Weather: Cool, sun struggling through, heading for a max of 17°C

Route: From Manuka to Tharwa via Cotter, thence Fitz's Hill picnic area. Total: 148km

A bigger than expected number of riders turned out on Mothers’ Day for the Ride to Fitz’s Hill, with more than 50 Club members and visitors making it to the starting point. Maybe the ladies sought a peaceful Sunday and sent their men out on the run. I invited two visitors along who rode late model Harleys and there was also a good representation from the local Triumph Club.

Unfortunately, grandfather Bill Lewis was again on babysitting duties and headed back home when the group turned off Adelaide Avenue onto the Cotter Road. The route took in the Cotter Road to Tharwa, then on to Fitz’s Hill. The weather was threatening rain at times, but luck was with us as the only rain was a few spots seen by the BBQ team, who set out earlier than the main group of riders.

Many Club members chose to ride their latter models bikes on this long run, but there was still a good representation of older models on CSR plates, ranging from 1922 to 1978. We lost a couple of visitors along the way, with at least two Harley riders taking the wrong turn-off to Honeysuckle Creek. Steve Butcher, who wasn’t at the start, arrived in his car a short while after the main group of riders. Steve enjoyed the outing so much that he volunteered to pull the back-up trailer on the following weekend’s run.

Paul Madden pulled the Club’s back-up trailer to Fitz’s Hill and he came in for more than his fair share of work, particularly on the run down the hill when he had to make a couple of runs to pick up bikes and didn’t get home until sunset. One of the sad tales on the run was Dick Holland’s lovely AJS 650 twin, which suffered a failure in the bottom end. We all wish Dick well with the repairs to the AJS and hope to see the bike out on runs in the not too distant future.

The BBQ was already set up by Allan Boyd and his wife Chris when we arrived at the Fitz’s Hill picnic place. Hot gourmet sausage sandwiches and coffee/tea were served under the supervision of ‘senior chef’ Gerry Hampson, and it must have been good tucker as most riders went back for seconds. The gear box did exceptionally well, returning a record collection with donations for a normal Club run (excluding the Gluhwein). Most riders stayed a while, snacking on the good tucker and hot brew, and chatting with each other before making their way back down the hill and back home in their own time, leaving mainly in small groups of three – four.

The Club extends its thanks to Allan, Christine and Gerry for their efforts on the BBQ trailer and also to Paul on the back-up trailer. Having these services on the longer runs is indeed appreciated by members, which is evident by the number of riders turning out on the catered runs.

Volunteers are still required to tow the back-up trailer and the BBQ trailer on the Honeysuckle Creek, All Mountains and Hoskinstown runs. Also, volunteers are still required to pull the back-up trailer on the Googong Dam, Gunderoo Wine Bar and Captains Flat runs. Anyone who is willing to volunteer for towing either of the trailers on those runs (see dates in the events calendar) should contact the Events Officer. Remember, if the Club doesn’t get a volunteer, then the service cannot be provided on the run.

Col Hill

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ROLL CALL