Page 9 - JUG Times April 2023

nd
Wednesday Ride – 22 March

No, not the Apocalypse!
A somewhat ignominious record. Two Starts and two DNFs for the Moores.
Last week we were lured by the proximity of Moore Manor, and didn't do the final leg of Chris's
ride through to Two Rocks and Alkimos. Today Karen's Deauville was reluctant to restart as we
prepared to depart from the Brock memorial on O'Briens Rd and displayed the dreaded F1 fault.
Got it started but it seemed prudent to head home and thereby we missed completing Pete K's
ride to Cafe Mojo. (In hindsight the glitch might have been occasioned by the steep parking area).
Anyways, home safely and thanks to fellow riders.

Wednesday Ride - 29 March

Offer and Acceptance - You’ve Only Got Yourself to Blame

Fourteen of us were gathered for the off at Banksia Grove when someone initiated the starting
procedure, ‘Where do we want to go today?”. Now, I hadn’t led a ride for some weeks and had
mentally rehearsed a ride in case I should feel the desire/necessity of proffering it to our parishion-
ers. Accordingly, I offered to lead the mob to Mt Helena Deli (an estimated 110 minutes via Ju-
limar, Sandplains, Fernie, Bailup and Chidlow). My one hesitation about the chosen route was that
Bailup Rd is overdue for the application of some judicious highway engineering technology (it’s a
bumpy bugger and needs re-surfacing). Nevertheless, I reasoned to myself, the appeal of the rest
of journey surely outweighed any short-lived discomfort.

With Mike P as our TEC we embarked on our adventure. By the time we had covered 10ks or so it
was apparent that we were going to be enduring some strong gusty winds. Once heading north on
Tonkin the strength and degree of gust seemed to have increased. I was reminded of story-time
with my children and reading “Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day”. It was strange to be riding
down narrow country lanes, heavily wooded on both sides, and to still be noticeably buffeted by
the weather.

Anyways, enough of that. Eventually we pulled up at Mt Helena. At least, most of us did. It ap-
peared that some of the crew had become separated. They arrived a few minutes later and ex-
plained that one of the bumps on Bailup Rd had “unhorsed” Ian’s mobile phone from its “saddle”
on his handlebars. The phone, despite tumbling down the limited and uneven tarmac, was a survi-
vor. Still functional, but with a very advanced patina normally associated with lapidary.
The Deli didn’t disappoint (neither, I hope, has the alliteration).
Thanks to Mike P and all the crew.

9