Post by bronny on Jun 11, 2017 19:44:33 GMT 10
With a crisp morning to start the ride, we left from Todd Road on time ( Ugo and Helen rocked up with a few minutes to spare) We had instructions from Des to turn left at the first Ballarat exit. Guess who rode straight past and the rest of the bunch followed. Yes Desmo that's Ballarat with a "B". Luckily he made a quick recovery and we were soon back on track. Fog slowed us down somewhat between Ballarat and Stawell. Petrol stop and a hot cuppa & food at Ararat to warm us up and back on the bikes heading towards the first silos at Rapunyup. The passing scenery as we rode; shorn sheep and their cute lambs, horses, and the further we rode it became wheatfields, more wheatfields ....and even more. Stopping at the first silos we all gazed in amazement at the art..along with the other visitors. Time for a couple of pics and off to the next one. Down some back roads to Sheep Hills silos, but hang on....Des did a "U"TURN. Oops missed that turn off again. Sheep Hills was a step up from the first silos, there were four and they were in colour. How do they get such detail on such a grand scale.
Off we rode once more up through Minyip and on, on, pulling in to a service station for refuel and a bite for lunch. Now there was a 150th celebration for Warracknabeal and the service station was buzzing with people and little food left and queues hanging out the door. We discovered Glen's top box had blown off and he headed back towards Sheep Hills to try an locate it. Des waited and not long after had a call, someone from Minyip had picked up the top box on his travels. No point ringing Glen his phone is in his top box.After waiting some more Des and the rest of the gang headed to the next silos at Brim leaving Julie and Bronny to wait for Glen. Glen rocked up, headed back to Minyip for the top box. Julie & myself caught up with the gang at Patchewallock silos. Someone said we must have broken all the speed limits but I think Des must have slowed down. The last stretch Julie and Graeme Dodd swapped bikes for the ride through all the mallee bushes ( or are they trees). One mallee fowl was spotted. Ouyen motel was a short walk to the hotel that provided a delish meal at great prices that evening. Glen said he had done 700 odd kms for the day (around 200 more than us).Thanks Greg for the B52's
Sunday Des continued on to Swan Hill with Ugo, Helen, Cindy & Dave in tow, while I led Julie, Graeme, Greg, Glen & Armando back to Melbourne. Armando you did behave all weekend. Julie thought she had left her keys at the bakery in Bridgewater but yep they were in her pocket all the time. Thanks Desmo a fantastic ride again, the silos are well worth the look check them out on facebook or better still go see them.
Tail End Bronny
