WALWA--- APRIL 2012

It was a bit hard to watch the other guys on their bikes while I sat back and took in the views from Gundy's van but that was the way things worked out. Gundy's rear tyre didn't turn up in time and I was his passenger in the van, but at least I got to go. Six bikes left from Mooroopna on a perfect day for riding and all six arrived at Walwa safely without a mishap...Hoorah.
Walwa is a very pretty part of the world to go to and at this time of the year and with the added colours of autumn it makes it even more so. The Walwa Hotel was very welcoming and cosy and we settled in for fun evening. Next morning was overcast , very cool, wet and gee- wizz Gundy and I felt so bad for the riders who were out in it so we turned on the heater, found some good music on the radio and stayed back a bit so we couldn't see them so much and then we felt really good... ha . Yackandandah bakery was our lunch stop from there the weather improved, so we made our way back home thru Glenrowan. Thanks to Gundy for driving his van and thanks to Webby for leading the riders and good job to all who helped . Bird

TRENTHAM MARCH 31 2012

This ride was left to Webby to organise and like the last time we went he did a great job. 6 bikes
left Mooroopna on the Saturday morning with 2 more to follow later due to work commitment's. The fuck up fairy is still following Bird around with his battery giving up at Heathcote, so the ride was adjusted to go via Bendigo to get a new one from the Harley dealer there. Didn't make it... the bloody thing died about 20k's short, so Bird ..on Webby's bike, looking like a grasshopper in a matchbox, with Haggis as his guide took off to the new dealership to get the battery..... Yeah right ... around Bendigo c.b.d a couple of times and then started heading in an easterly direction when the shop was back to the west and then turn then south so neadless to say we took the wrong way back as well and so it went. We finally arrived at Trentham later that day and had a fairly quite night but a good one and the next day we came back thru Lancefield, Toobarac, Nagambie, Murchison and home. Big thanks to Webby for all the work he put in for this trip. Bird

JANUARY 21- 22 RIDE TO DEDERANG

Never have I been on such a fucked up ride. From the beginning when I rode off with only one glove on and didn't realize until I was 3 ks down the road to when I was being put into the back of the ambulance this trip was just one bullshit thing after another. My bike contributed to 5 break downs and Spoofy's sporty 2 times. Brakes, spark plug leads, battery terminals, getting tangled in flora and running over fauna, there was just no end. The final fuck up was mine when I ran into a roo and had to have my bike towed home in a trailer while I went to visit the doctors at the Wang Hospital. I will take this opportunity to tell everyone how very proud I am of the men I go riding with, they to the man were helpful, caring, well organised, didn't panic and at all times had my well being in mind and also looked after my bike. You are my brothers and I can't thank you enough. Bird

XMAS 2011

WOW 2011 is fast drawing to a close. It has been a good year for the Mad Mob, most things have been on the up and with continued enthusiasm and a bit of effort I am sure that 2012 will be even better. Religion is not the high point for me about Xmas, I feel Xmas is more about catching up with family and old friends and keeping the little kids dreams alive. So to all the members of the Mad Mob and those associated and the families of all, we wish you all the best for the Xmas period and may 2012 be worry free. Bird & Sue. xx

NOVEMBER 2011 RIDE TO JAMIESON

On the 19 th of November at 10am we headed off to Jameson. Six riders had turned up for what turned out to be a very good ride with a bit a everything thrown in. Our first stop was the Thoona Hotel from there it was over the Warby Rangers, funny thing happened on the ride over the Rangers, can't say too much but.... there is a Ducati rider out there some where with a slightly bruised ego after being passed " in the bends if you don't mind" by two older guys on two older harleys. lol. We went thru Wangaratta, Whitfield and stopped at Tolmie for lunch, we had rain from that point on until we arrived at Jameson. Hotel was very good, the night was enjoyable, breakfast was good, but the ride home, that was terrific. Having never been on the road from Jameson to Eildon since it has been sealed I was very keen to try it to see what it is like, apart from having a lot of tree debris on it from recent rain on wind the road has heaps of appeal and I will definitely be using it in the future. And then we come to the bit about "LUCKY" Dave, you see we had to leave poor ol" Dave behind.. again.. seems his bike just couldn't cut it and shat out a rear wheel bearing but wouldn't you know it , it was discovered right in front of the Molesworth Hotel, never seen a guy so happy to be left behind before.. go figure. His son kindly came with trailer and picked him up, told us later that he couldn't shut the Old Man up on the way home. The rest of us finished the ride safe. In all it was a very good ride. What did you think of the ride? Bird

OCTOBER 2011 TO EILDON

Well what can we say about this ride? It was and will be again one of the most scenic rides that we go on. I marvel at the way the forests have recovered from the "Black Saturday" fires and I am also saddened to see the loss of so many of those great Mountain Ashe trees. Saturday was a mixture of riding conditions with rain falling in the middle part of our trip making the ride thru the "Reefton Spur" area difficult to say the least. Such was the concentration needed to stay on the wet and sometimes slippery roads that some of us didn't get to take in much of the scenery, but once we got past Marysville the rain stopped, the rain cleared, the roads dried out and we had a bit fun on the way into Eildon. The motel we stay at has some wonderful views of the Pondage and surrounding hills and makes it a very pleasant place to camp. We had a fairly quiet night and the next morning after a hearty breakfast we set off for a look at the weir and then made our way home on what turned out to be a good riding track. Thank goodness for all we made it home this time with no mishaps. P.S. Welcome and congratulations to Dean "Spoofy" Cummins on his nomination to join "Mad Mob" and I wish him well. Bird.

DEDERANG 24+25 SEPTEMBER 2011

Still one of my favourite rides especially when we include travelling over Whitfield, it makes it a fairly big day of riding but well worth the effort. With 8 bikes we had a very good trip, except for one mishap with "lucky" Dave being in the wrong place at just the right time to be hit by a tail light that came off my bike smashing into his headlight and just catching him in the leg. After retrieving the taillight with number plate attached we all realised just how much damage this missile could have done and I for one was very thankful it did only hit his light and not Dave or anyone else, the offending light has been secured never to come off again. The rest of the trip was excellent with everything a rider loves and the hotel waiting at the end of the ride is very comfy, the publican is friendly and welcoming and we brought our own company so we know that is good too. The next day was a pretty good ride as well with everyone getting home safe and sound. I hope everyone enjoyed the ride. Bird