Doesn't seem to be a seperate thread for the reknowned Karuah River Rally as yet , so here goes.
 

I have Saturday free and happy to blend in with any riders navigating their way in to the rally site for the evenings festivities.
Haven't yet tested the new Aldi tent and chair I picked up last year , so this will be a night of excitement for me .

I'll be there on Friday night in the usual spot.

leave approved today

should be heading down Friday to somewhere overnight , arriving in Dungog Saturday , lunch timish
will be great to catch up Ed

Obviously I'll be there. No chance of Friday off.  Marie will be taking the sidecar up Friday, I'll be there sometime Friday evening depending when I can get away from Penrith.

Al

Provided the skies are clear on saturday , an early morning ride to Nabiac and the Motorcycle Museum, then onto Gloucester.
could be an opportunity for an early Loffee and sKones at Roadies Cafe with Charlie perhaps... around 10.30.

good plan ed .

think I have your number on the phone so will sms when that time approaches , see how we go eh ?

I can no longer make it for Karuah River, not sure about the Snowy ride yet either.

RicK G wrote:I can no longer make it for Karuah River, not sure about the Snowy ride yet either.

Sorry to hear that Rick.

Al

hope all is well Rick . Take care , and Marg too.

Hate to be one to put a damper on things for Karuah but those planning to travel there should check the weather forecast.

It's been in the 40 - 43 deg range in the mid/upper Hunter Valley over the last few days and I just checked the week ahead and we'll drop down to around 29/30 on Wednesday then back into the 40s for Friday/Saturday.

I for one do not enjoy riding in +38 deg days so I may pike out if the forecast stays accurate.

Cheers

Last year when I got to Toms place on the Sunday afternoon I was seriously overheated and if I had to go another hour I would have been in big trouble from dehydration. Mind being very over weight just adds to the problem but even at the right size heat and dehydration can be a disaster if you don't know to be very aware of symptoms. Loosing concentration can be and usually is the first sign.

ditto

a couple of years ago I made an unannounced visit to smithys   , fortunately for a few hours recovery , just a few hundred k s up the road from Karuah
I was wasted from the 3 days of travel and the heat in the leather jacket just baked the occupant inside ...
thanks smithy and family

much better riding home in after 4pm temperatures
so with this in mind will try to plan riding times and heat

thanks for the heads up Gaz

just by chance I placed the old skool temp gauge out in the sun yesterday for just 5 minutes , whilst refurbishing the bevel box output shaft seal 

I might add that it was pretty painful picking up tools left in the sun longer than 20 minutes ...
and pretty consistent since late November around these parts
  this was about 1.00 pm
and the heat still building

Too right Charlie... hot this part of the world. Last Sunday I was called out to a vehicle fire (volunteer with Rural Fire Service) and it was 43...fighting a fire in a stolen car parked in the bush near a railway line. Hot... hot and hot, especially with all the gear on. But it was nice to have people get out of your way... I was driving a 14 tonne fire truck with lights and noises.

lol I know what you mean stan
went out to dubbo one year awhile back for work of a weeks duration at the youth centre. to be honest there wasn't a day under 42 ...when I left at 3pm on the Friday it was 46 ...in the shade
I remember I forgot to do the washing one night ...so did it when I knocked off near 4.30pm  ...and hung it out...was like cardboard before 5.00pm

starched ...noooo  .. more scorched ...grin

the coolest place was in the taxi cab air conditioning ...barstards ...giggle

Stan , I don't miss living out your way . I much prefer the hot humid coastal climate . 
Mind you it is not easy catching the cool sea breeze on those scorcher days .
Take it easy during your ride down Charlie , keep up the fluids .

Zikes - you guys are really scorching down there! 

I can't even begin to imagine doing anything, let alone riding, in those sorts of temperatures. I think Stan has the right idea - tearing up and down the road in his fire engine. 

I guess living in temperate climate like the UK where it is never too cold nor too hot does have it's advantages...but a few more days above 20 Deg C would be nice. 

Enjoy the rally if any of you are able to make it - ride safely.

It may even get to the point where we have a situation like some riders in the Northern hemisphere that can't ride in the winter. We may not be able to ride in the summer. 

I was riding back from Victoria to Sydney a few weeks ago. Dehydration was bad enough.... it creeps up on you, but when I reached the outskirts of Sydney from the south, temps soared. My phone app said 39c but I estimated about 5 degrees higher. It was impossible to open the visor for air as it felt like a very hot hair dryer blowing in your face. Only at lights was it possible to open the visor.
Unfortunately my Sweet Thing couldn't take the heat and blew a radiator hose.

That because it was 44*c in the water bag Nige, must have been about 75 on the pavement, Hope she is ok.

All good Keith. I had to top the radiator up a couple of times coming into Sydney. New hose arriving shortly. Lucky I have the old RT to get about on.

Holister wrote:It may even get to the point where we have a situation like some riders in the Northern hemisphere that can't ride in the winter. We may not be able to ride in the summer. 

I already pull the pin on riding any distance if I can avoid it in Dec/Jan. Don't mind a few night rides.

One thing I cant avoid is work; riding around 6 hrs on the postie bike in whatever temp it happens to be.  Couldn't live without my Camelbak to avoid dehydration.

I'll be on the RT this weekend, but I'll take the lowers off one night this week. Sunday is looking like a hot one.

Seeyaz all there.

Al

tackler rang me today
we might be heading south via tablelands  with hopefully an early start

dave intends to go straight there ...but I'm calling "lets see how it goes " ...so if its looking at getting over 33 before noon I'm camping for a few hours along the path ..if I can find a shady tree and a bit of water to cool the ankles ...till well after 3.00pm .. perhaps Guyra, mother of ducks lagoon ?

the inland and high tableland route is pretty well travelled by us ...and for good reason ...the temperature - humidity differences are vast

but just thinking aloud wouldnt mind ripping down to the seaside at around port macquarie for a dip in the sea before a sleep .

which means of course ...down the "Oxley highway twistys " ....hmmm   

next day Nabiac by 9:00ish  then glouchestererer   by 10:30 am meet with Ed  let me think on this a little

some thing like this ?

Born Again Eccentric wrote:. . . UK where it is never too cold 

My good friend the POM who migrated here in 1966 would seriously dispute this statement!  

But he also contrasts it with the heat during his time at Changi (Singapore) with RAF 205 squadron. 

Bill

Charlie, the Oxley has some significant changes to speed limits, way too much of it is 60kph or so they locals on the Ulysses club site have said its now well policed to see what fortune they can make out of the speed changes.
Hopeing you find a sweet run without radar penetrating wallet policing.

yeah read about the Oxley keith
an absolute bugga huh ?

although last time through there I was overcome by winging bloody sport bike riders saying things like the ripples and holes in the road made it a mess and they were not happy chappies at all...and all out of tamworth for this group

frigging wimps if you ask me !

it was frigging awesome,  grinding the crankcase on decreasing radius corners  with ripples across the road ...maybe I'm bent ...in a nice way ..

just a reminder of what I saw ..that inspired me





and the procrastinator riders heading off to the next coffee barn  ..some 100 + ks off in Walcha



it just scares me to think these dudes are insured and will take our money and add to the statistics before too long affecting the rest of us insurance premiums .

anyhow sorry about the rant

I don't get many occasions, these days, to do a nice ...for me ...holiday ..  I intend to make the best of what I can ...
a friend  from school days , close to "port" has suggested a great looking camping spot, right on the beach-river
front where I intend to dangle my weird ol frame in the water for a paddle in the waves on Friday night ...with a six pack to quieten the soul after .

and then catch up with ed along the path

. cheers .

Watch out for the crocs Charlie - we wouldn't want to hear that you ended up on the menu while cooling your toes.

Bill - all things are relative! As soon as the mercury rises anywhere above 28 Deg C we all instantly start dying of heat exhaustion. If it lasts longer than a day - we call it a heat wave. Conversely, in winter, apart from the highlands of Scotland, it very seldom drops below -10 Deg C and mostly hovers +/- 5 Deg C. If we have a millimetre of snow, the nation grinds to a halt and, of course, we all instantly start dying of hyperthermia. It's amazing that there is anybody still alive in the UK - a "freezing" winter followed by a "scorching" summer would almost certainly wipe us all out. We only moan about it because we haven't really got it and feel a bit left out.

Al - I've just crossed Aussie Postman off my dream 2nd career list!

Born Again Eccentric wrote:
Al - I've just crossed Aussie Postman off my dream 2nd career list!

It all depends on the location too. Just that I'm in Western Sydney and its a hellhole in the heights of Summer.

There are also lovely places like Guyra and Orange where it never gets that hot but roads get closed due to snow in the winter.  Hobart would be nice. Australia is so big that there are very varied climates.  

Its no dream job that's for sure, just a lot less stressful than teaching.

Al

Those signs say it all Charlie, well worth the run down.

Yes BAE life sans postie runs will do just fine. I'm sure the postie run itself is just fine its the stopping to chuck out the letters along the way that's the problem.

Love it Al58 Love it. ha ha

Hi All, just thought I'd post tonight's updated weather forecast for Dungog for the weekend.



For those that make the trip be very careful of your hydration - this is no joke.

I'm out - at my age I ride for enjoyment not punishment.

Cheers

Gaz, that weather forecast is a bit worrying. I'm out. The 75 is still not going, the young bloke will be visiting from Brisbane and it's going to be bloody hot. Cheers Tom

with the updated information ...thanks gaz
both me and tackler are reassessing the situation and the worth of trying and hoping to make an enjoyable trip .

with great sorrow , we will be missing this event this year

defiantly heading to the beach somewhere up here for me ..and I believe dave is also heading that direction

sorry guys  the anticipation of attempting to make the ride home in the peak of the predicted hot spell , doesn't hold any desire to me  

next year is on the cards ...as long as this climate change stuff will time itself better for us northerners .

cheers to all that are still going

Charlie we'd be the ones with the sorrow if something untoward had happened to either of you trying to complete a significant round trip in conditions that are predicted for the coming days.

Enjoy the weekend whatever you end up doing. We'll talk about you (in the nicest possible terms) on Monday morning at Loffee but I for one will be heading back home from Maitland fairly smartly to beat the heat once the Loffee is done.

Cheers

Agreeing with all at this point . 
Hot roads - chewing up your tyres , Hot fuel simmering between your thighs, Hot wind in your face 
and the efforts to remain hydrated don't seem to be placing a positive on this weekend .
Although Smurfette is fitted with an override swicth for the cooling fan , it's not worth it to test her on these conditions .
As mentioned , wise decisions made by the Krew , I'll raise a cold one  :_+:or two in thought of those enduring the heat this weekend .
Hope all goes well Al.

I'll be doing an early Saturday ride as it will be too hot after work tomorrow.  Big sacrifice too, I will leave the RT and RS to rest at home and take Maries F650GS twin, it will be a much cooler ride.

I'd be staying home if I could.

Al

It's been a rough trot for Al and the BMW club during the past year . 
Floods , landslides and heatwaves have been causing havoc for the team . 
Word has arrived that the forestry officials have played caution and are closing the rally campgrounds for the weekend , to ensure fires don't catch anyone off guard.
Apparently the rally has been moved to the local township of Dungog , keeping riders closer to the pubs to maintain their fluid levels .

Thanks for the update Ed. A wise decision as if I recall there is about 14 kays of dirt into the site through the forest and with the temps predicted a bushfire would be fatal for everyone concerned. No ifs, buts or maybes.

It is all to do with safety..., ours and the larger community. This weekend is shaping up to been extremely high in risks... health, fire,fatigue etc.. I am dreading my pager going off as I know that whatever we do, there will be loses of some type.
Next week ...cooler.... well into the mid 30s.

borrowed from FB. 
Al and Marie keeping Kool at this years warmish rally.

In anticipation of heading down to Dungog I had new tyres fittted to my GSD, so I needed to get out for a run anyway.  

I went inland from the coast through Tamborine, Beaudesert, Kerry, Hillview and onto Rathdowney where I stopped for a break.  The lady in the information office mentioned an expected high of around 38 deg C and I was already working up a sweat at 10:00am.  Using a local map I decided on taking the Cannon Creek Road to try out the new dual tyres.  A few ups and downs, a bit of gravel with lots of high grass by the roadside.  And the school bus does not run on a Saturday.  



By this time I was drinking lots of water and headed into Boonah.  I stopped at the front of the pub in the main street at the marked motorbike slots.  A thoughtful gesture by the local shire council  , although I was only after a pie and a drink from the bakery next door.  Preceding back to the park just down the road, it was getting hotter so found a little shade for a rest.  

One of the things you really feel in these sort of temps is the heat radiated from the road on hot days.  As I use a ventilated jacket, with pads, it is always done up but still feels like riding in a furnace.  Although when you take off the airflow over your sweating body feels cool for a few seconds.  

I have travelled the Boonah - Beaudesert Road so many times I gave it a miss and headed towards Lake Maroon which I bypassed on the way in.  Less traffic and congestion.  I guessed it was too hot for the police to be out, so my speed was not a concern.  By this time the heat was becoming an issue as the area is in a wide valley with little breeze.  Back into Rathdowney and a quick look at the top end of the Lions Road before stopping at Tamrookum for a breather.



When travelling through rural Australia, I am always amazed at the amount of memorial halls, buildings, guns and War Memorials erected in memory of soldiers who did not return from the First World War. During the day I passed at least four.  The only other place where I have found it so noticeable is in France.  

As it was getting a tad warm I found what little shade there was around the back of the Tamrookum Memorial Hall.  A few bees, flies and Willie Wagtails kept me company.  Finishing a bottle of water I saddled up and pressed on home.  

It was an hour to get back and once home I peeled my clothes off with my t-shirt wringing wet from sweat.  Even my helmet was warm to touch.  Checking the weather on BoM it was registering 39 deg C at Beaudesert. 

Looking back it was a the right decision not head south as a few hours in slightly cooler weather was not very pleasant at all.  Hats off to those that ventured along to the rally.  The hardest decision at home was whether to have a cold shower or beer first.

2017 Karuah River Rally Report:

Stinking F$%^ing Hot!


With the closure of the state forests due to heat/fire risk we had to relocate to the Dungog Showgrounds.  This meant the Bank Hotel catered for lots of business also.

Numbers were down on what we expected but many did turn up just because it was the 40th rally (starting in 1998 as the Australia Day Rally).  Accounts are yet to be completed but we probably broke even which was the best we could really hope for, so no extra $$$ for the RFDS this year.

We had special awards for Frank Cachia(K1100RS), Trevor Dean and Graham Johns who all attended all 40 rallies, Frank coming all the way from Melbourne each time (approx 2500 km round trip, meaning about 85,000kms riding just for the Karuah River Rally, not 90k as he couldn't ride for a few years due to nearly losing his leg, but he still got there), Also a special award for Morro who started in 79, just one year later than the start; he also came to the rally on the bike he rode in 1979.  Rob Popplewell has missed some Karuahs but he was also in attendance riding the same R75/5 he rode to the first rally in 1978.

So while the heat put a dampner on things it was still a special weekend.  

Good family this club.

Al

Great report and pics TacKler - it was good to hear that you got out for a ride, even if it wasn't on your K75 or to the rally. I think you made the right choice though.  I still can't fully comprehend the kind of temperatures that you're experiencing, let alone riding in them, but your description is vivid.

Beer of cold shower - tricky choice. Think I would have opted for the long cold beer first, to cool down from the inside then have a shower. After that I'd probably have another beer as I reckon that I would have earned it.

AL-58 wrote:2017 Karuah River Rally Report:

Stinking F$%^ing Hot!
So while the heat put a dampner on things it was still a special weekend.  
Good family this club.

Great effort Al - a real triumph over adversity. Well done for holding it all together.
Some really dedicated riders down there, here's hoping they all made it safely home again and without incident.

It is strange to read of you guys sweltering in incredible heat while here it is trying to snow again (had a little covering on the ground yesterday, but it didn't stick around long).

This month in Dubbo has had an average of 39.7 degrees C as maximum. There are massive bush fires between here and Newcastle with the highway cut in many places... fire front of about 30kms. I do hope all the riders arrived home safely.

We had 41.4°C here today which is 2.4°C above yesterday and yesterday was an all time record.

Very pleased to wake up this morning to 20 deg C temperature after the last week of mid to high 40s. Also thankful to have got through yesterday without a bushfire in our immediate area as my property is quite close to forested areas and we have a number of large trees close to the house - fire authorities rated yesterday as the most catastrophic fire risk day in the history of our state. I think there were over 90 bushfires burning in the state last night.

To put some perspective into this situation for our northern hemisphere friends; just one fire still burning out of control about halfway between us and Ainsjac has consumed over 120,000 acres.

But we are a land of contrasts. Last night there was flooding in Western Australia and snow falling in Tasmania while the eastern part of the country faced these record high temperatures and catastrophic fire risk.

We love it here!

Cheers

Yes we love it here, and to top it all off the southerly buster when it came though came with an incredible rush, blustery gusts to lift you off your feet and send the curtains dancing and venetians into a sheet.

Last night with the windows wide open we had a very pleasant night.

Sunday afternoon on my way back to Sydney from Newcastle around 7.30ish I got rained on....

well  it took another 24 hours of increased humidity around here ....but ...at last some wetness from the sky has arrived to cool the place down ...maybe for just awhile

and very welcome

I must admit took a short ride on Friday around the area ..and got severely dehydrated \ sunburnt through my shirt ..


but so glad to see this coming



but alas ...10 minutes or less after ....gone !!!

nice colours though