Signs of Relentless Optimism

Yesterday I added the first truckload of wood to the Unaugural
bonfire. Clearly I'm hoping that the current rainy weather will
continue for at least the next couple of months. I was wondering if I
was at the right property, it's been a bloody long time since
Funkytown looked so green! ;-)

The 5th Unaugural will be on May 5, whatever the weather may be. Mark
your calendars!


BTH

 

Can you give me the location on that one.

Boxer

 

In aus.motorcycles on Sun, 04 Mar 2007 23:17:10 GMT

Up the gravel road, in the dark, hope to God you can see some kind of
light cos there are no names, signs, or numbers, and don't trust
Pisshead for the distance.

Zebee

 

OK got it now!

Boxer

 

William and I will be there.

 

Near Tarago, 50km SE of Goulburn. Might be a bit far for a day-trip.


BTH

 

Boxer

Actually, now that I've looked at an actual map I've noticed that
Tarago is pretty much due South of Goulburn.

Funkytown is approximately under the "g" of "Tarago" on this map:

http://mirror.bom.gov.au/products/IDR403.shtml


BTH

 

Well gee, that's a lot of bloody help!!!!! BT, dear..... for blokes with a
sense of direction hardwired into their brains, that might be quite
adequate.

I, however, have absolutely no sense of direction at all, and all the
directions you have given so far have been shite anyway!!! (down the gravel
in the dark..... under the G in Tarago...... sheesh!)

Will some kind soul meet me on the way?

Do I really have to ride for miles on a gravel road??? eeeek!

determined betty

 

1800 kilometres.

Boxer

 

Thanks big - that's a start. I have no probs between my place and Tarago -
it's the squiggly bit afterwards that scares the crap out of me!!!

betty

 

In aus.motorcycles on Mon, 5 Mar 2007 19:46:54 +1100

Did me too


Once you get on Mayfield road, you head down the gravel for some time.
I think BT says there's a fridge of some kind as a landmark.

The trick with gravel is to relax. The bike will feel unsteady under
you, but the more you tense up the worse it gets. If you relax and
let it dance a bit then it will skate about a little bit but not get
any worse.

There will be heaps of loose stuff either side of the tyre tracks,
they feel worse. So sit in the left side track (so if someone comes
the other way you don't have to go across the loose in the middle) and
give it light throttle and concentrate on relaxing the arms. Do look
to the middle or right side of the road though, so you don't veer left
off the road.

If you don't feel comfortable in the left track because it is too
close to the ditchy bits then head at a shallow angle to the right
track. If someone comes the other way, then slow down a bit, and look
dead ahead. If there isn't enough room, then move gently left.

Keep concentrating on relaxing the arms. Once you have that working
then you will find it is pretty easy.

Zebee

 

Thanks Zebee...... you going to come and coach me? Pleeeeze? I've done
minimal bits of dirt and gravel before, but never more than about 3kms
between Gunning and Crookwell, which scared me silly the first time! I know
I need to get used to it (and possibly will in the next few weeks when I
head up to Port Macquarie with a couple of mates - the Duc rider isn't keen
on dirt, but the Beemer girl is, and I'm sort of stuck in the middle due to
my general inexperience - and coz I have no sense of direction I'll be going
where they go ;-)!)

The many kms to Funkytown will be a good (I hope) experience..... but I'm
not too sure that I want to do it all on my own...

betty

 

Standing on the pegs and getting your bum off the seat can also help on
gravel. It alters the weight distribution of the bike and moves it
lower, making the bike feel more stable. I also find it distances me
from the controls and makes it easier to steer the bike where I want it
to go on gravel if I'm standing rather than sitting, and less prone to
getting stuck in the wheel tracks.

Nev..
'04 CBR1100XX

 

<taking notes> ta Nev.....oooh, this is starting to sound like quite an
adventure!!!

betty

 

The biggest problem is that you cant see the 'G' in the dark.

Al

 

Oh, Al!

It's all about feeling!

You don't *need* to see the g spot....

Hammo

 

That's great jase, thanks - will do.

betty

 

Iain Chalmers

Gosh thanks Big, maybe now I should take out an ad in the paper
telling the world how to find my house?
With a footnote mentioning the dates and times that I won't be there?

Only 5km this year, the council seems to have extorted quite a bit of
money from the owners of a new subdivision to seal more of the road.


BTH

 

And when, err, *if* you fall off, a big wash of gravel is a much more
forgiving landing surface than bitumen or concrete. ;-)

These roads were relatively comfortably landing-places for me back in
2002:

http://www.otherpower.com/images/scimages/236/bulldust1.jpg
http://www.otherpower.com/images/scimages/236/bulldust2.jpg


BTH