In spite of a very threatening weather forecast with damaging winds and showers, hail and thunderstorms to follow#, five historic and nine other bikes and riders turned out for the October run down the Fleurieu Peninsula to Cape Jervis.
Historic bikes present were :-
Ed Lowrey 1975 BMW R90S (900cc)
John Suggate 1974 Honda CB750 K5 (750cc)
Darryl McWaters 1972 Kawasaki Z1 (900cc)
Phil Allen 1966 Featherbed Commando (750cc)
Alan Kernich 1985 BMW R80 (800cc)
Modern classics :-
David Saint 2010 Yamaha FZ600 (600cc)
Wayne Williams 2008 Yamaha XVS650
Charles Oliver 2015 Triumph Street Triple R (675cc)
Lorenz Klass 2016 Skyteam Ace (125cc)
Martin Blindell 2017 Royal Enfield (500cc)
Louis Peilschmidt 1998 Honda VF750C
Campbell Blaney 2001 Harley Davison FXST (1450cc)
Trevor Jones 2001 Triumph Bonneville (790cc)
Jeff Forrester 2001 Triumph Bonneville (790cc)
Heading off from the Caltex servo at the top of Tapleys Hill, we turned off down Panalatinga Road. For those who had trouble keeping track of the route, here is a list of roads covered until a refreshment stop at McLaren Flat:-
Panalatinga Rd, Coxs Hill Rd, Piggot Range Rd, Easton Rd (I almost missed that one!), Grants Gully Rd, Kangarilla Rd, Bakers Gully Rd, McLaren Flat Rd.
After coffee and bites we headed off through the back blocks of the Willunga vineyards and towards Willunga and the Willunga Hill (I love it!). Then via Pages Flat Road to the Myponga Reservoir Road. Very windy at the top of the ridge heading down into Carrrickalinga and Normanville. Sunshine all the way. Turning right onto Main South Rd we had a brief ‘comfort stop’ at Delamere before finally arriving at Cape Jervis.
A bit of a chat, and an interesting view of the SeaLink Ferry coming in to the harbour in a 25 knot cross wind before executing a 270 degree donut with only a few metres to spare. A neat job (I think the helmsperson may have executed that manoeuvre before).
Off to lunch then at Yankalilla Bakery via Delamere and Torrens Vale. Everybody arrived safely in spite of some road debris and flying objects. Still sunny but some dark clouds in the south west.
After lunch in cooler conditions, various small groups headed off for home while the remaining half a dozen or so enjoyed a brisk ride to Meadows before splitting up to head for their various destinations.
The perseverance award must go to Lory whose 125 Sky Ace must have required a lot of encouragement under not the most ideal of conditions. Quite a long ride for some, mine being a total of 290 km all up. Most future rides will be somewhat shorter, 200 to 250 km seems most desirable. If anyone has a particular route/destination they would like considered please let me know.
# The much maligned weather forecast was completely correct with warm temperatures, damaging winds and bush fires during the day. Heavy showers and thunderstorms with hail followed in due course overnight.
Alan Kernich, Club Captain