The things some guys go to in order to head away for a long ride: "Me Sweetie pie, would you like to spend Melbourne cup weekend in New Zealand with your mum?" "My Beloved, how thoughtful and considerate of you, but what will you do without me for 4 days?" Me? I dunno but don’t worry about me, you just have a good time!

Tap, tap, tap at the keyboard www.travel.com.au booking made within minutes, confirmed, paid for with credit card and itinerary printed to my Beloved’s delight. Seconds later, e-mail to Ben @ MTCV. I’m up for that 4 day ride over Melbourne cup weekend mate! Actually on paper, that sounds a little devious and calculating. I’m not really like that, honest.

At the end of the ride, Ben asked each of the participants to write a little on the weekend, my contribution being what I got to up alone, plus some of my thoughts. Wind back to Saturday morning where I met up with most of the guys in Hallam. A quick stocktaking indicated I had the only first aid kit. I rapidly pointed out that I would NOT be the applicator of medical treatment should the need arise. A quick inspection of tires followed and mine were looking good, front was brand new and rear only 800km old, albeit 100km + around Philip Island on a track day.

Hit the road and nothing significant to report till Ken and his R1 swan dived into a valley at considerable speed, halted momentarily by a rock (which the bike hit) and a tree (which I think Ken hit) on their way to the bottom. I hope he had blacked out cause that sure would have been one scary descent. Details will be covered by one of the camera wielders, I’m sure. The thing that amazed me though was that this unfortunate incident made absolutely no difference to the pace. Even as the Rescue helicopter hovered above us on its way to the Alfred in Melbourne, with Ken in a morphine enhanced state of well being, most of us were riding like we’d only stopped for tea and scones.

Sunday morning and my rear tire was starting to look sad. Didn’t say anything but riding in the rain felt less than comfortable and I soon dropped back to the rear of the pack. Gas stop in Bombala and a check of the tire displayed a distinct shortage of rubber near the centre. Came clean with the group and a decision was made for me to head to Canberra to buy a tire. I would rejoin the group the following day at Tumbarumba

Bruce stayed with me to Cooma but I elected to take the final 100 km leg to Canberra alone. The rain was torrential which in the circumstances would be good for the tire. Problem was, 10 km out of Cooma and the rain stopped. Worse than that I encountered a heat wave. Any other circumstances and I would be thanking my lucky stars but by the 20 km mark, the canvas was showing all the way around. The rest of the journey was spent with the TLR’s throttle barely off the stops and stops every 5 minutes to let the tire cool down. By the time I got to Canberra the canvas had gone and it looked like I was down to the inner lining.

It was around 4:30 pm so I stopped at a hotel. Not for long though as $180 for the night was an issue. I couldn’t even talk them into a corporate discount as I didn’t have any of my usual cards and the way I was looking, they would have assumed they were stolen. As I rode off, I noticed a fellow motorcyclist and waved him down. The little guy was on "P" plates and riding a (snigger) DaeLim 250. Looked like a 70’s Honda with early nineties bodywork, made by the DaeWoo car people. I asked him if it was a twin or single and he didn’t know. But he DID know where the two best tire shops were and proceeded to take me to both of them. What a guy huh!

TJ’s was in North Canberra and Joe’s was in Fyshwick. Neither was open but I spotted a 190 Dunlop 207 in TJ’s so I knew I was going to be OK. Mr DaeLim felt it was necessary to impress me with his accomplished riding style. Most amusing as he revved it till it valve bounced then kangaroo jumped into the next gear. Canberra is full of roundabouts and his ‘style’ was to lean over the bike over so the footpegs touched but have his body leaning in the opposite direction! Very strange but he was impressed with himself.

One more last favour was for him to point me in the direction of some budget accommodation. His parting remark was to ask me if he should buy a Suzuki GS500 or a Ducati Monster 600 when he got off his Ps? Now this got the memory juices flowing so I asked if he had heard of aus.motorcycles? Yep, I post there all the time! Aha, I had a feeling there were no 2 people on the planet vacillating over that conundrum and I was right. More interesting than that, he actually knew who I was from my newsgroup nickname (never to be revealed). Small world but a very clear message that comradeship between motorcyclists is well and truly alive.

The Queanbeyan Hotel looked OK from the outside so I went in and booked a room. $30 seemed reasonable. My own room and cable TV in the lounge. Problem was it was full of smoke and coughing alcoholics. Went out and bought a "Two Wheels" then had them lock the bike up out the back (which was good of them). Then went downstairs for a meal to find they don’t serve food on Sundays! Ended up going for a long walk into the center of town and found a KFC so didn’t starve. Got back to the Hotel, into bed pretty much off to sleep right away when I heard the girl next door coughing like she was going to die and then scream "I’m coming Muma". Either she was actually on her last legs or one of the other "guests" had made it into her room.

It was 5:00 am so I took a long hot shower, packed my stuff up and went down to try and recover my bike. Fortunately the bar was open (did it ever shut?) and the barman had a key to the gate. Off to McDonalds for a hearty breakfast and then about 6:30am I started riding between both tire places till one opened. Joe’s did around 7:30am and after poking a hole in my tyre with his finger to accentuate how thin it was once the canvas had gone, he had a new 190 Sport Bridgestone on my bike by 8:00am.

Back down to Cooma where I met up with John on the BMW Interstar Galactica on his way back from Sydney. John and I then rode through the Snowy Mountains together before meeting the others at Tumbarumba as planned.

The following two days were spent enjoying what I honestly believe would be up there as the best roads in the world for motorcycling. Of particular mention have to be the Murray Valley Highway from Walwa to Granya. It may have the time of the year but fast sweeping smooth road was accented by stunning scenery with a full to the brim Lake Hume on one side, and freshly blooming wild flowers on the other. That plus the sound of my Yoshi equipped TLR red lining in 3rd was pure bliss. To top it off, a quick sprint over the twisty pass between Granya and Tallangattta provided a much appreciated adrenalin fix and a yearn to do it again soon.

Final note, I spent more on gas and tires than the return airfare to NZ!