Doohan livery....)
Derrick