Month: April 2013

York Motorcycle Festival

Every year this festival is held in the historic town of York. This was my first visit.

The primary purpose of the trip was to look at the Drift HD Ghost POV camera as they had a stall. I had some taxi duties back in Perth so I wasn’t able to stay long – just enough to check out the camera and have a quick look around.

First off was a friendly getting from Yorkie from OzSToc – he’s part of the staff helping out. Obviously from his name he lives close by.

Anyway, …

The festival: really well organized with demos, displays, competitions, and exhibitors. 

“Trials” were being demoed by Neil Price (WA champion and national rep) – this is like acrobats for bikes. They’re not dirty bikes that race, but rather modified bikes that conquer seriously difficult obstacles.

I watched from a distance (the Drift stand) si didn’t take any photos, thinking I would wait for the next show. Strike while the iron’s hit they say… I’d have to wait for another hour and I just didn’t have time.

Lots of stuff in display:

I had run out of time to see the rest (minicarna, show and tell, etc.) so this will be a definite all day event next year.

Drift HD Ghost…
I want one. Bigger than some but still manageable for the helmet with a lot more features. A birthday present me thinks.

Ellie & Grace are home.

… from 10 days in Singapore. This trip had been postponed due to Ellie’s broken foot.

We had to take Grace out of school for it, but with a little planning and negotiation with the school there wasn’t too much of a disruption – we hope.

Anyway, all accounts in the car have it as a great success. I’ll find out more tonight. First priority was sleep: we didn’t get home until midnight and we still had work/school in the morning.

Mumballup Run

A great day on the bike. It was a little wet until we reached Serpentine, but after that it was dry. Quite cloudy which helped keep the temperature down in the humidity.

Our ride leader had a little fright. Riding second behind him, I saw Turtle managing a rear wheel lockup in a moment of panic when 3 dogs appeared at the side of the road. Luckily I’d seen them early (‘cos I was riding to the left of the lane and had better vision up the verge).

200 km and we reached Mumballup. It’s really just the pub and a postcode.

image

I had to scarper once I’d had a rest and a drink as I had another 4 hours of riding to do. Most of the others stayed for what I heard was a very nice homemade burger.

The road on the way into Mumballup and the roads west of Boyup Brook were very nice to ride on.

A little gravel in some places but Ok. I did have one moment though: it was mostly 80 zones with lots of twists and turns, & peaks and gullys. A brief lack is attention had me entering a turn a little too “hot”. Luckily there wasn’t anyone else around otherwise it would have been instant crash-test dummy as I crossed to the other side is the road under heavy brakes. A puckering moment.

A quick stop to drop off abandoned Easter chocolates in Busselton and then back home.

Surprisingly, the calluses I’d built on the trip to SA (only 3 weeks ago!) had all gone. After 600+ KMs my bum wanted off.