The Wild Geese

Bellingen Ride

Bellingen 09 Geese @ Dangar Falls.

All up, 10 Geese headed south to Bellingen on 27 Feb in warm sunny weather. With Syed hangin' in there, we ran out through Somerset Dam to Ferndale & onto Beaudesert for a lunch stop & to collect Wockie Goose's mate, Kevin from Tambourine. Having lived there for some years, Muz led the way through Beechmont & onto to Murwillumbah with a short stop at the top of the range to admire the view, a "photop" then down the range via a lovely set of twisties, thru Natural Bridge & over the border. (Did I mention that Syed was still hangin' in there?)

Into the Ranges. On to Lismore where things started to heat up a bit as the Winsome Hotel turned out to be the venue for the Gay & Lesbian community. It was very amusing to see this little band of "straights" in amongst the very large gathering of Bohemian souls. The Winsome (interesting name) has what can only be described as a "weathered" appearance but has been likened to a TARDIS as the interior, especially the accom rooms, are in stark contrast to the exterior.

The night was a blast, the slow food was good, the music was deafening & wine flowed like water. No names here but there were very wonky Wild Geese by the end of the night. One who shall remain nameless was convinced that the three ming dynasty look-alikes on top on the wardrobe were actually guardians of another realm & their eyes were following him around the room!! Spooky!! :eek

Guzzi Goose Rod endeared himself to the crowd by acting as the concierge outside the ladies loo most of the night with some very interesting occurrences noted. (Rod, not all of them needed a hand :rolleyes) For those that still wished to "camp out" (pardon the pun), they were invited to doss down in the barn in the rear yard.

Saturday morning saw a weary bunch, including The Blues Bros, Kev & Wok, wandering into town for brekkie before heading off in a southerly direction to Grafton.

The Winsome Bike Barn. Guests. The Blues Bros. Backyard @ The Winsome.

From Grafton we made our way to along the Armidale Road thru Clouds Creek State Forest on a very twisty road that can only be described as "Exhilarating". Again I mention that Syed was still hangin' in there! A short stop at the "Traffic Lights in the Middle of Nowhere" provided another "photop".

Traffic Stop. After a regroup at Tyringham where Syed who was hangin' in there, caught up & complained about his "sore arms", we headed on to North Dorrigo with a minor mishap at the intersection were the road seemed to fall away as Soody Goose placed her delicate little foot on the ground. All was well with Rod fussing over the scene like a paramedic at a train smash (On ya Rod)

The rural roads into Dorrigo were sublime with everyone having a great ride thru to the "Smallest Motorcycle Museum in The World", Cafe Del Fuego. (And once more I mention that Syed was hangin' in there, although Wockie witnessed a wobble on a corner) After a dekker at Dangar Falls we rode down the Waterfall Way into Bellingen & our digs at the Diggers Tavern. This hotel crowd was in stark contrast to that one at The Winsome, so we made our way up the hill to the "other" pub in town for dinner.

Cafe Of Fire, Waterwall Way, Planning

A much early night than the one before was spent working out the route home with our group heading off in three sections with Syed & Muz travelling together up the coast to Brisvagas, the Guzzi's up the guts & remaining 4 via inland from the coast.

JAG & Rob spent another day traveling home & after a very dusty gravel road to get north, wound their way to Wodenbong to then stop off at the Killarney Pub. Took in Queen Mary Falls & the locale to formulate plans for another trip to this area in the near future.

From all reports everyone had a "rooly good time" & the laughs were plenty. If anyone has any good pics of the trip pls send them onto Rob so this Ride Report can be editted and be betterer. Thanks.

FOOTNOTE: One may notice that Syed's name is now in blue, this being due to his anointment with a Nickname. Check out his Page