Wing Notes

Wing Notes

Newsletter of the

April 2007

Victorian ride day

Visitors to Victoria Ride

Victorians with Americans

Wow! What a great day

www.auswingriders.com

Australian Wing Riders Association (Qld) Inc

PO Box 719, Ashgrove Qld 4060

Wing Notes

OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE AUSTRALIAN WING RIDERS ASSOCIATION QLD INCORPORATED

EDITOR:.............Bevan Bradford

Phone: 07 3822 3512

Mobile 0408 714 000

E-Mail: mail @ auswingriders.com

Wing Notes is produced with the object of keeping members informed about matters of interest to AWRA members. A electronic copy of each issue is available to every financial member of the AWRA. Copies are also distributed to selected motorcycle dealers in the greater Brisbane area

Submissions for inclusion in Wing Notes should be with the Editor no later than the Friday following the monthly meeting, i.e.: Friday after the 1st Monday of the month.

DISCLAIMER: Although Wing Notes will endeavour to reproduce submissions in their original form it reserves the right to edit submissions as it sees fit. Views expressed in contributed articles in Wing Notes are not necessarily those of the AWRA or the Editor. Wing Notes is produced with care, in good faith and from sources believed to be accurate at the time of writing.

Management Committee:

Meetings:

President

Clint Lovell (07) 3398 3437

E-mail: clinton @ lovell.com.au

Secretary

Val Thomas (07) 3848 0498

E-mail: secretary @ auswingriders.com

Meetings are held on the

1st Monday of every month

Vice President

Rob (Bear) Harriss 0409 052 218

E-mail: RHMRS @ iinet.com.au

Treasurer

Geoff Mead (07) 5529 5034

E-mail: meady @ auswingriders.com

Next meeting: 3^rd April 2007

7:30 pm

Australian National Hotel, Cnr. StanleyandWellington Streets, Woolloongabba

Smoko break

Upcoming activities:

14and15 April Ride to Mitchell and enjoy the hot artesian spa

21 April Bowling at Capalaba Bowl

20 May Ride Day

21 – 27 May Ulysses AGM

Member’s Notice

Memberships were due at the end of February. Please complete the membership form at the back of February magazine or from the website and send it with your subscription to:

The Secretary,

Australian Wing Riders Association (Qld) Inc,

PO Box 719, Ashgrove Qld 4060

Magazines and web site access will not be available to non-current members after 30^th April.

The Editor Writes…..

The President Speaks….

The Secretary’s Desk….

Gidday all,

Well, that’s Easter over, I hope you all had a good relaxing time and were ready to go back to work.

For me, it finally provided the opportunity to get some updates completed on the web site so there are a few more ride pictures now available.

I took a few extra days off and was supposed to be painting the various bits outside the house. Unfortunately, I have quite a dislike of painting so it didn’t get started when it should have so now of course, it’s not finished. Have to work on it for a few weekends I suppose.

The ride to Mitchell is finally organised. Never again will I arrange accommodation; between non-responses, different stories each time I rang the accommodation places, I give up. In future, except for Goomburra which is just the bunkhouse, it will be participants arrange their own accommodation. We leave in the morning and I am still waiting for some members who said they may be coming to let me know one way or the other. Never mind, I intend to enjoy the weekend. Shame my port drinking cronies can’t make it.

Thanks to all contributors but especially to our Victorian members for their contributions this month and to our American visitors for their update.

Remember, if you haven’t paid your membership, this is your last magazine.

Keep the shiny side up,

Bevan

Hi all,

Well folks we have had two meetings back at the Aussie Nash after their refurbishment. It sure is difficult to get everything right isn’t it? All we need is a place in the right location (south-central Brisbane)<tick>, for free <tick>, with cheap meals <tick>, reasonable grog prices <tick>, available Monday nights <tick>, and a room we can have to ourselves <tick>. I forgot to specify quiet. Damn. And the shape of the upstairs bar at the Aussie Nash isn’t wonderful for holding a meeting either. Management will not change the lighting for that cosy round room; it may have been a little too cosy anyhow.

So the search goes on.

So far, in our quest for the right place we have done away with nearly all the above criteria one at a time. The only one we haven’t done without yet is “for free”.

So maybe it is about time we thought of paying for a room where we can hold a meeting in private, in a venue that has all the other criteria we look for. Currently the club has surplus funds that are not being used for the members, except for buying various regalia. My idea is to keep looking for our perfect venue, but realise it just might not be there for free.

Ride carefully

Clint

Hello everyone,

Easter has come and gone, and even though I didn't go silly with the buying this year we still had heaps of chocolate eggs. So much so there are still some in the 'frig, along with the red - and we drank plenty of that too!

Thommo and I are really disappointed that we will be missing the ride to the Mitchell Springs, but we wish all the lucky members a great and safe trip and look forward to seeing the pictures.

All is quiet at my desk for the moment. My immediate concern now is to make enquiries concerning our motel rates at the Jackie Howe Motel, after receiving a phone call from Phil Merlo. Hopefully this will be resolved in our favour - you will all be advised of the outcome.

Please put some serious thought into who you would like to have on the committee, as we have members who would like to give others an opportunity to be involved, and I can only confirm Clint's comment "it is not hard work, and it is fun - with strong social interaction, so please join us.

Private business - we are just about ready to get our water tanks installed and then Thommo can safely wash our bike in the manner he likes, plenty of water and suds! Meanwhile let us hope and pray we do get some serious rain - soon.

That is all folks, see you at the next ride, keep safe.

ValerieandThommo

THE LONG WAY ROUND.

Well after a 9.00am start from BP Staplyton we headed under the M1 to WolffdeneandTamborine Village.

A swift ride up the mountain and across the top saw us joined by a couple of bicycle riders who kept up our pace on a small decline.

We headed down the mountain via George Nothling Drive, as the planned route via the GOAT TRACK was still under major reconstruction. (We will leave that route for another run)

We then headed towards Canungra and turned left on the road to Binna Burra, coming to our first stop

for morning tea at Rosins Lookout. Parking was a bit tight but we all fit in somewhere.

Bill as usual was getting a laugh at the expense of some paragliders, then Bill asked our group "What happens when you need to go the toilet" I wouldn't like to be underneath at those times; then a reply came "especially when they had curry the night before"

Then came Bill's over exaggeration. “It's good that the zip goes all the way down to the end of the bag.” (Bag--the bag that the person gets in when flying).

“You don't get wet when you take a PEE! You can pee out of the end of the bag.”

Someone said "Bill you only need a zip at the top as the appendage wouldn't reach out of the bottom end"

Well, with morning tea and frivolity over, we headed off to our lunch stop. We continued through Lower Beechmont and down to Nerang/Murwillumbah Rd. This is where John and Lily left the ride.

We turned right and headed towards Chillingham, there were plenty bikes out for a run and most overtook us on the double whites. Our next turn was towards Tyalgum, as this had been suggested to us on the reconnaissance run, as being a more scenic route and a bit more twisty.

Finally after another right hand turn we caught up with a few more bikes heading into Uki and our lunch destination at The Mount Warning Hotel.

The traffic was busy and bikes everywhere. Some of us parked in the service station across the road (closed of course)

understood as we could see that he was run off his feet.

We did tops and tails for the raffle prizes; Kevin won the first round and got two Ian McNamara books.

Then appropriately Charleen won the next round and she won a leather bum bag. Charleen was happy as this would come in handy for the trip to the States.

We had a lovely lunch and the food was reasonably priced.

We left Uki and headed for Kyogle to refuel. From Kyogle we headed for Beaudesert via Lions Rd.

The major bumps were safely travelled over, after a

There was a lady who came over and talked with Bill and Mary and it wasn't until we were talking over lunch that one doesn't realise the series of events that were taking place.

1. John and Linda planned the trip.

2. Bill and Mary participated.

3. The previous owner of Bill and Mary's bike had recently passed away.

4. The bike group that he rode with just happened to stop at the pub.

5. They were going to spread his ashes on his favourite bit of road.

Just a set of events that allowed this to happen; his wife was really glad to see his bike on this

warning was given over the radio. The last time John and I travelled over this, we both left our seats.

The Lions Rd had plenty of twists and turns and made for a good return ride and an end to a run that we hoped everyone enjoyed.

John and Lily left after morning tea, Eric left after lunch, Clint and Charleen joined us for lunch and the run back. We also picked up one other bike and a trike from the pub.

The run ended at Beaudesert with the coast bikes

heading off via Canungra and the rest turning left at the lights up Beaudesert Rd.

special day. Amazing how things just seem to happen, FATE!

The hotel was rather crowded and after most of the bikes left, we moved to the tables in the fresh air.

The manager apologised for not coming out to see us but as the pub was so busy, I told him that we

Hope you all had a good day.

See you soon take care.

JohnandLinda

Visitors to Victoria Ride Deane and Jacks Ride Sunday 25 March 2007 Saturday the day before this ride, rain finally fell in Melbourne so as the day dawned on the Sunday it gave way to a clean fresh day the kind you get after rain has washed all the dust and dirt away and you can just about see the grass growing from the rain. So with a Sunday forecast of 20 degrees we head of to			meet Deane and Jack from Albuquerque USA at the Frankston International. Karen and I meet up with John and Marg on the way and we hope that Denny, Steve, Tim and Lyn will join us. On arrival we are the first to arrive and with introductions done Denny and Steve arrive, after a bit of a chat and directions we are going which meant nothing to Deane and Jack we head off on the days ride. (Unfortunately Tim and Lyn did not make it)

Deane and Jack		At the start point			Outside Inverloch
					We leave Frankston for Inverloch via the Phillip Inland turn off, after a break at one of the turn off for an ocean view we turn left and head up to Mirboo North for morning tea. With the great cup of coffee in our stomachs we then head towards Warburton for lunch which means we head up and over some great roads twist after twist on some them. I was sure glad that Deane and Jack had got used to riding on the right side of the road by now. After lunch we then head over to the northern side of Melbourne and more mountains and swiping curves towards Whittlesea via Kinglake and

All of us with Steve in deep thought	Lunch at Warburton			Ready to board the boat

back into the city via the Bolte Bridge. With tanks full of fuel and 460km later and the boat just about to berth at the docks you would have thought we had planned it, the guys are ready to tackle Tasmania. With the wind cutting through us and the ocean looking very choppy we all head home and hope they have a good crossing. John Gilbert		Victorians with Americans After a great ride day with the Queensland mob, keen American motorcyclist tourists and fellow Goldwing owners, Deane and Jack continued on their Australian journey on their rented Suzuki V-Storms. They headed south through NSW to Victoria when they arranged to meet that good bunch of
			Melbourne based members for another adventure into the unknown. I had the honour of leading this ride and together with John and Karen Gilbert, John and Margaret Brak and Steve O'Neil with son Josh, we headed off into the Victorian countryside. The boys had stayed overnight in a Frankston motel and off we went through Tooradin and onto Wonthaggi and a costal tour to Inverloch. Then it was inland and over the Strezlekki Range to the quaint mural town of Mirboo North for coffee and cake at the local bakery. From there, the group rode down off the range to the Latrobe Valley and meandered through dairy country before heading into the forested hills. The thing to notice most was just how
	beautifully green West Gippsland looked. The rolling hills, the hidden valleys and the hill top townships all looked lush, gardens bloomed, contented dairy cows were everywhere and all the farm dams were full. With all this luscious greenery you wondered how on earth we were still in severe drought. On we rolled to the logging township of Powelltown where we stopped for lunch. The pub came highly recommended but it took some time before we all got our meals. All the same, the food was good and after the break it was onwards. Through Yarra Junction, Healesville, the singing gardens of.
	Toolangi, Kinglake and a great sweeping ride off the ranges down to Whittlesea From here we joined the Melbourne outer commuter roads. The scenery here was in total contrast to the lush green fields of Gippsland.

Everything was dry, earth was bare and not a blade of grass in sight. You actually wondered if we were still in the same State? At any rate, we continued on down the Western Ring Road and all too soon found ourselves at Station Pier where the Spirit of Tasmania awaited to take our new found friends to more adventures. By days end, we had covered just over 450 kms, seen a lot of countryside, impressed our two intrepid visitors and all in all thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Denny van Maanenberg
Wow! What a great day!! We were met at our motel by seven Gold Wingers on four bikes, from the Melbourne area, and they took us for an extended tour of their favourite riding roads in the area! What wonderful hospitality!! John Gilbert and his wife, Karen, had arranged for the Gold Wingers to come along. The group was filled out with Denny, the ride leader, (another) John and his wife Margaret, and Steve and his son, Josh, all good riders who love the riding areas they have. I had been corresponding with John Gilbert by e-mail for some time prior to our starting on our Australia trip, with John offering to show us around when we
		arrived. Jack and I hadn't expected such a group to ride with, so it was great to be welcomed by the group. Denny took us through beautiful riding areas that we would never have found for our selves. Melbourne is surrounded by beautiful mountains, with great riding roads in rural areas with little towns. We stopped for morning tea at one little town which had a tempting and very good bakery. The ride between tea and lunch was particularly beautiful, through large, rounded mountains with big green valleys, stands of trees, and
small farms, ranches, and grazing areas. This was as beautiful riding as any area I've ever been in and this includes all of North America. There were elements one could find in Tennessee, or North Carolina, or Virginia, but this one area had it all. This was a wonderful day, with many new friends made, and great hospitality. As their last act of guidance for us, they took us right to the Tasmanian ferry, with the ship "Spirit of Tasmania". The ferry was set for a 7:00 PM board and a 9:00 PM departure, and it left on time, with us snug in our cabin. This is a very big ship, as one might expect for a distance of about 250 miles from the mainland of Australia to

the island of Tasmania. In waiting for the ferry to be filled with cars and trucks, we met mainland motorcyclists who were together with eight bikes, and headed to Tasmania also, so we had a good time talking to them. In the process of loading, the deck hands guided us to a separate area just for motorcycles, and expertly tied our motorcycles down so they wouldn't move, even with rough seas.

Again, a wonderful day!!

Deane

Just a little Chuckle to make your day

I have a little story to share involving morning constitutional, a garbage bin and moo cows...

We, as lots of others do, have extra wheelie bins used for the extra bits around the place. Well our bin that gets collected is very rarely full so I thought this week I would lug the full one down to the gate (remember at least 350 metres), while I had my little walk on Wednesday morning - bin day.

Now, I am not really a brave one when it comes to our little herd of cattle, they like to run at me!! So, if they are in my way, I go another. Coast is clear; the cattle are way over in the far corner, not a problem. Wrroonnnnggg!!!! The little cattle dog and I are happily wandering along, wheelie bin in tow, and you all know what a rumbling noise those bins make..... well......half way down the paddock I glanced over to my right and here they all come not moseying but running! Well I walked quicker, bin in tow, to a really big lantana bush and hid there, me and the dog (he is still a puppy (not) only 11 months old) and threw sticks near them and yelled at them but they didn’t care. They were probably having a little chuckle to themselves saying ‘we have her bluffed’.

Mind you the little dog loves to sneak up on the cows and chase them at full speed at his leisure. So we waited and eventually they moved away, but, guess what? The bin is still sitting in the middle of the paddock till the weekend when I can be protected by a bear not a dog!

Hope I’ve given you a little belly laugh and I am sure the pictures you are conjuring up are probably quite fitting!

Till next time, take care

Jayne

Arsenic and Old Lace

Lionel and I enjoyed a night of light entertainment last month when we attended Sandgate Theatre Group's presentation of "Arsenic and Old Lace". Our Doug was the villain Jonathon and we think he took to it well. His makeup certainly made him look evil and he certainly acted "the roughie" well. Preeta was involved with the very important backstage props. It was great to see a member of our Club with such a different interest to Goldwing riding.

Mary J

An old timer was riding down a desolate highway when his Harley broke down. Soon a fellow on a BMW pulled up next to him. "Is there anything I can help with?" the Beemer man asks. "Yeah, could I borrow a wrench?" the Harley rider asks. "Of course. What type and size do you need?" Beemer man asks, opening a sizeable tool kit.

"Don't matter a bit to me. I'm gonna use it fer a hammer anyway."

AUSTRALIAN WING RIDERS ASSOCIATION (QLD) INCORPORATED QUEENSLAND RIDE and SOCIAL CALENDAR
Date	Destination	Ride / Social Event	Ride Leaders
14and15 April Ride	Mitchell	Overnight ride to the Mitchell hot artesian spa visiting various country towns on the the way there and back. Contact Bevan if you are going Meet at BP Blacksoil at 7:00am Saturday for a 7.30 departure	Bevan and Therese
21 April Social	Capalaba Bowl	Ten Pin Bowling	Meady
20 May Ride	TBA	Depart 8.30 am B.P. Blacksoil , Morning Tea at "Spring Bluff" please bring Morning Tea , to Rimfire winery at McClachan, lunch at Goombungee "Settlers Arms" Hotel. Northerner's can return via Kilcoy, Southerner's via Somerset Dam, Brisbanites via Mt. Glorious, Quite a ride, approx 300 klms Blacksoil to Blacksoil but worth the effort.	KevinandMorag
21 to 27 May	Coffs Harbour	Ulysses AGM	Find a group or go alone
26 May Social	TBA	TBA For those not attending the Ulysses AGM - be quick to grab this spot
15, 16and17 June	Jackie Howe Motel Warwick AWRA AGM	Friday 15 June – Optional extra night Saturday 16 June Meet McDonald’s Restaurant, Warwick Rd, Yamanto at 09.30am for a 10.00am departure. Book your own accommodation See AWRA website for agenda and other information. Sunday 17 June - Breakfast at 08.30am Depart Warwick at 10.00am – Gatton for lunch
23 June Social	TBA	TBA Be quick to grab this spot
15 July Ride	TBA	TBA Be quick to grab this spot	PhilandVicki Merlo
21 July Social	TBA	TBA Be quick to grab this spot
Ride Coordinator - Bill Carter – Tel: (07) 5564 8996 e-mail: carterbm @ bigpond.net.au Bill’s a/h mobile 0428 248 160 RIDE DATES; Unless otherwise arranged, rides will be on the 3rd Sunday of the month, and Social rides, the following weekend, with other social events as announced through the year. Ride Leaders: Please check the details of your ride and let me know of any changes. Ride leaders are also asked to organise 2 raffle prizes for their ride. Suggested value approximately $10.00 each. Raffle tickets will be made available from Eric Madjeric. IMPORTANT: Even if you have not finalised the details of your ride, just supply the start timeandlocation, the general direction of the ride, and the meal arrangements. * Ride Leaders: Please provide a short pre-ride briefing that outlines the basic safety precautions that we in the AWRA like to observe when riding in groups, and a little about the ride and the rest stop locations.
PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY ON RIDES: · Each motorcyclist is responsible for at least the following; · The roadworthiness of your vehicle (including trailer) · That you are in a fit condition to control the vehicle, (including trailer) · Make sure you have a full tank of fuel before departing on a ride. · That you obey all the traffic rules and ride in a safe manner. · That you ride in a considerate manner that does not endanger, or unnecessarily inconvenience other road users. · To be correctly attired for safe motorcycling. · To have fun and enjoy the day, and the company. Thanks for all those that have offered to organise rides and socials; that is what makes this club so great. If you are yet to conduct a ride or organise a social, please start to plan something so that when your turn arrives you will be ready. You don’t have to wait to be asked, just let me know.
There's the sad story of the poor guy who was in a terrible motorcycle accident. When he came out from under the anaesthetic, the doctor was leaning over him anxiously. "Son," he said, "I've got some good news and some bad news. "The bad news is that you were in a very serious accident, and I'm afraid we had to amputate both your feet just above the ankle." "Jesus," gasped the patient, "What's the good news?" "The fellow in the next bed over will give you a good price for your boots."

AUSTRALIAN WING RIDERS ASSOCIATION (QLD) INCORPORATED