The All Mountains Run had been scheduled for Sunday 26 October but was found to clash with the Goulburn rally, so in support of their club and to cater for the fact that many of our members would be attending, our committee decided to cancel our run.

Unfortunately, in keeping with my unspoken rule of making at least one mistake per issue of Bike Torque, I accidentally left the All Mountains Run in the calendar. So I suggested to the committee that I should go to the Services Club just in case others turn up, and maybe take them on a short run anyway.

Happily, Lisa and I arrived to see a few bikes already there, followed soon after by several more, totalling about a dozen bikes in all. Jim Alexander even brought along his 1929 HRD Vincent, powered by a JAP side valve single and sporting the familiar Vincent rear suspension.

I explained to everyone that the run was actually cancelled, but since we were all kitted up I offered to lead them on a leisurely ride to Mount Ainslie to view the Canberra Airport Open Day air display that was scheduled for 11:30. We had some time to spare so we went down Canberra Avenue through Fyshwick, then up the Monaro Highway extension to Parkes Way, Anzac Parade and then to the Mount Ainslie Lookout. A total distance of about 20ks.

Tail-end-Lisa did a great job of keeping the group together through the tricky Fyshwick switchback. Jim's HRD suffered a minor set-back when it wouldn't select third gear, but Jim waved Lisa past after assuring her that he would soon have the problem sorted and that he had a mobile phone if needed. As promised, Jim quickly had the gear selector re-adjusted and met us at the top of Ainslie only a few minutes later.

There was time for a chat and some photos before we heard the roar of a fighter jet over Canberra Airport. The RAAF F/A-18 Hornet literally rocketed back and forth, high and low, executed vertical climbs, stalls and silent vertical drops. From our vantage point we watched the Hornet blasted low across the valley with the mountain range close behind, and with that point of reference you could see just how quickly it was moving. Absolutely amazing.

With the air show over the group gradually departed, and all seemed pleased to attend the run that never was.

Cheers, Craig Mill