Sale to Canberra (532kms)If anyone said that getting from southern Victoria to Canberra in almost 12 hours and that it was one of the best days ever, you would normally laugh at them. Let's face it, Canberra is a boring place and it's generally even more boring getting there. Not necessarily so!
The morning started early, the departure was 7am, as I got up and was woken by the bite of the cold I couldn't help but marvel at a father and son combination who are travelling in something from 1950's England. I'm not sure what the hell it is, a BSA, I think, and it has the weirdest sidecar you will ever see but they have done it and are having a ball of a time, if not slow. The start up procedure alone took the old man at least 20 minutes ... prime this, stroke that, pump the whatsit and then give it a good kick.
As they continued to work at starting this bike I turned the key, pushed the starter and rode away.
As we left Sale, the first port of call was Bairnsdale, ok so this isn't a great bike road, but the reception we received in Bairnsdale was great, especially from the kids who were loving the assortment of bikes. From Bairnsdale the next stop would be Cann River after we rode through Lakes Entrance. I've been here before, yet never realised how pretty this place is, the fact it wasn't swelling with tourists certainly helped.
Cann River marked the turning point onto which has to be regarded as one of the best bike roads around, the Monaro Highway, with its hundreds of kilometres of twists and turns. But before we could do that we stopped at the local memorial and paid homage to those who have fallen fighting for our country, it was after all Remembrance Day, and the ceremony put on by the Cann River locals was one of the most touching I have ever witnessed. The ceremony seemed to instill in us why we are doing this ride in the first place.
As we headed into the hills it was clear that the weather would well and truly be on our side, the higher we went the clearer it became although the the temperature did drop significantly. This prompted a few of us to have a decent crack at some of the corners, I couldn't help but be impressed by some of the old blokes throwing some pretty big bikes around, it was a pleasure to sit behind them a watch.
As we crossed into New South Wales we were greeted by a huge reception at Cooma, where the local Lions Club had put on a BBQ to help us raise funds, they did this as a thank you to everyone who was taking part in the ride. It was a great honor and humbling to be respected like this.
After a feed it was time to get back on the bike and start the last leg of the days ride to Canberra, the last part was also the most dreary, as the Monaro straightened out as it climbed over the high country. It was from here that to the left we could see snow capped mountains, most loved this, for me it was perhaps a signal of what was to come as I would be headed that way in just a few days.
Once we were in the Australia Capital Territory border we were met by ride captains who would escort us to Parliament House for an official photo. It was quite a site to see almost 300 motorcycles lined up between the two parliament houses, we had our photos taken a few impromptu speeches were made, Senator Kate Lundy spoke up and said she was disappointed that no one else from our government had joined her. Perhaps men's health isn't important enough for a Health Minister or Prime Minister to take notice.
At 6pm we finally go to our hotel, stark difference to the night before, either way it was great to be off the bike after almost 11 hours of riding ... I have to say, my bum needs a good massage.
Not long after arriving at the hotel I was asked if I would like to go to HMAS Harman, the only inland naval base I know of, to visit the Vietnam Veterans Motor Cycle Club. Yeah these guys are the ones who have the leather jackets, with club patches on them, like most 'outlaw' motorcycle 'gangs' they have a strict hierarchy built on respect and values, they just tend not to be involved in organised crime.
It was a great pleasure to meet these guys, and see their clubroom, and become involved in a small way in their inner sanctum, the way they greet each other and talk etc. I was also very interested to hear that you didn't need to be a Vietnam Veteran to be a member, you don't even need to be a member (past or present) of the armed forces.
They were extremely impressed with what we were doing and were going to support us the next day as we ride into Sydney, this would be a great honour, and something I will never forget.
From meeting these guys we were taken to the Queanbeyan Bowls Club by one of the members. There's no doubt that this place isn't cheap, and has the the worst covered band I have ever heard, but you can't deny that the beer is ice cold and the steaks are thick and juicy, just what was needed after a very tiring day of riding.
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