An invitation was extended to me & Karl of course from friends of OzSTOC (ST owners club of Australia) for a RTE to Gulargambone. You say where??? Gulargambone! Never heard of it, you puttin’ me on….lol.
Well they weren’t and I was looking forward to catching up with some friends I haven’t seem in nearly 18 months!!!! They all wanted to know if Karl (the mystery man in my life or The Phantom as he has become known as) would be attending – yes, why wouldn’t he be……hmmmm.
Saturday comes around and we leave at a respectable 8:00am for a easy days ride totalling around 550kays. It was foggy as we left McGraths Hill heading towards The Putty Rd and didn’t come clear until a reasonable way up. Past Grey Gums and into the twisty stuff. It’s been ages since Karl & I have riding on our own together so I was looking forward to this weekend. Into the twisty stuff and I kick riders through……Karl is gone and I’m just taking it easy on Angel. One of the guys we’ve met (Karl & Andrew were waiting for me) and we head to Bulga where I have a hot chocolate to warm up and Karl waits again 🙂
Bulga and hot chocolate
Still cool but the sun is out and the fog has cleared. Through Jerry’s Plains and horsey territory with views of beautiful luscious greens fields. There has been so much rain everything is green for a change….a nice change (from a viewing perspective anyway). Into Merriwa for fuel and lunch at the bakery. Fresh pies h…..hmmmm yummo, oh not to forget the sauce to go with it.
The Hutt – Merriwa
The Hutt, is an example of how the local Merriwa settler lived back in the day. There’s also a small museum off to the left and some local crafty things that all help raise funds for the local community. To the right on the side wall of the cafe is an iron work mural….pretty amazing.
iron work mural
Anyway, that’s enough for sight seeing, Karl is ready to go and I can hear a camp fire with my name on it calling……
Gotta love the country roads out here, I “Never-tire” (not today, we are going to Gulargambone…lol) riding them. Not long out of Merriwa and we are road blocked by a “super wide” load, complete with full police escort. Crapper, have to play nice and there aren’t a lot of places to overtake considering the oncoming traffic is pulled right off the side of the road. La de dah, de dah….Ooo, look out, a lucky break and Karl and I scoot off around the “how big is my bum” load and mossy along into Dunedoo. Very busy in town today due to the local markets and show.
Onto the Castlereagh Highway heading towards Mendooran on a new road. Well, the road itself isn’t new but it’s new in the way that I haven’t ridden this one before. A lovely road to just meander along with no traffic and beautiful scenery. Into Mendooran and it’s like a ghost town, like so many other country towns these days. Some of the buildings have lovely murals painted on them…..it’s just a shame that there aren’t many people around to enjoy the talent of those who painted them.
How nice is it just riding with my Sweety, it just doesn’t happen quite enough. Anyway, on Mr Google Maps there is this town called Breelong (I listed it on my ride plan) and I saw a town sign, but I’ll be buggered if there was a town, barely any houses near the road just fences really….lucky I didn’t need to stop here (it might just be a bit scary).
Gilgandra for fuel and a small break.
Gilgandra BP
The sun is lovely and warm but there is still that hint of a chill in the air (I can only imagine how warm it is going to be tonight…lol). It’s only 50 kays to Gular (Galah), the sun is just starting its way down and is glaring into the eyes. Water, how much rain have they had up here. There are so many signs warning us of “water over road” luckily though we didn’t encounter any but the water is pooling in the verges off either side of the road.
Into Gulargumbone, my research had said there was “no” fuel here, however there is a Inland Depot on the right just as you enter town and these have a 24hr swipe card pay thingy (just for future reference) which could be in handy sometime. We find the supermarket come bottle shop for supplies then head off looking for the caravan park……but not before the obligatory photo of the post office.
The Posty
We are warmly welcomed on arrival at the Gulargambone Caravan Park by the OzSTOC guys and Dave & Bernadette the park owners. Into our cabin (former retirement home cabin) parked up on the grass, unpacked, changed into warm clothes (that isn’t riding gear) and we are off to start the socialising with old and new friends.
The camp kitchen down the back is bustling with activity and quite a few of the guys have set up a “not to shabby” campsite. I’m not sure Growly knows how to camp….he seems to “Glamp” it!!! LOL
Did you know they even have a small menagerie, with for really living animals and everything….including Mr Licky. He really enjoyed Karl scratching his forehead and horns……a weird sort of bro-mance, but it was funny to watch 🙂
Mr Licky
and friends…….this little guys was just so cute.
baby goaty…..very cute!
and friends…..
a couple of Lama, sheep, ducks, geese and would you believe Turkey’s!!! Sorry they were in the rear fenced area and I couldn’t get a pic of them (they were big too, fattening up nicely for xmas dinner…he he he).
Now, with a town name of Gulargambone and with symbols and artwork around town, one would have to be absolutely silly to not think it was named after “galahs”. So here are just a few of the “galah” locals hanging out for the afternoon.
the locals
As the sun goes down in a north western country town, people set in for the evening………. propped up on chairs around a roaring camp oven fire, beer / beverage in one hand and the other warming from the fire. That’s dinner cooking in the pots (ovens) in the coals and a couple of those are homemade damper…..yummo!!! Dave, Bernadette and a couple of their friends dish up a hearty home (camp oven) cooked dinner which was very delicious!!! We even had dessert of sticky date pudding which custard and cream…..Oh my wasteline took a battering this weekend.
camp oven
Stories (and some fibs) are told 🙂 , new friends are made and catching up with old ones is always a great way to spend an evening. It’s been nearly 18 months since I’ve seen me mate Diesle Dave and man, we just can’t leave it that long. Good to see you buddy! How nice are the OzSTOC crowd? Extremely, considering we don’t even ride ST’s. But like most motorcycle groups that I’ve had the pleasure of being apart of, you don’t have to ride the brand / model for which the group is known….it’s more about the camaraderie that brings riders together – which is fantastic.
Diesel Dave & me – great mates!!
Grumpy had organised this event (as he lives here) and his lovely wife Julie had been baking madly to spoil some of the folk attending (some arrived on Friday and Grumpy and Julie had hosted them at theirs). One of the yummies she baked were some Triple Chocolate Brownies. Naturally I had to sample one and save Diesel from overindulging himself (as I’d been told he’d been making a little oinker of himself with them…he he he) and then there was 1 left. This solitary Brownie was going to be auctioned off to raise funds for the Royal Flying Doctors Service.
friendly faces
To say it was cold was just a little understatement. Near the fire it was lovely and toasty, I even turned myself around a few times hoping to even out the tan….LOL. Quite a few of the folk here I had only met tonight and it was lovely to sit back and just listen to the stories of others and chirp in every now and again with a tid bit of my own.
Karl, Tipsy & Paul?
In, terrible with names but I did manage to remember one or two. As you can see Karl is pretty relaxed kicking back next to Tipsy around the fire. ST2UP and Diesel gave a small speech thanking Dave & Bernadette, Grumpy & Julie and everyone for attending to make the event a success. It was then over to Grumpy for a few words before (disclaimer – I’m sorry if I get your name wrong) Dave conducted the auction of the ever so “prestigious” Brownie.
Brownie Auction
The auction started with Tipsy’s $4.80 and grew to a whopping $344 (I think) with all the proceeds going to the RFDS – absolutely awesome achievement and for a good cause. Now the eating of said Brownie was predetermined by the OzSTOC crew who generously forwent the desire to devour the Brownie themselves and thought a worthy recipient was Tipsy. Tipsy has his own story but I soon found out that this RTE was to be his last attending on 2 wheels – yes, he was hanging up his riding boots. He is a character and has more than a few stories to tell but tonight I saw a humbled man who was overwhelmed by the generosity, kindness and respect shown to him by his fellow riders.
humbled Tipsy
As the night went on the air just cooler, correction, damn right cold. I ventured out of the circle of fire to the camp site and much smaller fire to have a chat to others. Karl had toddled off to bed but I don’t get to see these guys often so I stayed as we stood around in the night air around a tiny fire (which give give off some heat). Chat, chat, chat and all of a sudden I wasn’t feeling well (backs sore and tummy is unsettled). I decide the best thing is to call it a night and saw my nighty nights and retreat to the warmth of the cabin.
Unfortunately, it seems I’d caught a chill in my back, kidneys and couldn’t get warm to the point that I was what seemed like convulsing in bed. Karl to my rescue, googling madly to find out what it could be but not really finding anything that made sense. Hot shower, more blanket and cuddles and eventually with him sitting by my side nodded off to sleep.
No alarm! (what a lovely sound, well no sound) and a gentle waking (how every morning should be) and I’m fine – phew! Karl’s already out wiping the frost off the bikes and packing up. I’m a bit slower but get there and we go down for a good hearty bacon and eggs breaky with tea and coffee.
I don’t know how these guys camped…..but some of the setups are pretty impressive.
Camp Diesel
As you can see, some even have the Taj mahal and pack the kitchen sink. Seriously though, This little setup that Growly has is may way of camping. It’s a trailer that converts into a bed with annex and everything.
Growly’s Glamp site
The morning after the night before and as you can see there are some fashionistas among the guys. Lets face it, we are all fashion icons when we ride!!
The morning after
It’s that time when all good things must start to come to an end 🙁 but not before we get the group photo. It’s official, Karl & I are members of OZSTOC…..there I am front and centre and Karl even stayed in the photo – back row.
OzSTOC RTE Crew
We say our thank you’s and nice to meet you’s and farewells before get on our bikes and start back home ourselves.
It was pretty cold and come Dunedoo I had to stop for an extra layer and a hot chocolate to warm up. A2Z (Allan) pulled up not longer after and ended up riding with us to Mudgee. The fog was pretty bad all the way to Mudgee so it was steady as she goes (since I was leading) and had all my lights on just in case some dim wit coming the other way couldn’t see us. We waved Allan farewell as we continued on through Mudgee for fuel.
Funny how the weather changes, it was like someone put up a wall at Mudgee that didn’t allow any fog to enter to travel south. It was clear th rest of the way, the sun was out bit it was still chilly. It’s not very exciting the rest of the trip home. We stopped for lunch at Lithgow before heading down Bells Line and hoping we wouldn’t get stuck with Sunday drivers. Unfortunately, we weren’t that lucky and was plagued by dumbass drivers that wouldn’t even do the speed limit which (as riders) know can really spoil that last leg when you just want to get home.
Anyway, we made it….eventually….. early enough for me to get the washing for the weekend down and just kick back and have a little relax.
A thoroughly enjoyable weekend was had. It’s just a shame they are all too short.
Thank you to the OzSTOC community for inviting us along. You are a great bunch of people and hopefully I’ll be able to get out for an actual ride with you soon.
Til next time….rubber side down!!!
