Page 15 - JUG Times Jan 2022

WEDNESDAY RIDE – 5 January 2022

Gingin via Chittering Valley.

By Ride Leader Nigel Penfold
What was extra-ordinary today?

The first thing was that Nigel arrived at 8am! I made sure everyone, of importance, was made
aware of this, and Dave wondered aloud if it was a New Year Resolution thing. No, just dumb
luck.

The second thing I noted was Nomi, on the beautiful Bandit, almost brought the conversation
to a crashing halt as it was revealed that she was heavily involved in contracting for speed
camera operations! Someone has to do it.
The third thing was Nigel not realising all 13 were already behind him raring to go, having
moved with alacrity, and “what was the holdup up front”? I had even turned the beast off
waiting.
A closely fought election, on where to go, had Ross, with a casting vote for Gingin via Chittering
Valley.

My aim for the ride, nay all the ones that I lead, was to keep moving as fast as DDD’s (double
demerit days) allowed, that is, with the speedometer indicating slightly above the relevant
artificial speed limits set by a small group of small minded bureaucrats last century, or was it
when horses ruled the roads. But I digress.
The first police car for the day, be still my beating heart, mercifully kept going when we headed
east on Joondalup Drive towards Neaves Road.
The second police car did a U turn in front of the group, which had more than one guilty
conscience breathing a sigh of relief.

Warning, warning, slow moving truck at the Tonkin Highway roundabout, no place for Nigel
who zipped by, waving as he went, but leaving the crew flogging behind the truck.

Oh no, two cars having the temerity to be in front of me on Chittering Road. OMG.
Who doubts the power of Prayer?

These two cars were willed to turn right in short order, and Nigel has a free run with cruise
control set at 95 up the beautiful valley all the way to Bindoon.

How blessed are we with virtually empty roads to play on?
A comfort break at Bindoon had to be broken up as far too much light-hearted chatter was
going on and it was feared that we would still be there. So many roads, so little time and all
that.
By this stage we had lost the Pom on the red indian bike when the Tom Toms of the Bindoon
Op Shop called him home. So the magnificent 12 hit the road on to Gingin Café, where
forgotten face masks did not pose any great difficulty.
We eventually had to call it a day and head home via Military Road, and Old Yanchep Road,
where the last thrill for the day, for me at least, down Westco Road, saw all good intentions fly
out the window (no Nigel, not the Hayabusa’s speed limit [rumoured to be 300], the
bureaucrat’s one).

Thank you to everyone for making this an enjoyable ride.
Nigel

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