Phew... almost got 'blued'... :) Wollombi traps.

Took the missus and the 'bird out to Wollombi today to meet the oldies for
lunch. Just the other side of Lemmings a few cars flashed us and so I wound
back a little. Crossing that rickety bridge (made for a GS, not the XX) we
got another few flashes and so knew either there was an accident ahead or a
blue trap.

About 5 or so km on the Wollombi side of the bridge there is a gentle left
leading onto the longest straight in the area - about 1.5 km or so, a top
place to grab a fistful and enjoy the rush that the 1100 can give. This
time I stuck to 80 (a ridiculous speed, considering the relative road
condition around Kulnura where it's a 100 zone...) and observed the top of
what looked to be a police car bristling above the grass on the RHS near the
far end of the straight. As we approached, sure enough, it was a cop car
sitting low in the gully, not visible until you were pretty much on it other
than for the roof-mounted stuff.

On passing I gave a hearty wave - a big naa-ne-naa-ne-naa-naa of sorts. We
got a wry wave back as they realised that a potentialy large bonus had just
given them the slip. Hehe. Very satisfying.

Earlier, we'd also luckily avoided being trapped about 1km from the 45km/h
onramp onto Peat's Ridge Road from the Old Road. The onramp begs for a bit
of a wind-on as it opens into the 2 lane sweeping left. For some strange
reason today, I kept it to 100 and we spotted the top of what looked to be a
cop car, this time hidden squarely behind a large sign on the large 'median'
area. Luuuucky!

I know a guy was killed a few weeks ago on the way to Wollombi, striking a
truck near Lemmings which took his head off. This has naturally sparked
something of a reaction with the police but IMHO, they are taking another
opportunity to fish in a fishtank and leaving the wrong message. It will
likely hurt business in Wollombi too no doubt.

Anyway, keep it safe and enjoy this beautiful weather!

Cheers,
Dave ZZR600 => ST2 (stolen) => '03 XX

 

Paint, Paint, Paint.....
Sorry I couldn't join to Dave...

 

No worries Leonardo (da Vinci... not de-Capitatio).

It was a pretty slow trip out there, just like the weekend before, but this
time the cause was man-made!

Got a little bit more spirited on the way back though... hehe

Dave

 

This kind of stuff is why I much prefer to just head south these days. Heaps
less cops and they actively promote motorcycling down there.

Cam
'03 954

 

Hi Cam,

Yup, true. I spoke to a few dozen guys on bikes in Wollombi yesterday,
there for b'fast/lunch/coffee etc. The sentiment was pretty much the same
regarding the way the police were making their presence felt there. To
hide, and they were very well hidden, on the safest stretch of road in
'response' to accidents that predominantly happen on or near Lemmings
(pretty windy and rough in areas) and often because cars cross the
centrelines (more about that later) is clearly not actively working on a
solution to the problem.

Many also felt that this police approach would heavily impact the area in
terms of the area's ability to draw in our business, and to this I agree. I
understand that businesses in Walcha are working with the police to find a
way to make the place more bike friendly, and this includes the proposed
application of some discretionary leniency where it is obviously safe to
ride beyond 100 km/h (almost everywhere up there!). We do represent a lot
of business to these small regions and they are starting to recognise that.

As for cars crossing the centrelines... bloody hell. Is noone these days
capable of driving through a corner on their own side? In my opinion, if
you can't go around a corner without crossing the middle, then you aren't
much chop as a driver and you're probably trying to drive too fast. Almost
every vehicle yesterday on the Wollombi road (including a couple of bikes)
cut corners forcing us to keep well left on many occasions.

Anyway, we'll probably spend less time Wollombi way now and more time down
south too. Macquarie Pass, K'roo Valley etc. here we come!

Cheers,
Dave (rant rant) ZZR600 => ST2 (stolen) => '03 XX

 

I came home through Wollombi from Taylors Arm pub yesterday--a group of
4WDs straddled the centreline or completely crossed the line for some
distance before I was able to pass on the CB750.
Gottem just before Lemming--never saw 'em again...
There was also a radar and a couple of marked cars just past Mt White cafe
later at around 4:30 (surprise...)
The copper fondling his ticket book gave me a filthy look as I chugged past
at 65kmh (explains why noone was in a hurry to leave the cafe...)

Law-abiding Pat (except down Buckett's Way and through Dungog/Gresford)

 

Confidence inspiring isn't it? Some months ago, Lisa and I (and a few other
aus.motians) were headed down the Oxley. We'd just left Gingers (gazing
skywards in respect...) and on a 35 km/h right we were greeted by the front
end of a semi coming up the road, well more than 1/2 way across our lane.
Luckily we were just getting warmed up and got through, but had we been in
the car things may have been different. I'm told there is no chance of
getting a semi up that mtn without using both lanes at times. Nooiice.

Prob. the same filthy look both coppers gave me when I gave them a bike
wave... hehe

Aaaah, Buckett's Way... Dungog/Gresford... oooohhhhh.... Thunderbolt's....
mmmmm... Oxley.... nurse!

Cheers,
Law abiding Dave ZZR600 => ST2 (stolen) => '03 XX (except when Lisa is
urging me on...)

 

Here's an idea for a safety camera:

One that snaps anyone crossing over into the other side of the road.

For evidence purposes a separate [digital moving video] camera from other
angle should continously record and store last 10 secs or so on occasions of
centre line shots.

If no obstacles can be observed, a bloody high fine should be issued.

Sections should be marked as "centre line cameras operate in this area;
heavy fines occur for crossing double white line".

With all the facial recognition code that's out there these days it
shouldn't take mankind too long to be able to process the motion in a static
picture and detect when boundaries have been exceeded.

j

 

Yup, here here to the South! The unfortunate bit is that I really do like
the old road. It's a great piece of road (or was before they fucked it all
up with resurfacing) and a shame not to be able to use it. I really enjoy
riding quickly but time and time again I'm also reminded that I do ride
within my limits as I'll get a car coming the other way, or some obstacle,
and I can move out of the way or avoid it in mid corner without stuffing it
up.

Unfortunately it only takes one person to have something go wrong then the
constabulary comes down on all of us like a ton of bricks. Surely they just
feel inadequate 'cause they obviously don't have the skill to ride or are
too pussy whipped to be able to ride a bike.

Cam
'03 954