This was my first long distance ride since the crash on the 1 year anniversary of Kimmie v Emu. Fergus was all ready and packed for the ride and I was feeling good, to be honest I didn’t really think about it.
After the usual Friday coffee and cake at Café Corryong Brew, I headed off at a leisurely pace down the B400 or Murray Valley Highway.
Barnawartha and it started to rain, great but really, I just took a deep breath thought “this is nothing, just large drops”. Rutherglen and according to the Silo Art Map the Silo here isn’t started but as I got closer to the roundabout, it’s totally finished. Not being totally comfortable on Fergus yet to navigate u-turns, diversions, I kept going…..I can always come back to it.
Through some B & C roads and the rains stopped, skies are now cloudy, but the wind has picked up. Stopped up at Tungamah for some art and bumped into a lovely older couple wondering what I was doing out on a day like this on my own. Killing demons was my initial response but clarified with recovery process of a previous motorcycle accident and strangely enough they understood. Making new memories with Fergus.
Going through Katamatite and I couldn’t go past without getting another Silo and making more memories with Fergus, bumped into the old couple from earlier.
The skies are blue with fluffy clouds and the scene of canola fields dancing in the windy is everywhere. Forever watchful for unexpected wildlife but not prepared for the volume of birds that just want to play kamikaze today. Must admit, I did close my eyes a couple of times and backed of the throttle waiting but stars decided not Kimmie again.
10km heading to Numerkah and the TPMS warning light lit up half the instrument cluster with WARNING Low rear Pressure. I hit the panic button, I’ve never had TPMS before so thought best to pull into the closest servo and check. My tyre gauge gave me a good reading but rang Karl to see what I should do. He talked my through checking the tyre pressure on the TFT and it read the same as my gauge, so no need for alarm. Early lunch and comfort stop into a beautiful windy afternoon.
Out through Barmah which was a scheduled fuel stop and decided to keep going into Mathoura. Turn onto the Cobb Highway and the wind is really bad now. Another WARNING now, the Fuel light with 57km range remaining which again takes up half the TFT. So glad to see the Ampol Mathoura and fill up with 32km left on the tank. 372.9km on the tank not to shabby for battling wind most of the day. They have some pretty silo art and sculptures here.
Straight shoot through to Deniliquin now and the wind is the worst it’s been all day. Took all my strength to hold Fergus, really tested my lack of fitness.
Parked up at my digs for the night at Deniliquin Country Club Motor Inn. Can highly recommend if you’re looking for somewhere to stay in Deni. Over to the RSL for dinner and enjoying a cold beer.
Fergus did well, things I learned:
- Don’t panic when the TPMS comes on but check and trust myself.
- Lowering the screen helps with the wind buffeting.
- Ground clearance is about the same as Dudley without having to lower him but the side stand still doesn’t clear some petrol station platforms.
- Reversing with the panniers on is a little harder (could just be I don’t have the bean at the mo).
- Trip meter has some funky settings but leave the setting on manual.
Saturday was an easy day for me since I was already at the destination but DNF’d on purpose. The Crossing Café is a fabulous boutique café with a lovely outdoors undercover area where we all dined after check-in.
