last year I'd been asked if I was interested in going to the Horizons Unlimited Australian meet being held at The Rider's Rest near Cooroy on the sunshine coast over the ANZAC weekend. Horizons Unlimited is a website and forum devoted to those who are traveling around the world on motorcycle or thinking about it. Why the hell not says I. whether or not I'll travel overseas via motorcycle remains to be seen considering I spend all my money and time just traveling around Oz.
I'd managed to get the head off the FJR before that weekend, and as the people who were going to rebuild it were on the Gold Coast, I figured it was onnly an extra few hours down the road from the Sunshine Coast so wh not just deliver it personally...
I'd planned on heading off after work Wednesday and camping somewhere on the way to the Gold Coast, but plans being plans they never go according to plan and I ended up leaving home at my usual time of around 3 - 3.30am Thursday morning. It was a bit damp and chilly until the sun rose about Gin Gin where I had breakfast and continued onto Brisbane and dropping into see McGuyver, who as it turns out was one of the organisers of the HUBB meet. Just as well as I stopped there as on of the rear pins holding the rear brake pads had went awol for some reason.
McGuyver has mates apparantly, and promptly sent me around to Bikes For Tyres. who, as I later found out, is owned by the same gent who own's Riders Rest; and runs OverlandersMC, a motorcycle tour company Rob Turton. Rob is a top bloke.
Anyways, Dave and Co got things sorted and a new set of pads fitted in no time flat and I was once more heading south to another Dave of Ingear Industries, who would be doing the cylinder head rebuild. It was a flying visit there before heading back up at great pace to McGuyver's joint ( that's slang for humble abode) to help him load a bike onto a trailer and heading up to the sunny coast setting up camp beside a pond just before dark only to find next morning that I had some friendly neighbours...
Lucky for me, my negotiating skills are first rate and mr croc-a-dillio wasn't going to eat me. With the very intense negotiation duties done, I took time to note the glorious sunrise from my humble abode
No rest for the wicked thought, I soon found myself roped into pitching marquees and stuff which kept me busy all bloody day only to be told later afternoon that I was the pryomainiac for the camp roast that night. yay! Every bit of wood was wet, and help came in the from of McGuyver's better half who brough up some dry wood so eventually we managed to eat before midnight. And good it was too, not the best I've ever had a hand in, but hell, it was hot and went down well.
Saturday morning started off with another nice sunrise only to be ruined by hoons with no thoughts to the children or safety. Where are the coppers when you need them?
