Upcoming Riding Weekends Away, or longer! Feb, May & June 2016

[VinceS]

(sent out as Announced Topic to all)

As anyone that’s been knows, EVERY TIME we go on tour it is a beauty. There are a few opportunities coming up and you just might want to join in. So this is what fiancé Kellie and I are doing / thinking about. Let me know (reply to this email) if you are interested in participating or have any q’s / whatever. These are the basic events:
 
Sun 28^th Feb 2016 Tumbafest www.tumbafest.com.au/program.aspx at Tumbarumba in Snowy Mtns. The best country festival of its type, with great entertainment. Set up to video-record the supers https://www.phillipislandcircuit.com.au/public-events/superbike-world-championship and leave Fri 4pm to Blue Mtns then Sat ride down – return Monday. We are continuing to Tassie for a “wilderness” holiday (at Peppers, Cradle Mtn – how “hard” will that be? Not!), then Ballarat and return Tuesday a week later. Any takers for the ride down to the festival, or join in for some / all of the rest of it? There are more details below, plus I have some great riding roads picked out and you can see the maps if you click on the link at the bottom to see this as a forum post.
 
Sun 1st May 2016 The Great Nundle Dog Race. www.nundle.com.au/events/the-great-nundle-dog-race/ At Nundle, obviously! This is a great fun country event, and easy to manage. Ride up Sat and get home Sun evening. This is a “maybe” – interested?
 
Sat 7^th May 2016 Trundle Abba Festival. www.trundleabbafestival.com Again, obviously at Trundle! I’ve never been, but saw footage of last year and it looked hilariously good fun! This also is a “maybe” – interested?
 
Sat / Sun 11^th / 12^th June 2016 Henry Lawson Festival , www.henrylawsonfestival.com.au Grenfell. We are staying at Grenfell Hall http://go.grenfell.org.au/grenfellhall/ Fri & Sat nights and will stop half way back – Katoomba has been booked in by a Triumph Sprint rider friend but we are still wavering on that one! They currently have 2015 events listed on the website but similar / same events will happen this year. I have been to this festival a few times over the years. It is pretty big and very unique, and a remarkably feel-good experience. www.henrylawsonfestival.com.au/events-and-entertainment/events-and-activities/poetry-in-the-park This particular Sunday morning event is an absolute beauty. It finishes up around 11:30am. Ride up via Bylong / Sofala on Fri and back via Blue Mtns. We can do most of it on back roads, or not, depending on conditions at the time. There is still plenty of accomm available in town, but don’t leave booking it too long as they will all fill up. See map via link below to see some route options.

The Tumbarumba / on to Tasmania holiday if you want looks like this:
 
Fri 26^th Feb ~4pm depart and travel 209km from home to The Grand View Hotel – Wentworth Falls www.thegrandviewhotel.com
 
Sat 27^th Feb Travel 418km from Wentworth Falls to The Tuckerbox Motor Inn www.tuckerbox.com.au – Gundagai (no accomm available at Tumbarumba, for at least 6 months prior!)
 
Sun 28^th Feb Travel 94km from Gundagai to attend Tumbafest, staying at The Club Motel Tumbarumba www.clubmoteltumbarumba1.com/91577535

Mon 29^th Feb Travel 550km to Melbourne (via Woori-Yallock) and overnight on Spirit of Tasmania (9pm departure / 7pm check-in) https://www.spiritoftasmania.com.au/sailing-fares/boarding-information
 
Tues 1^st March Travel 557km via Bicheno to Peppers Cradle Mtn www.cradlemountainlodge.com.au/accommodation/spa-suites/
 
Wed / Thurs 2^nd / 3^rd March Walk around trails like these www.cradlemountainlodge.com.au/activities/walks/ and more walking / whatever – try these www.parks.tas.gov.au/index.aspx?base=3305
 
Fri 4^th March travel 342km via Zeehan to Devonport and overnight on Spirit of Tasmania www.spiritoftasmania.com.au/sailing-fares/boarding-information
 
Sat 5^th March ferry arrives 6am so 7am arrive then generally head to Ballarat (Travel 117km + sightseeing)
 
Sun 6^th March spend the day / evening at Sovereign Hill incl Governor's VIP pass to dinner and show https://bookings.sovereignhill.com.au/
 
Mon 7^th March Leave Ballarat and decide on going via Bonang Hwy to Bombala (711km) or Mt Buafallo to Tumbarumba (618km)
 
Tues 8th March about 650km to arrive back at Charlestown Paradise mid-afternoon, kick the house-sitter out and straight into the spa!
 
How about it – any of these make you want to go splat a few bugs with the Duke and join in? Then Get Booking, and let me know and we’ll sort out meeting places / times / whatever. Or make another suggestion. You know we all need to do more of this, so let’s get cracking then eh!
 
Or go do some rider training at the Newcastle go-kart track http://hunterdog.org.au/DiscussionBoard/index.php?topic=1023.0 on Fri 26^th Feb is also an option – check it out and get ready for the next big one….