The Wild Geese

Any Week Day Thurs 30Bike Museum
Five meet at EPO then Forset Glen to head off to the Bike Museum in cloudy but warm weather. NO RAIN:] John from Tassie joined us on a GS from Coastline and we had to drag him away from the Big Jaffa that stirred his memories. Beautiful bikes & a great ride was had by all. The Coffee stop at Somerset proved alluring so lunch there on the way back. That might have also had something to do with Ozzie's flat tyre but Colin (GBH)* was on hand with all the RACQ Breakdown stuff. (TG)** otherwise we'd still be out there.:o

* GBH = Geese Bless Him. ** TG = Thank Geese

A little extra addition to the report of the ride to Haigslea Motorcycle Museum as seen from another point of view. The meeting place for this mini epic ride was the BP Forest Glen where we set off in convoy turning onto the Ilkey Rd to Eudlo and south along the Old Gympie Rd.to pick up the Peachester Rd for the nice swoop out towards Kilcoy with interesting diversions along Commissioners Flat and Villeneuve Roads on the way. The next section from Kilcoy to Somerset Dam was, as always, a sheer delight with the sweeping bends and grandeous views on the left over the water. At the village of Somerset Dam, we took time to enjoy the fine food and heart starters available at the Catchment Cafe and then pressed on over to the western side of Lake Wivenhoe to take advantage of the long sweepers and superb road surface that makes a good ride worthwhile. A short time later, we all pulled in to the parking lot at the Haigslea Museum where we were treated to a personal flypast of one of the last of the RAAF's F-111 bombers from the Amberley Airbase next door.

The spectacle that greeted us as we entered the front door of the building was enough to get all of our wish lists mentally filled in instantly. Not just a whole lot of old bikes, but a superb collection of VERY significant models from all eras. From veterans through the classics right up to the more modern dream machines. My eye was taken immediately by the breathtaking prescence of an MV Agusta 750S from the 1970s resplendant in red, white & blue sitting at the head of the display just waiting for me. (SIGH). I would think that the nose print I left on the original importers showroom window in Sydney many years ago would still be etched into the glass. I remember it well! The National Motorcycle Museum at Nabiac, NSW has many more bikes than this one, but the sheer quality of the machines here is to admired by any viewer. If you were quiet, you could here throughout the building.."I had one of those.." & "I remember when...." as well as a few "I used to race one of those back in...". Truly a worthwhile trip down memory lane for all of us and a revelation to see the bikes we didn't know about.

One of the great highlights to be found there was a corner of the building full of Vincents both old & new. Yes, NEW!! Seems a wealthy chap in the US of A was determined to produce a new Vincent from the ground up and went about it with admirable thoroughness. Mounted in a new aluminium frame was a 1200cc Honda Racing Company RC51 superbike engine (NOT detuned!)and carbon fibre everywhere. He had the whole show ready to go including road test machines of each class, brochures, clothing and all and then he died in a road accident!! The owner of the Haigslea Museum bought the lot and so we can go and drool over these fine examples of the motorcycle art. Finally we were invited to enjoy their hospitality with a cuppa and bikkies in a very nice leather lounge furnished room before we again mounted our trusted steeds for the home run marred only by the sudden stopping of Ossie in front of me as we crossed the water at Somerset Dam with a flat back tyre caused by a dirty great self tapper. He looked a little troubled until I pulled out the tyre repair kit and compressor. We thought it was taking a bit long to inflate until Ossie tried to check the pressure and heard a hiss. Lo & behold, ANOTHER hole in the same tyre about 20cm away from the first! Repeat the procedure again and we all set off to the cafe again for an excellent lunch and then a fine sweep through the twisties along the western side of the dam and home. A very satisfactory day out indeed with great conditions and fine friends. What more do we need?

Rubber side down

Col

onya Col

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