Held on 2 July 2023
It can’t be that cold I thought, as I threw on my warmest winter jacket!
The sun is shining for the first time in days, so it should be good riding weather!
I rode into Renmark, meeting another five riders and we set off for the Berri Senior Citizens Car Park where another two riders were waiting.
After some discussion it was decided Loxton was our destination for the day’s ride, the main attraction being the coffee available at the Roundabout Cafe!
So, we set off over the Berri bridge, turned left onto Gurra Road, one of our favourite roads to Lyrup where we have a few sweeping bends to enjoy!
From Lyrup and onto Stanitski Road, two things changed, first the sun disappeared and then the temperature began to drop at a rate of 1 degree Celsius for every 5 kilometres we rode!! By the time we arrived at the Loxton Cafe it was down to about 11 degrees Celsius and never was a hot coffee more welcome!
In time, the coffee thawed us out and I began to consider with interest the collection of bikes we had, three 500 single Enfield Bullets, giving us that much loved single “thumper” soundtrack!
David Schubert, not seen for a while, riding his beautifully restored 81 Kawasaki 900, the traditional orange livery looking magnificent!
Now we come to the bikes of our father and son duo, both riding machines produced in the same year, 1971, but decades apart in sophistication. Darryl’s Honda CB500 being the hamburger with the lot! It had electric start, 4 cylinders, SOHC, 48hp@ 9000rpm, 5 speed, front disc brakes, traffic indicators etc. While the demise of the British bike industry was plain to see with Allan’s Triumph 650, so far behind, a classic example of how Japan won the war! (Honda that is!)
With a full tank of coffee, we left Loxton and rode back almost to Berri but turned again onto Gurra road , repeating our earlier route, riding through Lyrup, but this time turning left onto Stanitski Road and ending a cold but enjoyable ride in Paringa!
Kev