Run to Milang, Sunday 30 September 2018

3 Oct

In spite of competition from the Bay to Birdwood and the Distinguished Gentlemen’s’ (sexist surely!)  Run, a wonderful spring day had them coming out of the woodwork! Eight historically registered machines and only four modern classics. This is easily some sort of record and is very encouraging to me personally and to other historic machine owners who would love to see a much improved attendance of these older machines at our regular runs.

In order of descending age ( bikes that is ) …

Charles Oliver 1959 BSA A10 Super Rocket 650cc, John Williams 1961 Triumph TR6R 650cc, Darryl McWaters 1971 Honda CB750, Wayne Lawson 1973 Triumph T140 750cc, John Suggate 1974 Honda CB750, Alan Kernich 1976 Triumph T140V 750cc, Ed Lowrey 1978 Triumph T140E 750cc & Kim Miller 1978 Suzuki SP370.

Then the newer machines…

Clayton Penley and Nanette Bamton 1994 HRD Heritage Softail Outfit 1340cc Evo (this ride’s capacity winner!), Wayne Williams 2008 Yamaha XVS 650, Shane Cooper 2008 Kawasaki Vulcan 900cc & Bruce Dowell 2017 Kawasaki Z900RS.

1978 Suzuki SP370

From our usual start at Hazelwood Park, we set off through Piccadilly and several speed cameras to Aldgate , Mylor and on to Echunga, Flaxley and Macclesfield to our morning tea break at Meadows. Not the most direct route but in my opinion one of the most pleasant rides.

What a wonderful spring day! Fantastic!

Parked outside Meadows Bakery

Back on the road to Milang via Paris Creek Road and Strathalbyn. Here we were joined by Bruce on his new Kwaka. Next we took a detour down Dry Plains Road which started out as a beautifully smooth track, but was ominously signposted as a Commonwealth “Roads to Recovery” project. This almost invariably leads to a unsealed section as it did in this case. Oops! So we back tracked to Strath and then took the main Milang Road to our lunchtime break at the Milang Bakery. A few very excited brown snakes feeling the vibes here.  Next time we will try Parker Avenue, which turns into Nine Mile Road. This is all sealed on Google Earth plan view, but not in street view!

Bruce’s new Kwaka Z900RS

After a pleasant hour or so we headed off around the Lake Alexandrina shore through Clayton Bay, and via Winery Road and its several interesting creek crossings back to Alexandrina Road (the Strath. to Goolwa main road). Clayton and Nanette chose to head off to Middleton to visit relations while the rest of the group took a left turn on to the seemingly obligatory Bull Creek Road through Ashbourne and back to Meadows.

From here the party split into several small groups to head back to different parts of the city suburbs. All in all, another extremely enjoyable club outing.

Alan Kernich, Club Captain.