Page 28 - RidingOnSummer

Dave Smith explores the

2021 Spina Bifida and

Hydrocephalus Rally.

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Whilst I have no intention of spoiling a good story with the
Whilst I have no intention of spoiling a good story with the
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truth, I expect some text may not be entirely accurate. The it with beer and ice,
route was started in Calliope then on to Wondai, Roma, Blackall, very sad, ‘Fox’ was
Emerald and Nebo, 3750klms 5 nights. tail end Charlie so no
one behind him to
I started my trip with a night camping at Warwick, Gordon see.
Country Bush camping with my grandsons, what a great place.
6DWXUGD\ R໤ WR &URZV 1HVW 1DQDQJR DQG *RRPHUL %XVK &DPS It always pays to
towing my camping trailer behind the Triumph, as most people check on people
on the rally of 368 registrations do. who do tyres, that
EORNH ¿WWHG D +DUOH\
Sunday; Ban Ban Springs then Biloela to catch up with the Davidson tyre to my
Warwick group at Calliope near Gladstone. Having found my Triumph! It must have
mates I settled in for a shower, beer and food (S, B & F). They been his last one.
fed us very well. I was a bit put out
but I had to use it.
After tea, we sat around talking a while, ‘Gadget’ lost a spare The usual prizes
ZKHHO R໤ WKH WUDLOHU RQ WKH ZD\ XS LW VOLG DFURVV WKH URDG XQGHU at Nebo. Oldest
‘Spangles’ and blew the tyre on his trailer. They stopped picked rider male/female,
up the lost spare to use it and tied the broken wheel on top of youngest/oldest
the trailer. pillion, longest ride.
One bloke came down
Monday; ready for an early start but, Greg’s Vulcan wouldn’t from Darwin to join in.
KDYH DQ\ RI LW VR HDFK RI XV R໤HUHG VRPH KHOS
Saturday: on the road home heading to Taroom via Dingo. The
“Might be spark”, “try the horn”, “shit in the carby” no joy there. IXQ VHHPV WR IROORZ XV $ EORNH ORVW D PLON FUDWH R໤ KLV WUXFN LQ
“Is anyone a mechanic?” Someone said they put a big end in Dingo with a truck stub axel in it, came straight at Wayne, so
a goat once, but we all agreed that didn’t count. Turned out it we did a big swerve and regrouped for smoko at the servo.
was a squashed fuel line, so we all left around 10.30 for Roma. On arriving back at the bikes, there’s a girl who reckons ‘Foxes’
A lost ratchet caused the back pack to come loose but it was WRZEDU ZDV EURNHQ 6XUH HQRXJK 7KH\ ¿[HG LW ZLWK µRFN\¶
VRRQ ¿[HG RQ WKH ZD\ straps and a spare bolt... Harley of course! I noticed ‘Gadget’
Next thing I see a gas cylinder rolling down the road! Turns out was dragging his wire plug so he purchased a new one and
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out where it came from it was too far to go back! Down the road for lunch, time is moving on, getting late with
(S, B & F) in Roma. ‘Fox’ comes over with a plate full of vittles hold ups. Without warning, a roo slips on the road trying to
and plonked in a plastic chair. The leg of the chair broke, so he miss ‘Fox’ and comes spinning towards me at 110kph. No time
IHOO ÀDW RQ KLV EDFN WR D ELJ FKHHU IURP DOO to stop, straight under my bike then hits a trailer wheel and
Wednesday; frost on the bike seats and the road was rough. I killed outright, what a shame, poor skippy.
thought ‘Spangles’ was standing on his seat to get a better look
at the road but it was just a big bounce! Blackall, Barcoo River )XHO XS UHDG\ IRU WRPRUURZ 6 % ) DQG R໤ WR EHG
country and we arrived around 3pm (S,B &F). Some stayed at the bar, for more drinks. One local decided to
Thursday; big breakfast, then Barcaldine for smoko. The tree of pick on ‘Spangles’, after a bump on the head and some blood,
knowledge in the main street looked interesting so I gave it a ‘Gadget’ decided to even the score with a kidney punch or two
ELJ KXJ GLGQ¶W VHHP WR PDNH DQ\ GL໤HUHQFH XQIRUWXQDWHO\ on said agitator, he copped a whack in the ear for his troubles,
WKHQ WKH EDUPDLG WKUHZ WKHP DOO RXW 1H[W PRUQLQJ R໤ ZLWK D
Emerald; discovered my tyre was very worn in the middle. The rush to Dalby for goodbyes, fuel and a snack, then home down
Overland tyre truck rocked in just on dark with 2 Harleys and a the freeway.
Kwacka trike. I asked if he had a tyre for the Triumph? Yes, so I
left it with him overnight for an early start. What a great trip, good company for a good cause. Turned out
9am, the boys were ready to leave, so suggested they leave pretty much an uneventful trip, ha! ha! With no accidents.
and I would catch up. Left town by 10.30 and headed to Yours truly, Dave the slave.
Middlemount then on to Nebo near Mackay. The boys were only
just in before me, they’d taken a short cut through Dysart on David Smith #053782
30kms of gravel, so they needed a beer, but didn’t secure the
RIDING ON 28