Back from Byrock, another excellent ride, covered 2200 kms in the 3 days we were away. The only hiccup was a blown head gasket to Peter's KTM 950S, but thanks to the great help and back up service from Bruce Bolton KTM at Kyneton, Peter still managed to make Byrock Saturday afternoon on a loaner KTM 950.
That's 860 kms after leaving Kyneton 7 and half hours earlier. A bloody impressive average for both rider and bike, and that includes over 200 kms of dirt!
I left Melbourne at 2.00 pm Friday to hook up with Pete at Heathcote, after he had his bike serviced at Kyneton. We then rode up to Deniliquin, where we decided that we would find a pub and wait for Marc Creighton to catch up, he could only depart Melbourne after 6.00 pm, and we did not want to leave Marc too much night riding given that the Hay Plains are not really conducive to long distance night riding.
Can highly recommend the Federal hotel in Deni, $20 a person, off street parking with 24 hr surveillance camera, and a very good bistro. Marc arrived by 10.00pm.
However Peter had noticed that the 950S was running very hot coming into town, a quick inspection suggested that he had blown a head gasket, no coolant in the radiator, and no noticeable leaks. Bummer. Rather then risk doing major damage to the engine, he decided to return to Kyneton at sparrows fart on Saturday. Marc and I had a leisurely departure after breakfast around 9.30 am, and headed via Conago and Carrothool to Hillston and on to Mt Hope for lunch.
While enjoying a sandwich and a light beer, the Highway Patrol cruised past, thankfully headed south. Had he been 15 minutes earlier, we would have been making a hefty contribution to the Policeman's Ball.
On to Cobar to fuel up and head north towards Bourke, turning right to arrive at Byrock via Wilga Downs station, where we began catching up with fellow OAR's.
Buggar me dead, I hadn't even had time to wash the dirt away with a couple of schooners of draught, when Peter roars into the pub, and considering that Marc and I had not been dragging the chain, it was an impressive effort. We had a 300km start on him and he arrived about 35 minutes later. Quote of the weekend "I backed off to 130, after a roo hopped across my path" and this was on dirt!!
Saturday night was spent having a good time, catching up with old friends, and making new ones.
A top spot, $15 a head for a roast dinner, $4 for sweets, and the deal of the weekend, $15 for a litre of good quality bottled red served with chilled wine glasses ( gotta love the locals, it does get rather hot in this part of the woods)
Sunday morning saw me surface rather later then usual, I put it down to the change in Daylight Saving, others reckon it was due to the several 1tl bottles of red consumed. Who knows?
Over breakfast, we decided to head to Maude, I had heard good reports about this pub. Backtracking over much of the way we had come, we hit Maude at 5.30 pm, to find a very disappointing pub. Blearing jukebox music, drunken shearers, no meals, and no friendliness from the publican/manager. Up yours Jack, we aren't spending our good earn here.
Rang the publican at Booroorban, 50 k's south of Hay, "sorry, no meals on Sunday night, recommend the Riverina in Hay" Backtrack 55 kms to Hay, ride up and down the main street checking out the 4 pubs. The Riverina looks comfortable, walk in, $50 for the 3 of us in a hotel room, plus secure off street parking wins us over. A friendly manager, a very good bistro, with an amazing selection of wines on the racks alongside a wall.
Forget about a wine list. Just walk up, select the wine you want, from $15 to $75, and present it to the waitress. A great way to go. Monday morning see's us having breakfast in the cafe opposite the pub, no need to hurry, its only 400 kms back to Melbourne. By the time we hit Victoria, it begins to drizzle, and the temperature has dropped 10 C.
Ah Well!! Welcome home!
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