The Wild Geese

Karuah Rally 07
Day 1

Had the bike all packed and ready to go Thursday morning so when I shot home from work all I needed to do was have a quick cuppa, shower and make sure that the bottle of red for Murray was tucked in the Gearsack before heading off and riding to Brisbane. After an uneventful trip down and a pizza on the way we turned up at fellow BM Club members Murray and Jenny’s place just after 8pm, met the family, told some lies and then, under taskmaster Murray, were set the job of collating and stapling the maps for day 1 of the BMW club's ride (yes it was us they could blame for the odd upside down map). After finishing the mapping task barista Murray made a very nice coffee and we hit the sack.

Up early 3 GS’s headed to Jimboomba after devouring a pile of toast, coffee and tea. We turned up at the Servo to find a heap of bikes already there.

Met a few people I’d not met before and a few I’d embarrassed myself in front of in the past. We had arranged to meet friend of Mac's, Paul from Grafton at Woodenbong (he’d ridden up the Summerland way to meet us and do the rest of the run with the club) so Mac Wilson and I headed off with me trying to get away from that damned grey 1200GS all the way to Woodenbong (never did shake the bugger) where we fuelled up and had a coffee - Paul turning up only a few minutes later.

Jimboomba Servo

[Neil, Patrice and I had an uneventful ride down the highway to meet up with everyone at Jimboomba, but rather than follow the GS mob from here we elected to hook up with old mates from my epic journey to WA for the first day's ride. The plan was to find a bit more dirt than was available on the official route. Don't know if we succeeded, but we had a lot of fun trying ~ Steve]

The rest of the BMWMCCQ crew were heading past in small groups so we joined in and had a nice run down the bitumen, through Urbenville and then onto the first section of dirt at Duck Creek. By cheating (I had the route loaded into the GPS) I got ahead of the group and took a few photos as other people came past.

Few bikes on a corner before smoko

Nice fast run through here with a stop on the southern side of the Clarence River. A few clever people got out their thermos flasks and had a cuppa and the rest of us less prepared souls had a drink of water and a muesli bar. This was a very nice spot to stop for a break and there was a camper van parked in the shade that had obviously also decided that it was a top spot to spend some time.

Crossing the Clarence River and a good smoko stop

Off again after the short break since we still had a fair way to travel. All roads were fast easy dirt which riders found a pleasure to ride (well I did anyway)as we continued through Baryulgil and on into Grafton where we caught up with the BMW road riders at the Crown Hotel on the river for lunch.

The GS crew still had a fair way to go so we fuelled up and headed out through Nymboida and Clouds Creek on some great twisty tar that tested the adhesion of my knobbies to the max. Up to Ebor where we had a stop and then a look at the falls (where I foolishly didn’t take a photo) and then down the narrow windy dirt road through to Comara and Bellbrook. The steep drops off the side were enough of a distraction without the fact that it started to rain heavily on us as we headed for that beer, with water coursing down the road making everything rather sloppy. We made Taylors Arm with 15 minutes to spare before the food went off, requiring some rapid ordering to ensure we got a feed. A shower, steak and a beer and some “true” stories rounded the night off – well apart from being in a room with 3 snorers (yes that’s you Neil, Steve and Phil). I had shared a room with Neil before so had my earplugs handy and had a reasonable sleep.

[Yes, Neil and I were back on track with the GS boys by the end of the day, and rode with them the following day to the rally. The rest of our first-day buddies elected to call it a day in Coffs Harbour. We never did see them again on this trip - although they nearly made it to the rally they ended their ride in Gloucester when a big storm came through there and they assumed that the rally would be washed out (it wasn't). ~ Steve]

Day 2

Up and breakfasted, the A team headed off to try the Justin Hardy route. The 4 of us “hardy” souls followed the route into several farms and up a road where there was “no entry” as evidenced by the sign. This required a great deal of discussion and “expert” opinion on which way to go with many stops to discuss the map. Eventually intellect prevailed and we asked a local farmer where we were and got sent via a top dirt forestry road that brought us out in Wauchope.

No Entry here? The combined intellect of several map reading experts led us to ask a local

We got to Wauchope at 12pm local time (I’d arranged to meet my brother Mike at Wingham – an hour away – at 10.30) so had a cup of coffee and picked up a couple of other riders (a V-Strom and a 1200GS) who were also having a bite in Wauchope.

The 6 of us headed off on track again heading for Gloucester, (where I was having another go at meeting Mike and a mate Ian (1974 750 Ducati and 750 MV Augusta F4) who had lost interest in us and gone for a ride anyway.

Saw some really great scenery with the Ellenborough falls, very impressive, even with the lack of rain.

Ellenborough falls

Shot down a heap of nice dirt roads and finally caught up with Mike and Ian in Gloucester where we had a late lunch. Justin was also waiting there having picked up the sweep duties from Murray. Due to the impending storm (which of course we rode straight into) we headed from there to the rally via the back way on the dirt. Some really nice scenery and roads that were moist without being either too slippery or dusty made for a great ride in, catching up with a few of the other club members on the way.

One of the creek crossings on the back way in to the rally

A couple of people had minor spills on this section but we all made it in one piece to the site where there were a large number of revellers already set up. I picked a site next to John, a man with obvious good taste, having one of the other well loved red GS’s in the club.

The two very attractive red GS's

John and I chatted while putting up the tents (mine is more of a coffin really) and after the presentations where the Qld BM club kicked some serious butt, a crowd gathered (in the drizzle) around where we were (attracted no doubt by the two 1200’s in the correct colour). Murray turned up to say that some of our crowd had commandeered the registration tent so we all headed there to get out of the rain. A few laughs and stories and then into the “coffin”.

Day 3

Most people headed for home in a direct fashion on the Sunday, but a few hardy souls (well foolish probably) had taken the Monday off to make a longer ride of the weekend. I failed to convince John Meehan and Gary Stirling that heading home with self, Neil Schaefer and Steve Pike through the bush as much as possible was a good idea.

We headed off through the back way out of the rally site and had a good run to Gloucester where we grabbed a drink, sausage roll and fuel, before heading towards Bundook. There was a sign that said road closed on Sunday, but being enthusiastic, we rode in to see if we could get through, but were turned back at the railway crossing. This was being excavated and we were given alternate directions back round Buckett’s Way, turning off to Bundook and Knorrit Flat on the dirt.

Dingo Tops for a break and to let the navigation “experts” spread out the maps

We turned north off this road and wound our way (getting showered on regularly) up through Knorrit and Dingo State Forests, Tapin Tops National Park then through Bulga and Doyles River State Forests, before coming out on the Oxley Highway in the middle of the twisties, just east of Gingers Creek where we headed for a well earned lunch.

Made it through!

After lunch we had a tar transport section to Walcha (along the Oxley Highway, a super-twisty mecca for road riders), where we turned off and ran through some very fast and kamikaze sheep infested dirt roads through Gostwyck and Dangarsleigh to Armidale. Made the decision here to run up the New England Highway to Glen Innes, since it was still wet and getting late. Hired a cabin in the caravan park and went to the RSL club for a feed and couple of soothing ales.

Day 4

Up early and with brekkie over we planned to head down the Gwyder and cut through the Washpool National Park coming out near Baryulgil. I hadn’t ridden in this area for a long time (last time it was still state forest and I came off and broke my ankle and had to ride to Grafton on it – so I was determined not to repeat the exercise this time) and we explored a number of roads that we thought should go through, all to no avail. The road that Neil was sure was the correct one now has a serious locked gate on it so we ended up dropping gown the Gwyder Highway range and turned onto the dirt at the bottom, running up the west side of the Mann River, before eventually crossing the Clarence River coming out on the Tabulam Road.

We had now been wet for most of the past 2 days and yes, it continued. We headed for the Bruxner Highway and turned east, stopping for a fuel up and bite at the little town of Mellanganee, before turning north onto the Cambridge forestry road that runs through the Richmond Range NP. This was more than a tad greasy and while Steve (Dunlop front knobbie) and I (Metzeler front knobbie) didn’t have a great deal of trouble, Neil had some problems keeping the front end of the GSA in line on the TKC. All came through without incident, although the conditions made the ride fairly slow.

Through Bonalbo and then Woodenbong for lunch, prior to a road run (on very sad rear tyres) to Rathdownie, across to Boonah, then Ipswich before a run around Splityard Ck and Somerset dams to Kilcoy (where I thought I’d better ring my wife since I’d said we’d be home early arvo and it was now 5pm and raining persistently).

Neil left us here to head home and Steve and I didn’t even think about running around Maleny, going straight over through Peachester to the highway and up the main drag. Steve peeled off at the Eumundi turn off and I headed for Gympie, getting home at about 7pm.

Good run kids. Thanks Murray, Justin, Gary and Robert from the BM club for your organisation. Thanks also to Roost Goose and Gizmo Goose for the fun run home.

~ Grey Goose

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