A fellow moto-blogger and complete bastard, Bandit Rider tagged me in Game of 4's. A challenge in which four questions are provided, each to be provided four answers. I don't normally like these things but seeing as everyone else is jumping off the cliff I thought I would too. All images blatantly stolen from the interwebs.
The four questions are as follows:
1) What is your favorite food?
2) What is your favorite drink?
3) Places you've been?
4) Names that you are known by?
Favourite Food
I generally like fairly simple foods, and don't really adventure too far from that. You might say I'm a steak and 3 veg kind of guy but here are some of my favourites. I'm not really a fish guy I find fish kind of boring and tasteless.
1. Spaghetti Bolognese - So simple even I can cook this and it can't go wrong. I usually make my own version of this and make it in the slow cooker over 4-5 hours, the fragrances from the garlic goes through the whole house.
2. Pizza - I love a freshly made wood fired pizza from a proper Italian pizza place, not your run of the mill Domino's, Pizza Hut crap. They are pretty rubbish but your small pizza-pasta places can have some fantastic pizza, hold the anchovies though.
3. Roast Chicken/beef - Yep another simple meal either chicken or roast beef cooked with roasted veggies carrot, potato, sweet potato, pumpkin and onions all with a side of veggies and smoother with gravy. Yum
Favourite Drink
Well this one is quite easy and I think you guys can already guess this one. It's got to be BEER of course closely followed by coffee. I'm not a big fizzy drink fan like coke or anything like that unless it has some bourbon in it and would prefer water or cordial.
1. Beer - What sort you ask? Well I'll have a crack at just about any beer but some of my favourites at the moment are the new craft beer Pale Ales that are popping up everywhere. James Squire's 150 Lashes and Gage Roads Brewing Atomic Pale Ale are my current favourites.
2 . Coffee - I love a good cup of coffee, usually a flat white or a cappuccino I don't usually go for the latte or mocha's.
3. Iced Coffee - When I don't feel like a coffee I've been known to indulge in an Iced Coffee. Not the best for the waistline.
Places I've been
I haven't really travelled that far from Australia. I've been to every state of Australia which is a fair size.
1. New Zealand - Been three times so far, honeymooned there in 2007 on both Islands and then visited the South Island in 2011 and then again for a motorcycle tour in 2014. Soon to be a Motorcycle tour of the North Island in 2017 where we can ham it up with Geoff and Andrew..
Franz Joseph Glacier
2. Fiji - We went to Fiji for a family holiday in 2013. Its a quite a relaxing place to laze around an do nothing.
Sofitel Pool resort
Names I'm known by
1. Chillertek or Chiller - How this came about was about 10 years ago my brother Flyboy and I were playing online Wargames mainly Call of Duty - his handle was Flyboy so I came up with Chillertek as at the time I was a commercial Air Conditioning mechanic by trade funnily enough fixing Chillers of all things.
2. Steve - Yup that's my real name, and like Geoff if I hear Steven being called by my wife I'm in big trouble.
Owning a pure bred sports bike or in my case the R1 which is basically a race bike, it has a couple of draw backs. No I'm not talking about it being an uncomfortable SOB, I'm talking about being able to carry anything at all. You see there's no space under the seat, the tool kit that came with the bike can't even fit under the seat, there are 2 allen keys under that little rear seat and there's not even enough room to put in a credit card so carrying anything is pretty much out of the question. You couldn't even fit a pair of under pants under that seat, even if it was a thong!
I've been putting off getting any luggage carrying equipment for the bike as most rides I've had my wing man Slomax with us who had a spare pannier available in his aprilla I could put my backpack in. Not that you can fit much in a backpack. I have a five day ride coming up and the Slomax won't be on this ride and I don't fancy living out of a backpack for that long so I decided to do something about it.
So I got my ass down to Motorcycle accessories supermarket in Auburn and picked up a Ventura rack and 47 Litre bag for the R1.
The ride is on tomorrow so I got out in the garage this afternoon to fit it up. Half way through I realized that the people at Ventura can't count. There are 4 bolts and only 2 nuts in the pack.
So I Consult the parts list that came with the rack that will be the answer they must have forgotten to put 2 nuts in the packet. Sadly the Ventura people must have hired someone who can't count either as the parts list also states 2 nuts. Now how in the fuck am I supposed to fit 4 bolts with only 2 nuts. After spending nearly $600 on this which is pretty outrageous really for 2 pieces of tube steel and 1 bag they can't even get the fucking number of parts in the kit right. Jesus I don't need this shit only hours before the ride.
So then a trip to bunnings for some nuts and I got the rack fitted, but now I have another problem. The rack is too close to the rear indicators and actually pushing them down. The R&G tail tidy has moved the position of the rear indicators and now its not gonna work. Double fuck it. Pic below of rack sitting on the indicators.
So again what to do? Well looks like another trip to bunnings to buy some longer bolts and some washers. I lowered the tail tidy with some washers and slightly bent the bracket on each side so there is a 2-3mm gap between the indicator and the rack. Job done for the moment.
So now here is the touring R1 race bike. Ventura people give yourselves an upper cut firstly for your lack of checking your shit and secondly for your pricing. I shouldn't have to take a trip to the hardware store to pick up shit that was supposed to be in the kit. Now lets hope this bag is water proof.
Saturday morning was shaping up to be a good one weather wise so a quick phone call and a ride was organized, nothing like last minute planning. I'd quickly got ready checked tyre pressures and oiled the chain and was off to pick up Bushpig.
He wasn't quite ready when I got there which was good as it gave me a chance to give the R1 a bit of a sponge bath as I hadn't had a chance to wash it since the last ride and it was pretty filthy I must say.
Squeaky clean, almost
Plans were hatched for a shortish ride as my rear tyre was shot, I have booked the R1 in for it's 10k service on monday and a new set of tyres, this will be the fourth set. So we decided on lunch at Wisemans Ferry pub and then take the Ferry across the Hawkesbury river and ride along the river to the Old Pacific Highway and then back home.
The Wisemans Ferry road from Cattai to Maroota has been hot mixed and is now as smooth as, needless to say this was a fantastic ride through here until we turned of and had to over take some Harleys riding so slowly they were holding up a learner driver. Stopping in at the pub for lunch we were surprised there weren't many bikes here today, there were a couple of nice looking Indians.
Hammer Time
Ferry or Fairy
Crossing over the Ferry I'd noticed they were operating two ferry's today, I don't think I've ever seen two ferry's in operation before, maybe it's to cater for all the extra spring traffic?
There was quite a few bikes going through at a reasonably slow pace so we stopped for secret men's business and to let them go so we could have a free run with the traffic. The road surface hasn't improved much in the last few years between the ferry and central mangrove, it's tight rough and a lot of blind corners with drive ways on the other side so it was a cautious ride.
It wasn't long before we got around to the Old Pacific Highway which used to be one of my favourite roads, but has now become a lambs to the slaughter type thing between bikes and the highway patrol. Its sad because its such a great piece of road but now with ridiculously low speed limit 60 kmh for most of it with just a small section from Brooklyn Bridge up the hill is 80 kmh. That's probably why we only come up here once a year. Anyway a quick stop off at the tunnel for a piccy and we were underway again headed for the Road warriors cafe.
Tunnel of love
Oh look what I found lets thrash it!
There were only a handful of bikes at the road warriors cafe today. We stopped to take on some fluids and just to take a break. It was eerily quiet on the old road today on such a good day as well. Wonder where everyone is? Ah well that's more open road for us then.
On the way up from Brooklyn bridge towards Pie in the Sky is some of the sweetest set of twisties anywhere. Hot mixed asphalt with 2 lanes heading up the hill and one lane down. I'd notice there was a couple of photographers parked on eddies corner so I combed facebook after the ride and found these gems.
The last two photos thanks to Tee Jay Photography.
I was invited along on a ride on one of Australia's best riding roads, if not "the" best riding road the Oxley Highway in Northern NSW. Most aussie bike riders know of this road, it's probably our equivalent to the Tail of the Dragon in the USA. The road itself starts from the coastal town of Port Macquarie and snakes it way up through the great dividing range and out to Tamworth and beyond. But the best part for us bikers is the bit from Long Flat up to Gingers Creek and beyond that. This road has 54kms with over 300 bends which is an Aussie motorcycling mecha. When I got the invite I was like sign me up and when can we go.
DAY 1
This was to be a 3 day affair with us meeting up at McGraths Hill maccas. I'd met up with the Slomax and we rode out to Riverstone as I had to stop and vote in our local council elections before leaving otherwise they would have hit me up with a fine for non voting and I'd rather keep the money in my pocket than give it to those bastards. Stopping early we ordered a coffee waiting for the polling booth to open, taking the first sip of coffee and it was like it had been made in the fires of Mt Doom. I think i'd burnt the taste buds on my tongue. Struth it was hot, it took 10 minutes to cool down to drink it.
Continuing on we arrived at our meeting point to find Doug and Dave waiting for us and no sign of Bushpig. About 15 minutes later he arrived. He looked like he'd gone six rounds with Mike Tyson blood shot eyes and all. We got it out of him he'd had a big night out at the pub the night before doing karaoke.
The ride took us up the Putty Road to Singleton, being a nice sunny day the blast up here through the 10 mile of twisties was fantastic and I was having a blast. I pulled over at the end for a little boys stop and let everyone catch back up and soon we were under way and on into Singleton for a refuel.
Dave's ZX-10R ballistic Missile
Putty Road Rest Stop
Road from Gresford to Dungog
After Singleton we headed out towards Dungog. This would be a fantastic little road if it wasn't so god damn rough. The bit from Gresford to Dungog and across to Stroud is an awesome area but the road is so rough it's no longer any fun. I'd say it borders on being dangerous. Some sections of this road you can no longer actually see the road anymore as it is just a series of patches upon patches until there is not road anymore just patches. Note to Dungog council - Fix your fucking roads you pissed me off you bastards. I'll never spend a cent in your shithole of a town until these roads are fixed that's how pissed I am. I had to check I still had all my teeth when we stopped in Gloucester.
There was one sphincter puckering moment when the Slomax went to overtake only to find that there was someone coming the other way, I hope he brought a spare pair of undies because he sure would have needed them. Just goes to show you can never be too careful, and he is usually a super careful rider.
Dungog Turn off
After a lunch stop in Gloucester we continued on the Buckets way towards the coast foregoing the usually Thunderbolts way. I hadn't ridden across this road in about 15 years or more and it was quite a good bit of road winding up through the hills as we turned off up yet even more back roads to come into the back of Taree which is Troy Bayliss country. No wonder he was so fast with all of these roads on his doorstep but a hefty dollop of talent thrown in.
We decided to stop by Harrington which was on the coast for a quick beer on the water front before we headed to our digs for the night at the Coopernook pub which is just off the highway.
Harrington Hotel
Hotel Coopernook
Into the pube to spend the holiday monkey
Rick turned up about 30 minutes after we got there, he'd ridden down from Brisbane to meet us and had to contend with rain most of the way. Better him than us I thought!
Add caption
The Coopernook pub was a good little find just off the main highway, there was no noise from the highway and it was only $35 per person per room, with continental breakfast included. It was meant to rain over night so we put the bikes in under the front verandah for the night but it didn't do much more than spot a bit. We sat out the front enjoying the warm weather talking shit and drinking some fine ales.
DAY 2
After breakfast we had a bit of a late start but that was fine by me as we didn't have a lot of kilometers to do today. We did a short section of the Pacific hwy to get us to Wauchope were we stopped for a coffee across from timbertown. There were a few bikes coming passed going up the mountain.
On the way up there was a heavy downpour for about 5 minutes just as we got to the first set of twisties. I could see blue skies on the other side of the cloud so we pressed on and the sun came out again but now the roads were wet. Fantastic, twisty wet roads.....
The Oxley Highway
The view from Mt Seaview
We arrived at Gingers Creek store just on lunch time and we were all famished. I'd ordered the bacon & egg roll on Doug's recommendation. Good call doug it was very good. Although the hamburgers that came out looked even better. Rick had trouble getting his mouth around it, it was that big no joke.
Doug decided he'd take a break and read his kindle whilst the rest of us left our gear at the store and headed back down the mountain. It was staring to dry up now with only a few damp patches here and there.
A lot of this was so tight and twisty that on the R1 I was riding most of it in first gear which allowed me to concentrate on corner speed and lines without having to factor in gear changes. There were only a few places I needed to change into 2nd or third but they were few and far between. This road is mostly 35 or 45kmh bends.
Coming around the Mt Seaview bend I could see Dave and Rick on the side of the road, I slowed to pull over but they waved me past, I hadn't seen Bushpig or Slomax so I pressed on.
As I came around a left hander what did I see on the side of the road but these two bums sitting there enjoying the sun shine. Taking my helmet and gloves off my hands were shaking with adrenaline, they both laughed at me as if I was some feeble old guy with parkinson's.
Slomax & Bushpig
Heading back up to Gingers Creek the road had dried out and I was getting my eye in now after two passes. By the time I got to the top I was starting to get a bit tired and thirsty after 80kms of hard riding on this winding road. Pulling back into Gingers Creek there were now a lot of bikes here in the carpark. I thought I better top up the tank as I probably wouldn't make it to Walcha. I was right I would have run out of fuel 30km out of town, this R1 is thirstier than an alcoholic on payday.
Dave & Rick at Mt Seaview
Ricks Tuono
Rick, Dave and I decided on a quick stop in to have a look at Aspley falls which is just off the side of the road. With all the rain lately the falls were roaring today. Time for a quick selfie.
Aspley Falls
It wasn't long before we got into Walcha for a fuel top up, a quick beer before the quick trip across to Uralla and the Top pub which was our stay for tonight.
DAY 3
Bushpig and I went for a walk around Uralla early to see what was open. Being a small country town and a Sunday there was sweet FA open so we headed back to see if the others were up yet. We did make one vitally important discovery on our walk but damn it they were closed. I had to stop Bushpig from licking the windows. Maybe next time then.
Brewery Goodness
After a big cooked breakfast at the cafe across the road from the Top Pub we got under way again heading down the New England towards Tamworth. We said our farewells to Rick as he was headed back to Brisbane as we went south. This was just boring slab work until we got to the turn off on the out skirts of Tamworth.
Top Pub Uralla
Nundle Road
Bushpig just chillin and catching some rays
Doug has shown us a new route to go down to avoid the crap top section of the Thunderbolts way. It starts from the top of Tamworth and heads out towards Nundle running in between some large hills and along beside a creek. The roads flows well through beautiful countryside here before suddenly coming up a tight twisting section called Port Stephens cutting quickly ascending the mountain side until it comes out on top of the plateau. It was rough and tight and there were plenty of picture opportunities but I was having to much fun to stop and take any photos.
It wasn't long before we'd popped out back onto Thunderbolts way near to Nowendoc. A few minutes after we stopped a Ducati 1198 and a BMW came flying up, they were starting to look for fuel so they headed for Nowendoc.
Doug on the Thunderbolts Way
Lunch At Gloucester
We stopped in at Gloucester for fuel for the bikes and ourselves. A large iced coffee hit the spot just right. I wasn't hungry after the huge breakfast I'd had. We headed back down the way we had come on day 1 through Dungog and Gresford. I had to wave Slomax through on one section as I had to slow down the road was that rough I was getting hammered by the road surface and hard suspension. I repeat it again, Dungog council get your fucking shit together before your crap roads kill someone.
Another slaps of fuel in Singleton it was the home run down the Putty Road back home. A quick stop at the top of the ten mile then we were under way again. The pace through here was good and I followed Dave and Slomax getting my knee down on Batman corner. When the road is in good condition this new R1 is superb but when its not it can be a nightmare. Such a big difference in surface conditions on this ride.
Putty Road
Stopping just outside of Windsor we said goodbye to Dave who was heading back down to Nowra, he had another 2 hour ride on top of what we had to do. Wonder how he felt at the end of that? I was shattered by the time I got home from the hammering I'd copped going through Dungog, it took me about two days to feel ok again after that ride.
Another top weekend of beer, bikes and bullshit...... er roads. Gents lets do this again soon!
Well this one is quite easy and I think you guys can already guess this one. It's got to be BEER of course closely followed by coffee. I'm not a big fizzy drink fan like coke or anything like that unless it has some bourbon in it and would prefer water or cordial.
