(Sent out as an Announced Topic via http://hunterdog.org.au/DiscussionBoard/index.php?topic=952.0)G'day - Feel like a weekend away this weekend? Kellie & I do! Want to join in? Let's Just Do It then.
Grab a tent and sleeping bag - everything else will be available on site courtesy of the local Lions club (or collect at the Nundle pub on the way up the hill). You could try your luck with accommodation (all the links are here:
http://hunterdog.org.au/DiscussionBoard/index.php?topic=942.msg2658#msg2658) but this close to the date you'd be lucky. The event brochure can be got by clicking the "view post" link in this email. Given that the date was successfully moved to the warmer end of October last year, camping should be a snack.
The weather forecast is for pleasantly warm summer days – 30deg C to 31deg C, with the typical possibility of thundery showers that accompanies that:
http://www.weatherzone.com.au/nsw/nw-slopes-and-plains/nundle . Not a drama, and the Sheba dam is a little elevated so there will be a roaring bonfire going throughout the evening. This is the most civilised rally on "the circuit", being put on by the NSW Ducati Owners Club. The Awards and various shenanigans are always worth seeing or, better still, being part of! And it is an easy 350km from Freeman's, and a pretty comfortable half day's riding, which we will stretch out a bit to suit.
We will be leaving Freeman's Waterhole The Oaks Servo 9am Saturday (the one on the east side of the road), or more likely about 10 mins past 9 as always happens... There is a map attached to this post, click the link below to see. The red coloured route is the departure route. We will go via Wollombi and stop for a short rest at Broke (~80km), then the back road to Denman where, after a lap of the Rosemount winery we will have lunch at the Royal hotel there (~175km). Quite likely the contingent riding up from Sydney will find us there, check out
http://docnsw.org.au/item/635990 for their intentions. After lunch it is the back roads to Scone (~236km), Willow Tree (~294km), Nundle (~353km). If we are in the mood at Denman, we may decide to add the 50km loop through Merriwa (shown in grey).
After a break and stock up at the pub, and fuel we go 10km up the hill to the Sheba dam and practice our tent pitching skills. Coming home can be the Port Stephens Cutting and Booral, which is shown in light green and 305km back to Charlestown or, more likely, the bottom light blue route which takes us through East Gresford and is a 351km trip. Or, if the mood suits, do the top loop of Thunderbolts shown in mauve, and a 453km trip.
Register via the following website:
http://groupspaces.com/thunderrally , either because you are coming or would just like to put $25 into this worthy cause, and wear the t shirt! That website provides a link to the entry form, basically fill it in and do an online payment. Or just pay on arrival.
I also asked Aunty Mal about the "no dogs" rule as we took a Lhasa Apso to the recon ride in June and it was fine. He said there is no problem with dogs like our Chilli and she is welcome, it is just the big boisterous ones they have a problem with around the dam. So if you also want to give your small dog a holiday it seems there is no drama, as long as you too are a responsible owner of course!
It is handy, but not essential, if you reply to this email if you intend coming. Then either show up and we know we are "go" if everyone's accounted for, or ring / send an sms if any issues arise and we will sort something out. My phone does work on the go (voice only), subject to the pretty ordinary Optus coverage.
Please do come, you know you want to - it is shaping up to be a great weekend... See you on the road, on the way!
Topic: 33rd Thunder Rally: 25-26 Oct 2014, Sheba Dam, Nundle; 9am Sat Freemans depart (Read 1194 times)
