indian036 wrote:Hi all,

One election over (council), one more to come (ACT) as well as HSC in the next few weeks. Such is the life of the Government Gig Worker. Not to mention being near the end of one grandparent/school holiday support and anticipating a few days next week with the other lot. Phew!
Then the biggie - taking the half French grandchildren to France for some time with their other grandparents for January.

Anyway, I thought I'd better start some planning for the Southern Ride next year while I have a few spare minutes.

Date: early March 2025. Exact Date TBA

Venue: Jindabyne caravan park Friday and Saturday nights. My initial thought is to book a few cabins, since there seems to be less of an appetite for camping than there was for the first Southern Ride. On spec, I'll probably look at 10 people's worth, with thought given to not being too crowded.

Ride Route: The Snowy Mountains loop past Thredbo and Tom Groggin to a lunch stop at Khancoban pub, back to Jindabyne via Cabramurra. Same route as the first Southern Ride.

Several discussions with regular participants raised the idea of basically repeating the first Southern Ride but with less camping. Others have agreed when they heard the idea.      Deja vu it is.  

Agreements, disagreements, abuse etc., add a reply. Any indications of likely attendance welcome, though as always I understand that there are always circumstances that interrupt the best laid plans of mice.
(Kudos to anyone who pick up the reference in the tail end of the last sentence.)

Bill

Dai wrote:Somebody got chewed out, did they?

indian036 wrote:Hint: “literary” reference. English author and scriptwriter, died early this century.

TacKler wrote:At this stage, I'll throw my name in the ring as well.  So, so far we have: 

Bill, Dai, TacKler, Peggysus.

Dai wrote:

indian036 wrote:Hint: “literary” reference. English author and scriptwriter, died early this century.

That'll teach me to try and be smart . I knew the half-quote was from John Steinbeck's 'Of Mice and Men', but I thought someone might have had trouble with a mouse chewing through something the mouse didn't ought to chew through.

TacKler wrote:At this stage, I'll throw my name in the ring as well.  So, so far we have: 

Bill, Dai, TacKler, Peggysus.

Oh that would be good. Who's paying my airfare?

The author was deliberately playing on Steinbeck's line, as will be seen when the full context is seen. 

Time to start buying lottery tickets or saving for the airfare? Plenty of accommodation and spare bikes downunder.

Bill

TacKler wrote:At this stage, I'll throw my name in the ring as well.  So, so far we have: 

Bill, Dai, TacKler, Peggysus.  

Waiting on Gaz and Uli to confirm and will the real Rick be riding fit in time?  Waz and the Bathurst Krew?  Maybe an errant sidecar or a visitor from SA?  Perhaps an American, or two?  

In answer to your question Bill, it is probably best to keep the route simple otherwise it will be like herding cats.  I have a map, so I am safe from anybody with a GPS.  Walwa for lunch is probably a bridge to far, although it is a great ride, so I may arrive from that direction.  

If we make it a cabin instead of camping trip, it saves me hauling all the camping gear halfway round Oz.

Dai wrote:
Oh that would be good. Who's paying my airfare?

Dai wrote:'The best laid plans o' mice and men
Oft gang agley'

Robert Burns - 'To A Mouse'

Stan wrote:All of these references are getting too posh for us. Does this mean that K riders are intelligent?

Dai wrote:In all truth, I'd love to come but being retired and long-distance airfares don't mix. Your (mis)inclusion of me on the list was too good not to run with

indian036 wrote:

Dai wrote:'The best laid plans o' mice and men
Oft gang agley'

Robert Burns - 'To A Mouse'

I'd forgotten about Burns . . .  And Steinbeck to be completely honest.
I'd just remembered the quote, and the variation in the source I'm referring to. 

Bill

Dai wrote:Oh jeez. 42.

Dai wrote:In all truth, I'd love to come but being retired and long-distance airfares don't mix. Your (mis)inclusion of me on the list was too good not to run with

Dai wrote:Oh, I'm not fussy. The current bottle happens to be Irish (distilled in Dublin) but Scots, English, Japanese, Indian, American (!!! not bourbon) and Welsh have all passed through these hallowed doors. There's a bottle of Korean whiskey I have my eye on too.

Rickmeister wrote:Bill, I'm IN!!

Rickmeister.