Sounds good. As soon as the "official" route is decided I'll join in somewhere. With luck I might even get both days.

Smithy, count me in the number for a Sunday night stop and I've also got an escapee from the BMW Touring Club in Newcastle that is going to tag along with me and would be in for the Sunday night as well.

Cheers

Sounds great Smithy. Bruxner is a great stretch. It's a very nice climb from Drake up to the top with many switchbacks and bends. Coming down is almost as good.
How about a stop off at the Lunatic Hotel in Drake for a breather/lunch.
I'll be heading north from Casino. Cheers

There are mumblings here about 5th and 80% so there may be a toad invasion yet.

Marie has cleared both the Friday and the Sunday off work (we need to confirm our dog sitters are available still). Once we know where the stops are we can work out what's viable so we can get home easily Monday.

A reborn Smurfette may yet be in attendance (under Maries guidance). I can pick it up once the 80% vax has been reached, after that it really depends what is required to get it up and running, safe and passed a Blue slip inspection. I'll likely have 2-3 weeks. I already have the steering head bearings ready and waiting. I'm sure a new battery will be required, won't know what else till I get my hands on it.

Al

Hi All, Smithy and I have been discussing the possible routes and accommodation options for this ride over the last few days and have info for those who have indicated their interest.

Our gathering point will be the hotel at Bendemeer for our Friday night stopover.

On Saturday our plan is to ride north via the Manilla - Bingara road and on to Inverell via Copeton Dam and then onto the Graman Hotel to the north west of Inverell for our Saturday night stopover.

For Sunday we started planning to go across to Tenterfield and down the Bruxner Highway to Evans Head as was suggested by Rickmeister however that would have put those who live south of the New England area a very long way from home for anyone who needed to be home Monday night or even Tuesday for those like RT and Waz who are further south and west from Sydney.

After a ring around of a few of the participants it was decided that on Sunday we should travel down the Gwydir Highway via Glenn Innes to Grafton then back up to the Ebor Hotel for our overnight stop. We think this makes a more central location for people to make their way home on Monday.

I've attached a couple of maps of the proposed Saturday and Sunday routes.

Smithy has been in contact with the three hotels in regard to being able to accommodating our number. At this time I note that NSW has just announced that Queenslanders would be permitted to travel to NSW without permits or other complications however its still doubtful that they would be allowed back into their home state so our expected number does not include you guys at the moment - lets hope that changes.

So far the list of participants looks like this;
Smithy, Charlie, Sean, Al & Marie, Rickmeister, Tom, Gaz & mate, Bill & mate, Waz, RT, Stan, with Rockman joining us somewhere.

If there are others who plan to join in please post up here as soon as you can as the accommodation could get tight with the general community being allowed to travel soon.





Look forward to seeing some smiling faces again.

Cheers

It is increasingly unlikely that the toads will be able to get back through the rabbit fence but I will keep my options open for the time being.

Great work Gaz.

After just listening to Premier Ferretheads press conference this morning, I have no confidence I'll be able to go still. He's just pulled the pin on a previous firm committment to allow regional travel when 80% was reached (all layed out in their rock solid roadmap), I'm certain he'll have no trouble extending it again.

Al

Sounds like a great route. Haven’t been up there for let’s say a while. Too many good roads south of the state. But the yellow brick won’t quite be on the road by then. But a good way to celebrate beng out of lockdown. Tony

So Rick, about that property with the two gates?  

On the other hand, I have just approached a mate and asked if he can organise a cross border training flight with one of his helos, or schedule some urgent maintenance from one of their assets in NSW for the 15th.  

Or as Al suggests, just wear a State of Origin jersey.

The current state of play: ( last evening)

As of November 1st, people from the greater Sydney area will be able to travel to and from regional NSW and vice versa.

As of November 19th* (frustratingly), fully vaccinated QLDers will be able to leave and re-enter QLD without having to quarantine upon their return, either in a hotel incubator or at home with a pumpkin scone and a glass of cold Powers Bitter. 

As of December 17th* fully vaccinated people from Covid hotspots ( ie: NSW and anywhere else Ms Palate-Chook doesn't like much) will be able to enter QLD without the need for special exemptions, quarantine, or the need to purchase a maroon footy jumper.


* These dates reflect the anticipated achievement of 70% fully Vaccinated in QLD and 80% respectively and may be brought forward, if these levels of double vaccination are achieved sooner. However, the date of December 17th remains as  the cut off point, even if 80% is not achieved by that date.

As of now NSW will allow folks from the sunshine state to travel over the border in a southerly direction without an Entry Declaration.

So it seems to me that our Queensland contingent can plan to come to this gathering and they just have to hoon around in NSW until after 19th November before going home. Job done - start planning.

See you at Bendemeer!

Cheers

Not wishing to be the bearer of bad news but the November 19 restrictions still will not allow us out to play without 14 days quarantine unless NSW is no longer declared a hot spot.  We have to return by air and the usual negative test results.  

If I can push my bike over the border and then jump (thru the air) from a fence post, I may just be eligible.  

Otherwise it is December 17 and 80% double vaxed, etc.  

All restrictions will be removed at 90%.  As long as Queensland is the banjo playing capital of Australia and NSW is a declared (by us) as a hot spot I cannot see that happening.  

AL-58 wrote:
A reborn Smurfette may yet be in attendance (under Maries guidance).  I can pick it up once the 80% vax has been reached, after that it really depends what is required to get it up and running, safe and passed a Blue slip inspection.  I'll likely have 2-3 weeks. I already have the steering head bearings ready and waiting.  I'm sure a new battery will be required, won't know what else till I get my hands on it.

Al

She has been 3 years in slumber, be good to see her awaken Al. 
Head bearing is a priority , brakes will need servicing, new battery is a definite - as this prevented a trip to the inspection station when needed. Tyres are new and have been kept under cover for the duration. Blinker fuids could be low and may need topping up. 
Hoping all goes well for the krew on this ride. It has been a long rest up for many of you.

just had some feedback that there could well be another group invading Bundarra , the hotel there i had planned as a good stop for lunch with excellent pricing and good food for the money , along the path (i think its the "walcha challenge group " this year starting out at Uralla ())

ill find out some more but back to bingarra might be the better option at the moment for lunch , still worth travelling through bundarra  rather than straight from bingara to inverell via Copeton dam ,  dam look see is still in the plans  , its over 85 % full , not seen for many many years 

just some heads up

Now that I've seen the planned routes, the best option for me is to join the day 2 ride as you come through Inverell and give the Saturday a miss.

I'm out for this weekend, unfortunately. I'm still fixing the electrical gremlins in the Triumph. Am disappointed to not be there and catch up with everyone but wouldn't want to end up on the side of the road in downtown Graman or somewhere.
Hope a good ride is had by all!
Sean

Seanni!  You're lucky. We have to endure torrential rain, floods, wet pants...ugh! I'll have a Jaegermeister for ya!

Ulli.

Rickmeister wrote:Seanni!  You're lucky. We have to endure torrential rain, floods, wet pants...ugh! I'll have a Jaegermeister for ya!

Ulli.

 Ulli, you'd better make that 2 then!

just some pics  from "along the path" of the run this year 

at bendemeer pub , a welcome arrival drink on the porch in the afternoon 




about to be off , next morning 



with very strong cross winds making the journey quite notable  
a coffee stop at Barraba after viewing the "painted silos " some travellers past through to the coffee spot directly



 then Bingara for lunch 



later off to the Copeton dam through a few fast flowing water crossings, after a few days of very inclement weather 






onto our overnight stay at Graman   (no phone reception ) 



next morning off to inverell for coffee , then onto Glen Innes  , down the hill to Grafton and Coutts Crossing

( some of the riders with some mechanical issues and appointment schedules had decided to return home in pairs , good for backup if needed , including me on Fred with an oil leak emanating from the clutch area  , Fred was swapped for Gerty for this bit ...

 so our tour group numbers had diminished quite markedly 



then off up the hills for more twistys (about an hour 20 to traverse ) up to Ebor for our next nights stop over 



a wonderful opportunity to catch up with mates on bikes . after so long being locked down to local areas
many thanks to Craig Smith for organizing the event , and of course to all the friends , hoping we can do it again for the snowies ride and Rossco events next year , glad to be a member of " The Krew "

Thanks for the pics Charlie!

Thanks for the ride, Marie is enjoying the RS