Sunday 31st May was a Blue Moon, and the weather forecast was perfect for a Saddle Sore combined with some Team Strange Grand Tour koala localities.
The Blue Moon info
I was out the door early at dark o’clock and down to the local servo on Ruby Red (R1250RT) to collect my starting docket. This was Ruby’s first IBA ride and I was looking forward to it. The attendant has clearly got used to me arriving, so the pump was switched on ready to go, doors open, with some chit chat about where I was off to.
Ruby Red at the local servo, ready to roll
Small talk completed I headed north past Botany Bay and through the tunnels of Sydney to take the Pacific Highway northwards. It was a cool night with the stars and moon shining brightly. Stopped at Heatherbrae for a coffee and bagel, first customer of the day for Zarraffas, super quick service at 4:30am and I was in & out very efficiently. From here it was more motorway northwards, watching the sun come up.
Breakfast time at Heatherbrae
First Koala locality was Lake Innes near Thrumster. I was running early and the gates to the park weren’t opened, so the photo had to be taken from the main road.
Koala Photo # 1 for the day, near Lake Innes
Mission accomplished, it was back onto the Motorway with the next stop Kempsey for some street art, which was very cool, followed by a detour up to Bellingen to collect the bear in the alleyway.
Kempsey alleyway streetart. Koala # 2 for the day
The bear hiding in the alleyway!
On the way I detoured via the Blue Moon Farm to snap that photo, well why not, it’s a Blue Moon day!
The Blue Moon Farm, just a short detour off the highway
Passing through Coffs Harbour I called Tabledrain to see what he was up to, not surprisingly, he was hanging out in the garage. A quick google map check on travel distances and we agreed to meet at the Byron Bay Lighthouse for a coffee/snack/catchup. I made good time from Coffs to Byron and rolled into the lighthouse carpark to find Tabledrain keeping company with a local motorcyclist, who seemed slightly confused to hear I had ridden up from Sydney to see Ian.
Always time to reconnect with fellow LD riders!
Ian and I spent a sold 30 minutes catching up and discussing riding plans for the year ahead, before it was time to head home. Next stop was Coffs where some more cool street art of Koala bears awaited.
Photo says it all, as it should be. "Just kicking the can down the road"
From there it was out to Crowdy Head for the multiple Koala bear mural on the toilet block, a really neat little detour along the rivers, before rejoining the motorway for the run home to Sydney.
Sunset in Crowdy Head and the final Koala bear photo for the day
Stopped for fuel and dinner at the Taree Service Centre where I managed to snap a photo of the actual full/Blue Moon.
The Blue Moon and Ruby Red @ the Taree Service Centre
From here I settled into the evening ride into Sydney, no drama, as I listened to Sunday evening sport on the ABC. Rolled back into my local servo to collect a finishing docket and some choccies. Job done on another SS1600, this being Ruby Red’s (R1250RT) first IBA ride.
Finishing Docket, time to put Ruby Red away and get some sleep. Have to be at work soon
A good day out riding, including catching up with Tabledrain. Should do this more often!
The Blue Moon info
I was out the door early at dark o’clock and down to the local servo on Ruby Red (R1250RT) to collect my starting docket. This was Ruby’s first IBA ride and I was looking forward to it. The attendant has clearly got used to me arriving, so the pump was switched on ready to go, doors open, with some chit chat about where I was off to.
Ruby Red at the local servo, ready to roll
Small talk completed I headed north past Botany Bay and through the tunnels of Sydney to take the Pacific Highway northwards. It was a cool night with the stars and moon shining brightly. Stopped at Heatherbrae for a coffee and bagel, first customer of the day for Zarraffas, super quick service at 4:30am and I was in & out very efficiently. From here it was more motorway northwards, watching the sun come up.
Breakfast time at Heatherbrae
First Koala locality was Lake Innes near Thrumster. I was running early and the gates to the park weren’t opened, so the photo had to be taken from the main road.
Koala Photo # 1 for the day, near Lake Innes
Mission accomplished, it was back onto the Motorway with the next stop Kempsey for some street art, which was very cool, followed by a detour up to Bellingen to collect the bear in the alleyway.
Kempsey alleyway streetart. Koala # 2 for the day
The bear hiding in the alleyway!
On the way I detoured via the Blue Moon Farm to snap that photo, well why not, it’s a Blue Moon day!
The Blue Moon Farm, just a short detour off the highway
Passing through Coffs Harbour I called Tabledrain to see what he was up to, not surprisingly, he was hanging out in the garage. A quick google map check on travel distances and we agreed to meet at the Byron Bay Lighthouse for a coffee/snack/catchup. I made good time from Coffs to Byron and rolled into the lighthouse carpark to find Tabledrain keeping company with a local motorcyclist, who seemed slightly confused to hear I had ridden up from Sydney to see Ian.
Always time to reconnect with fellow LD riders!
Ian and I spent a sold 30 minutes catching up and discussing riding plans for the year ahead, before it was time to head home. Next stop was Coffs where some more cool street art of Koala bears awaited.
Photo says it all, as it should be. "Just kicking the can down the road"
From there it was out to Crowdy Head for the multiple Koala bear mural on the toilet block, a really neat little detour along the rivers, before rejoining the motorway for the run home to Sydney.
Sunset in Crowdy Head and the final Koala bear photo for the day
Stopped for fuel and dinner at the Taree Service Centre where I managed to snap a photo of the actual full/Blue Moon.
The Blue Moon and Ruby Red @ the Taree Service Centre
From here I settled into the evening ride into Sydney, no drama, as I listened to Sunday evening sport on the ABC. Rolled back into my local servo to collect a finishing docket and some choccies. Job done on another SS1600, this being Ruby Red’s (R1250RT) first IBA ride.
Finishing Docket, time to put Ruby Red away and get some sleep. Have to be at work soon
A good day out riding, including catching up with Tabledrain. Should do this more often!
