Jindabyne Australia Day Weekend 24-27 January 2009

A fine line between pleasure and pain was experienced on this Jindabyne ride. Let me tell you about the pleasure:

• the immense joy at being able to come, even though I couldn’t ride my bike
• experiencing the speed, skill and finesse of the riders who pillioned me - Misho, Dave, Ben and Cliff – you amaze me
• feeling the power of a 1000cc bike
• the thrill of the ‘chase’
• great roads
• evening escapade to Charlotte’s Pass – love it!
• no fines or loss of points
• the hilarious fun (most memorably, watching Rob Jones taking a wrong turn at fast speed into a path leading into locked gate - I was in tears)
• the mad laughs we had with each other (remembering how Dave decided to wake us up early one morning with the clash of saucepan lids outside the bedroom and then tried to blame it on Cliff… good try Dave, but I caught you!)

And the pain? Four days, 2,630 kilometres of riding as a pillion… oh my poor bottom; the Blade pillion seat is very unforgiving. Ah well, I would still do it all over again if I had to, just to be part of this crazy fun.

My heartfelt thanks to Misho for taking me on this ride – such a sweetheart! Ben, for your great leadership and organisational skills which makes the ride such a success; t Bronwyn and Peter Hill for all the rear-riding - delivered with a most smiley face, and to all my riding companions who participated in the weekend ride; it was great to have you there.

And special thanks to Julie Johnston for providing breakfast for us; it was so nice to see such a happy face in the morning... your warmth, kindness and thoughtfulness is much appreciated by all of us.

Pina Garasi