Back by popular demand – Drakie’s musings leading up to the recent road trip with Dave and Geoff to the Denman Vinduro in NSW.
More to follow (maybe)...
March 18
"I get so fired up with a ‘road trip’ coming on, I snuck in a 1am night working on the Can Am and then 5 hours in-between Broadford meetings at GMC getting all sorts of stuff fixed on it, including a new muffler..."
March 20
“…um, who doesn’t get excited over an interstate bike road trip?
Not me for sure, well certainly when I have two sparring buddies on board. Let me see: within an hour Geoff (GMC) will have recounted the times Dave has literally ridden over him (and stolen his bike for a few laps) and Dave will harp on about Geoff’s general work ethic and why he didn’t seize the chance to join him in the USA and lay waste to copious amounts of Californian girls; amongst other riding. Jeez if they weren’t best mates you’d reckon they’d be out of the car and laying into each other.
Just so long; please god, they don’t start on again about weird medical shows and their graphic descriptions of the blood and guts. How can a bloke concentrate on the latest bike mag when ‘pustule’ and ‘fibroid’ and other bodily muck is getting dissected by those two. I always plan a music score for the trips with them and we’ve never gotten around to listening to it. When the wife asks what we talked about for 12 hours I’m at a bit of a loss to reply…”well, bikes…” never convinces her. OK, past sexual exploits get an airing but in the dross of real life present marital faux pas get a better reaction. The mystery of women and our place in their universe is always puzzling and despite intense (but brief) discussion no conclusions are ever reached.
On the mundane, got to find the sleeping bag, no Li-Lo so an off the ground camp bed is it; after all there are floods all over NSW it seems. Hmm, boomerang neck pillow may come in handy. Dave scored a DOUBLE swag from the family for Xmas and he’s still puzzling over the connotations. Maybe GMC will get lucky this trip? GMC has a new tent/awning thingy but putting it up in the dark will be a test. Dunno what he’s using to sleep in and I’ m not asking.
The bikes. I’m tired of seeing Dave pissing around with a collection of motely small Yamahas. If it was toe fungus there’d be a cure but I don’t know about this disease. So, he’s riding my Can Am; nicely quietened down with a stock muffler I bought from Paul Kalika (Discount Motorcycle Wreckers). Thank gawd, it was even annoying me. I’ve put a lot of effort in going over the thing to get it right (thanks G) and baring a total wipe out should prove plenty strong for animal Hammond. Geoff will be on the bastard child KDX 175 that only a mother could love. Me; once I reassemble it Thursday night; will be on the fine SWM 250. Rebuilt forks and shocks should put a smile back on my dial and I look forward to roosting Steve Baker on those pissy PEs.
Ah, enough musing now, back to compiling those late entries for the slackers who can’t organise their entries in to HB4 in time...
March 22
“Yes, it’s all running together. Now that we are all locked in and committed the mundane stuff needs attention – clothes, riding gear, will it rain? Camping stuff, earplugs (Morris SNORES!), wash kit, furry hat (one has to keep up appearances), smart and pithy sloganed T shirts (will I make Dave wear the Canadian Team jumper circa 1985 ISDE?), Navman (where is the actual start? Might have to text John), do we go straight there or land on Steve Bakers doorstep in Sydney way past midnight and then get out to Denman from there? Arrgghh! Too many decision, I have to organise this HB4 though, bye for now.”
March 23 (on the road)
“Geoff compiled all Dave's postcards and letters from the USA and just presented it to him as a belated 50 birthday present!”
