Little was a ride to attracti so much attrition.
Eight starters planned to convene at the Emerald library, an amazing and surprising attendance given the environmental havoc wreaked the day previous.
So, do we ride tracks and risk debris, descending trees and limbs, or do we stick to tarmac and risk the traffic? A bit of both was our compromise. Ride the road to Patons Rd in Maccy, then take a left turn inyo the dirt and continue to the Patch via Old Emerald and Waterford, Williams, then tarmac back home. All well and good.
The attrition started before we left the library.
Where was Mike? He never forsakes a ride. No Mike.! Wait 5mins. NO Mike! Ring his home. No Mike! Wait 15mins. No Mike! Conclusion: He must have had a better offer.
One down, 7 to go.
Out of the library carpart, downhill past Wollie's and straight into impenetrable fog. Creeping along the road to Avonsleigh between annoyed motorists, was not pleasant and it was with relief that we deserted Maccy Rd. and turned left into Patons. At least 4 of us of turned left (Jurgen, Helen, Jon, Jutta, the latter being a new rider to the group, sussing out our planning skills). The speedy trio of Kirsten, Werner, Peter, were nowhere to be seen. Much searching, scouting and backtracking proved fruitless for the itinerant trio were not to be found. Our main concern was that we had the first aid kit in our baggage. How would the others fare without if? With no other option, the surviving four continued, mournfully alone.
And then there were 4.
As expected, carnage on every track prevailed, but expert bike handling skills by us seasoned veterans (a euphemism for old f..ts) meant an event free ride. Except.....
Waterford Road was devastated with fallen debris, some of it quite big. So big in fact that we came around one corner only to be confronted by a gigantic tree across the road (about a meter diam).
Perched on top of the fallen log were two, checked shirt bearded bushies playing bangos with a loaded chainsaw along side them. "Hmmmm" one of them remarked. "There are four of you" one beard exclaimed. "Would you care to help us shift the tree trunk?" Eyeing their muscular bulk, the loaded chain saw, and the fact that out retreat was blocked by an enormous 4WD, what else can one say. Half an hour later, muddied, covered in saw dust and freshly introduced to chains, wedges, splitters, levers and 4WD's, we were free to continue.
Off to Emerald and coffee and a bet between us that at least one member of the trio who forsook us, would have induced the others to some long distant, never before tackled trek, consisting of hills, hills, then more hills.
Their story another day.
Jon
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