(Not a) Farride West 51

[Rusjel]

Ed is over in the West and Steve was keen to team up for this one, so we converged on Balingup from the North and South.

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There's no dirt on the Grimwade road he said, it'll be fine he said.....well I've eroded any fragments of my credibility with Steve, but it wasn't too bad and quite pretty out there.

WA is known for not having many corners, but if you hang around the spine of the Darling ranges there are some nice rolling corners on the way to Collie.

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After some well earned bacon and coffee in Collie we left the Jarra forests and ventured out into the wheatbelt. It was another pleasant surprise out here with some beaut scenery and even some corners on the way to Kondinin.

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I didn't get photos of the gathering but hopefully someone else will chime in. I think we had 22, the best turnout in ages.

It was a fantastic surprise to see some old faces like Muttley at Kondinin. It was also terrific to hear of plans for LD riding as well, but Wombat can tell you about that.

I guess I could say I was a bit sad about this being the last Farride, but I feel like we've dealt with that now. Shame how it finished, but it won't hold up the distance riding community in Oz any more. Onwards!

Ed parted company with us and headed to Pingelly with Macca while Steve and I 'enjoyed' a sleepy warm run back to the highway at Meriden via some more gravel courtesy of roadworks. It really wasn't his day, but he was looking more confident on the loose stuff by the end of it.

Is the first tank of fuel after lunch the toughest leg in distance riding? I always struggle, but sharing the road with Steve was good.

Good roads, good mates, good food, good scenery. The future of RTEs in Sandgroperstan is, dare I say it? Good!

Thanks everyone, see you in Esperance!

[Biggles]

If that's their typical gravel it looks pretty easy to take!
So are you permanently a Sandgroper, Russ, or just on loan?

[Rusjel]

In Steve's defence, gravel roads over here typically have a firm base with a covering of 5-15mm bauxite pellets affectionately called 'pea gravel'. It's pretty skatey and unnerving to ride on at first but like a lot of this sort of stuff you just have to make your peace with the bike moving around underneath you.

I have a two year posting over here. I may retire at the end of this posting or, if Navy offers me something interesting I may stay. I'm very grateful for this career and ministry, but we'll have a longer think closer to the end of next year. If Navy do offer me something else it will almost certainly be back over East.

[Dicky Knee]

Great write up Russ.
It indeed was a great ride, made moreso by the fantastic company and laughs that Russ and Ed bring 'to the table'.

In my defense (with regard to unsealed roads), as I mentioned to Russell at lunchtime, when it comes to 'weight for age' I win on both counts

I have had a bad experience on an unsealed 'track' in Tassie, and while I had a great vacuum seal between me and the seat yesterday, my confidence has (had) been dented.....up until now.
I rode at my pace, and there were moments that I felt slightly more comfortable and upped the km/h a little bit.
Ultimately, at the end of the day, I'd rather be delayed because I rode to my comfort level, than be delayed because I was in hospital and the bike was being assessed for write-off purposes.
When you ride with such great mates, there is no pressure, and guys...I thankyou for that.
Nice to chalk up the final Farride for us here. Onwards and upwards

[LindsayGT]

The locals call it roley poley gravel, cos that's what it does!

[BrissyGTR]

Sorry I couldn't go riding with you. Taking the 1400GTR on gravel roads is always a challenge although they do handle it very well.

I do need to explore a little more around Collie and check out the painted dam wall at the Wellington Dam. I'll do that another day.

When is the Mach run to Esperance?

[Wombat]

The last FarRide West 51 has been run and won ( In the West ). A total of 22 riders made it on time and checked in. The Kondinin Hotel must be thanked for the great room and Food. There were a few stories of rough riding through the many sections of roadworks but everyone survived. The stories told of close calls!!

As discussed a new riding group has been formed and the next ride is Esperance 18 February 2023.
All are welcome
Cheers Wombat



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[LindsayGT]

Great picture, Wombat!

I had a really enjoyable first 1000km ride on the new Wing.