Didn't get a lot of pics. Was focused on not getting us all hopelessly lost and as is always the case forgot to take pics. If I get any more pics from the other guys I will post them up.
I arrived at the assigned meeting point early and had a quiet coffee while I waited for the others to arrive. I was a little apprehensive as I was unsure of exactly how many would turn up. I am always nervous leading a ride with guys I don't know, but I need'nt have worried.
Before long the boys started to arrive. Mostly a bunch of my motly loser dirtbike riding mates, but was good to have Steve C and Petes mate mark on his Tenere. Was also good to see Howard again after his early exit from the xmas ride.
Whats his name was there as well.
We split into 2 groups as per the post above and us knarly off road warriors set off, via cannon ck and maroon dam to the popular Condamine gorge, road being careful to not add to the state government coffers.
I had been talking Steve C up to all my mates about what a legend water crossing machine this guy on the Strom was, but he seemed a little reserved at the start of the road, wandering around kicking stones like a lost schoolboy.
And I can understand why he felt that way. He was surrounded by some of my looniest bike riding mates, who dont know the meaning of taking it steady. I actually pressed the shutter button on the below pic of Lard, while he was mid stream, but he was goinng so quick I almost missed him. (but stay tuned to see what happens to him later)
And you remember the old adage slow and steady????
Yeah right. Glen the Loxsmith wouldnt know slow and steady if it smacked him the face...dickhead he is.
And then it was Steves turn. First couple of crossings, he was his consumate self....however due to a storm the previous night the crossings were a bit deeper than the last time we came through and much to my surprise Steve came unstuck. Not once but twice. (Unfortunaly I don't have a pic, but there is some video floating around That I will share with everyone as soon as I get me hands on it. Don't thank me Steve, Its what i do )
The end result at the refuel in Killarnery was this.
We all got a good laugh out of Steve's lilly white legs but fortunately the bike wasn't drowned, although I believe the water spout that came out of the exhaust when he restarted, would have taken someone's head off if they were standing behind it.
From there we followed the border to Marylands National Park (or Marylands race track as I like to call it)
The pace was on, with all sorts of silly passing manourves taking place and more than one of the loonies ended up playing bush bandit. (including me) Steve thought we were most irresponsible. I didnt even have a flouro vest on. 
We stopped at a favourite spot of mine the spectacular crossing at Cataract River, but not before our legend Vstrommer had another little lie down. Again no damage thankfully.
Big Sinkers was loving it, but he was to end his weekend in a bit of Pain after coming off and cracking 3 ribs the next day.
We had an awesome run over the Bruxner range and into Drake for a steak sanger and a a cold beer, then up Paddys flat road (where Mark picked up a flat tyre on the tenere) to our destination for the night. The very bike friendly Crown hotel at Urbenville.
Note to Mark: mate if someone fixes your flat tyre for you, and someone else gives you a tube the accepted method of thanks is to at least the buy them a beer. Next time eh?
The purpose of this together was supposed to be to attend the Dakar party. Problem was noone told Darryl the publican, but despite this we had a great night the highlights of which are a bit sketchy but in no particular order.
A chicken parma that 2 of us couldn't get through.
The puppies behind the bar.
Lyn the 98 year old local trying to chat up one of the guys and slipping her tongue in his ear.
Me getting into a fight with Lyn after she blew smoke in my face. I would have had her too if Harold and Pete were'nt there.
The puppies behind the bar.
Darryl the publicans awesome hospitality.
Getting stitched up by what's his names wife for 20 bucks worth of raffle tickets.
Harold winning the raffle and putting 50 bucks back on the bar. Kept me in pale ale for quite a while. Thanks mate.
The puppies behind the bar.
The bench racing in the camp at 1am with the background symphony of twenty fat old bike riders snoring their heads off.
And the ...........................................................
Fortunately for me and Harold they wouldn't sell us a bottle of red at 1.30am, so into the bivvy bags we poured ourselves.
DAY ONE VIDEO (Thanks Wayne)
We awoke just 4 hours later to the soothing sounds of roosters crowing, birds squauking and everyone else farting and after a slow start made our way out front for the mandatory pic in front of the pub.
Fortuanly the servo didnt open up till 9am and suitably refreshed we said our goodbyes to Gary, Huey, Harold and Pete and set off for what would be an epic day.
The pretty Tooloom falls was the first stop.
Then it was a high speed blast along Sth Yabbra rd to a long forgotten lookout that I had visited years earlier. It was only then I remembered that it was a dead end and that Steve would have to monster Strom back up a very nasty rock covered steep hill, but true to form he did it easily and without complaint.
It was then that sinkers hit the deck. The clay was so slippery it was hard to just stand on it.He was in a bit of pain and once we got to old Bonalbo, he decided that the slab was looking pretty good and headed home.....straight into a waiting ambulance and off to hospital where he was diagnosed with 3 cracked ribs. Tough old bastard is Sinkers.
Probably just as well he went home as what was to follow turned out to be some of the nastiest snottiest single track that ordinarily, I would only attempt on my 450 KTM let alone on the 640. Bikes were dragged under fallen logs. Bridges were made to jump over logs. Steep climbs and brutal downhills. Was great fun (especially as the temp wasa sultry 38 degrees) and eventually after coming a cross a few locked gates that needed to be umm negotiated, we ended up at toonunbar dam, where the hardy souls amongst us stripped off and dipped into the freezing waters. Sorry no pics here as the kiddies might be watching.
By this Stage Steve had had enough and we said our goodbyes and he set off only to end up on the back of an RACQ truck, with a still undiagnosed issue.
Could this be the end Of Steve on a Strom. Were murmurs of DR650's and DRZ400's heard. Could Mal at Gold coast suzuki be selling a new bike soon? All will be revealed shortly.
Steve impressed all my mates with his determination and awesome riding skills....and always with a huge grin on his face, was brilliant to see. Well done mate. I promise I will wear a flouro vest next time. :-)
The rest of us set off up Cox's road which is where the finally bit of carnage occurred with my dumb ass mate Lard, who instead of watching the road, was taking in the awesome view of Mt Lindsay when suddenly the road started to disappear and he found himself heading straight for a 15 metre drop off. Fortunately he had the presence of mind to jump off and the bike ended up dangling over what surely would have been a bike destroying drop. Not to mention himself, but we wer'nt too concerned about him.
The pics of course dont do it justice, but check out the view in the background.
It took six guys to drag the 200kg bike back upright.
Was a very lucky escape. The rest of the ride home was taken at a much subdued pace (except for the bit over the Mt Lindsay twisties)and the knarly hardcore recon riders were all happy to stop at laravale for a nice ice-cream before heading our separate ways.
Day 2 vid
An awesome weekend. Thanks to all those that came along. Especially all the stromtroopers that came to the Pub, Buzz for sweeping And wayne for putting the vid together. Make sure you stop in at the Crown and say gday to Daryl & Helen and check out the puppies, if you ever get the chance. You wont be disappointed.
Cant wait to do it all again. Hopefully before next years Dakar
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