Stoner Gear

Looks like my merchandise has arrived, wooh hoo this will look great up on the wall in our lounge room.

Kangaroo Valley

Kangaroo Valley is on the list as one of New South Wales best motorcycle rides. I'd find it hard to argue against that as I have ridden here many times in the past and will continue to do so into the future. I had to travel down to St Georges basin down near Jervis Bay during the week for work. I could have chosen the main Hwy down the coast but I'd rather drive a great biking road than go along a boring Highway. So I packed the camera to take some pics for this blog.

Besides the scenery is spectacular when you descend Barrengarry Mountain coming into Kangaroo Valley from the north. The views through the tree's is awesome although there was to much fog down low this morning to see anything. There are about 10 kms of steep winding mountainous road descending down to the valley floor. This is great fun riding.

Once you reach the valley floor you soon come into Kangaroo Valley township. There was much fog about this morning as I came through here. The whole valley floor was covered as you can see from the following pics.

As you leave kangaroo valley village the road climbs back up the side of Cambewarra Mountain. There is lots of fun to be had on this twisting section of road. The road winds along for about 12 kms until it comes out at Bomaderry near Nowra. I like the look and feel of the hills here kind of sub tropical rain forest like.

The best part about riding through Kangaroo Valley is that there are many other great bike roads nearby. I like to incorporate the ride up through Macquarie Pass with a stop at Robertson Pie shop for a break and a pie. I also like to do Jamberoo Mountain road and combine all 3 roads together into one pretty sweet ride.

Here's a pic of me on these curves taken about 5 years ago. 

In Loving Memory

This post isn't a motorcycle related post but a tribute to one of my close friends.

After seeing one of my closest mates who I have known now for 10 years, VTR Man yesterday he told me that his dad had passed away the night before. Although I have never met VTR mans parents I am well assured that if the old saying is true 'that like father like son' then he must have been a good man.  From myself and our family we are thinking of you mate.

The following song is by one of my all time favourite bands. It was written by guitarist Mark Tremonti after his mother died. Its called......

IN LOVING MEMORY
by
ALTER BRIDGE

Thanks for all you've done
I've missed you for so long
I can't believe you're gone
You still live in me
I feel you in the wind
You guide me constantly

I've never knew what it was to be alone, no
Cause you were always there for me
You were always there waiting
And ill come home and I miss your face so
Smiling down on me
I close my eyes to see

And I know, you're a part of me
And it's your song that sets me free
I sing it while I feel I can't hold on
I sing tonight cause it comforts me

I carry the things that remind me of you
In loving memory of
The one that was so true
Your were as kind as you could be
And even though you're gone
You still mean the world to me

I've never knew what it was to be alone, no
Cause you were always there for me
You were always there waiting
But now I come home and it's not the same, no
It feels empty and alone
I can't believe you're gone

And I know, you're a part of me
And it's your song that sets me free
I sing it while I feel I can't hold on
I sing tonight cause it comforts me

I'm glad he set you free from sorrow
I'll still love you more tomorrow
And you will be here with me still

And what you did you did with feeling
And You always found the meaning
And you always will
And you always will
And you always will


And I know, you're a part of me
And it's your song that sets me free
I sing it while I feel I can't hold on
I sing tonight cause it comforts me

A Glorious Autumn's Day

It was April fools day today and the second month of Autumn. Well bugger me you would have mistaken it for a nice summers day not Autumn at all. You could not have asked for a better day. Pity there was a bit of a  mix up with the starting time and daylight saving also thrown into the mix. There was the 3 of us on today's ride, perfect.

Wayne had got his Ducati back from the shop after the 'incident' back in November. The bike was repaired and waiting to go for awhile, it was more his foot needed healing up and he was ready to get back into the swing of things. He wanted to go for a ride up the Putty Rd, as soon as I'd heard that I was in. Being one of my favourite rides and all.

There must have been at least 30 bikes at the servo at Wilberforce this morning for our fuel up before heading off. And there was a lot more on the road ahead. Luckily most of them either we passed, or they passed us or they pulled into the Grey Gums Cafe. We continued on without stopping until we got to the 10 Mile section of twisties. When we stopped to set up the camera's I found my 32Gb memory stick on the ground where I had dropped it on the last ride! Still there in the same spot 2 months later.

We stopped at the tav for an early lunch and cool drink, it was only 11:00am by the time we got here. I love sitting out the front of this place and just chillin out and watching all the bikes go by. And there were lots of bikes going by today.

This pub is at the bottom of the Hunter Valley which is renowned for it vineyards and great wines. I like how they have a grape vine growing over the front of the veranda at the pub for shade. There were still grapes on it but they looked a bit past there used by date. The leaves give off some pretty colours when in the right lighting

It was then back down the same way we had come, the run back down was not as good as the run up to lunch as on the way back we got stuck behind some cars for a little while. We then decided to pull into the Grey Gums cafe for a quick break. There were lots of bikes here when we went past about 2 hours before and there was still lots of bikes here.

The Colo heights section of road is another good piece of tarmac on this road. This is filmed from the northern end coming down towards the river.

Future Gridgirl

Here's my new tshirt that I got at the Formula Xtreme racing last weekend at Eastern Creek. Modelled by my beautiful 3 year old. She said its a "skirt". Maybe she will become a one eyed Yamaha fan as well.

Formula Xtreme

Today Bushpig and myself headed out to see the formula xtreme super bikes at Eastern Creek Raceway. And what a great day it was too, being about 23°C and perfect riding conditions. The previous day saw some rain which brought out the wet tyres for the teams. We saw some of the wet tyres as per below being an unused tyre however there were lots we saw that were very cooked with big balls of rubber hanging of them.

Strolling along pit lane their were lots of bikes to look at, riders and pit crews to talk to. We stopped at the KTM garage and spoke with them. What a great bunch of blokes they were. Very friendly and answered all our questions and generally were fantastic guys. The young guy was very focused on what he was doing going through his race plan, he had his race face on well before going onto the track.

We visited the factory racing Yamaha truck to see the race bikes. Kevin Curtain was just leaving out the back as we got there. Dam maybe next time. For those non Aussies Kev is an Aussie racing icon having raced for years in super sport and super bike events both nationally and in international circles.

Nice set of cans

The Yamaha race truck and support setup was very professional. I have to buy myself a new t shirt since I haven't bought one in so long.

Bushpig with some of the grid girls, yes they were very nice if I do say so myself. After this it was time to hit the corporate box for some beers and to relax a little.

Sweet Beer

Racing Action

Another nice set of cans

And yet another gratuitous picture with another hot grid girl. arrrrggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

Oh and to the organisers at Australian Super bikes a big fuck you. 3 rounds at Philip island, and a round at Northern Territory and Western Australia and 2 in Queensland but no round in Sydney, NSW. Hello, Sydney is the biggest city in this country with lots of bike riders and an international racetrack in eastern creek and you can't be bothered having at least 1 super bike round here at eastern creek. Shame on you. Roll on Formula Xtreme.

1 Year Anniversary

Yep it's hard to believe that it's been a year already since starting this blog. When I started this I had no idea of what I was doing or what I wanted to do with this blog or where it would end up taking me. Well not much has changed I still don't know what I'm doing! Although I've met some wonderful people since starting this and motorcycling has shown its true colours and made friends out of complete strangers, both overseas and at home.

Sometimes I think why the hell am I writing any of this stuff down and who the heck would want to read it anyway. But I then read other peoples blogs and enjoy them so maybe, just maybe someone, somewhere might get something out of mine.

I'd like to say a big thank you to all the bloggers who have followed the mad ramblings of this illiterate drunkard, I hope you have enjoyed reading my misadventures in motorcycle land as much as I have in making them. I know I have enjoyed reading your blogs.

Where is this blog going? Who knows really.

.......the road winds ever on.

Keep the rubber side down and stay safe all.

Surprise

A small package arrived in the mail today. What gives I didn't order anything, I wonder what it could be. So I eagerly ripped the packaging apart to see what it was. To my surprise this is what I found....

And there was a note in their as well, I read the note and my big bro had ordered them for me whilst he was getting his jacket from the US. Thanks Bro the summer socks look pretty good.