Ride Report – The “Thanks Rob Dow” Ride
Some 20 sad old men, plus a sheila called Charlene (who became tail-end-Charlene, for reasons we won’t go into) met at Macca’s Eastern Creek. The objective was to get to Thirlemere, which, if you went straight, was within jogging distance. People from the North Shore, hitherto cosseted, had come over to the west on instructions from the Prime Minister of Australia, Juliet Gillard. Under Juliet’s guidance, we became immediately lost in the carpark, and someone asked if this was just a coincidence or is just the way things work nowadays?
Having regrouped, off we shot, as Big Ben (the one at Blacktown) chimed 10 bells. We went down Wallgrove Road, keeping a tight formation, mainly because each of the four sets of traffic lights changed to red as soon as they saw us. We got toElizabeth Drive, and Julia Gilliard must have provided instructions that we not be cosseted and the lights turned red as soon as a motorcycle came near. It took four or five changes before we all got through, whizzing, whooping and hollering downElizabeth Drive, and wandering up Badgery’s Creek Road. Ms Gillerd said she’d build an airport there one day, and we all agreed that would be a fine idea so that there would be more traffic.
There is a little gem of a road out that way called Greendale Road, so we whizzed, whooped and hollered down there as well, arriving at Wallacia in a little line about 10km’s long. And off to Warragamba, so that we could look at Juliet Gilliard’s water which will now never run dry because of the new carbon tax, and the $10 billion the government will give away to people that can find odd ideas that are good enough to con a Labour government panel, chaired by Christine Milne.
Warragamba looks terrific at the moment, and we looked at the water, said “wow, Jules!”, used the nice clean toilets, lolled around the grass, and held an auction. Rob Dow, who you will all recall had a nasty prang last year but is now cheerily recovered, has decided his riding days of derring do are behind him, so donated a pile of high quality riding gear and we held an auction in his honour. Thanks, Rob, because we now have $175 that has, in turn, ended up with the Ulysses Club Arthritis Research Fund (UCARF). Wayne Rees managed the financial aspects here, and I must say shows exceptional prospects as a treasurer. To Rob, all the very best from the fellows, and Charlene, as you whittle down your golf handicap.
Warragamba is where the water stops. We wanted to see where Julia’s water started so went via some pleasant backroads to Burragorang, and let me tell you where Juliet’s water starts is simply splendid. I kid you not, the view down Burragorang valley, is one of the most beautiful in all of the Blue Mountains, and there is little traffic on the way. Take the family, soon.
We then wandered off to Thirlemere, via further rustic little roads where we arrived in time for lunch. The objective was to go through the train museum. It was a delight to see the old fellow’s puff their way down to the museum, tuckered up, and then wander back untrained, indignant at the charge of $16.00, net of Senior’s discount. Economists gathered about, keen to study this example of price inelasticity and enquiring after Ronnie Knight who is one of the World’s leading economists and philosophers. Ronnie couldn’t be with us, as he recently undertook surgery, and he was both sore and sorely missed. He’ll be back soon.
The cosseted northerner’s were very grateful for the route advice of that uncosseted westy, Kawasaki Kermit (aka Vic), and Ms Guillerd is, no doubt, in a much better mood as a result of our sauntering in the heartland?
Stephen Davies.
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