Day 1 started at the northbound BP on the Bruce Hwy at Caboolture. It was a little overcast and threatening to ofrain. A good roll up of about 30 bikes in all, 13 of which were adventure bikes going on the dirt route up through Mt Buggery and back to Kilcoy.
Young McFear was on duty as lead rider for the Road group.
An assortment of adventure riders waiting for a rider who went home after forgetting something. We waited for over an hour until someone told us that he was riding his road bike and we had not needed to wait at all. This would not be the first time that the group would be sitting around waiting for another rider 
Ross's little 400 was doing it hard but seems to cope well with the job.
Cruz'z mighty BM with nice auxiliary fuel tank.
Can you tell I quite like the look of the thing. Note the Ohlins suspender peeking out. Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
It was finally time to head off after everyone had made acquaintance and dropped some coin in the cancer Council coffers.
The CB with full payload on board
The adventure guys headed up Old Gympie Rd into the State Forest and up the power lines to Peachester. The recent rain had turned our lovely clay into greased lightning and the boys were enjoying it until we got to the jump up near Mt Beerwah. Not so many takers but even the chicken route was slippery and the 1200GSA with Anakees was having trouble making progress. A few boys lend a hand and she moves off.
A couple of the adventurous have a go at the jump up. Some with success others not so.
Heading from the jump up to the sand near Mt Beerwah there was just more of the same.
Eventually we got to the knoll and had time for a "smoke 'em if you gottem" and a few pic's
One final section of clay at the end of Range Rd but all through without drama, even the GSA.
A pretty easy run over Mc Arthy's Shute and Kidaman Ck to Kenilworth for fuel.
Then off through a little diversion through Imbil State Forest via Weston Ck Rd to Yabba Ck and the beginning of the Mt Buggery section. As I failed to get out and Recce the route before telling Ed that the GSA would be fine, I led him right into the freshly graded eastern section of My Buggery and the 15-20% grades were no place for the the big girl to be with those tyres.
I had a go at getting her up the lasts pinch but it was way to greasy. She would hardly sit still in gear engine off and front brake on. Actually it was nearly impossible to stand still with MX boots on. Thanks to the efforts of 4 or 5 riders we manages to get her to slide sideways into the drain on the side that was full of rock and get enough traction to bulldog her up to the top. Unfortunately the little KLE suffered a clutch failure on the Mt and had to be nursed down to Kilcoy for the evening where another bike was arranged to be collected in the morning.
The fun and games started in the pub at Kilcoy where we met after showering and 'smashed' a few cold ones. Well we tried to smash them but unfortunately someone forgot to tell the publican of the Stanley Hotel that it was ANZAC eve! We tried to order a beer, but after suggesting what we wanted and being told "we are all out" (and these were on tap mind you) three times we said "then what have you got?" It was like an Australian beer related version of the Monty Python "Cheese Shop" skit!! We lost interest in the whole ordeal there and went next door to the Pizza shop and ordered everything other than Pizza. They had a great range of dishes available. I had a nice Thai Green Curry. After downing some nice food we headed off to the Exchange where things were coming along nicely. We harassed the people in the dinning room and bar for donations but a lovely young (just about to graduate) primary school teacher from the Gold Coast called "Stephanie" took over the donation collection for us.
She had the locals handing over notes and when they stopped she then started selling kisses for $5!! She did a roaring trade.
The interesting thing is that her partner (Boyfriend in old speak) was there....watching on.....encouraging her even. Very understanding man. He was a huge Kiwi so no-one was going to say much, being ANZAC day eve and all.
Eventually the staff had to 'tidy up' the dinning room so we all got kicked out to the Beer garden/Pool area and continued telling stories of adventure and such.
All the while we had the spanner in toe, by the time this thing gets to Perth it wil have more blackmail ammunition that a street worker from Underbelly!
Day 2 began a little blearily. Yours truly had to make a 'slow' run over to Peachester nursing the KLE clutch and pick up a loaner bike for the rest of the trip. By the time I had crawled up Commisioners Flat Rd, I could hardly get 40km/h out of it.I heard a couple of loud bangs along the way which I think was what was left of the friction plates delaminating and shedding pieces all through the gearbox! Made it though and Ed came around with the trusty Dominator. Looking a little worse for wear, he said
"It goes OK but has a little miss, the front brakes are spongy but they work OK, Oh and it uses a little oil" as he produces a 1L oil bottle and a rag from the gearsack bag.
I jumped on board and found all that he said was true. But I was back on the run and that was all that mattered. From Kilcoy BP we set of about 10:30, so we were very late 'cos today's route was 350Km give or take. (Thanks go out to Rucksta from ADVRider for the route). The little Domi' waited patiently throuhg all the position checking and back tracking like a good girl. We were bonding. Below we are trying to see which direction in the fork we should go. Somewhere in the back of Emu Ck.
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As I did not have any power infrastructure on the Domi I could not keep my tech charged. No GPS, GoPro etc. Thanks to Andy for doing the Nav 'cos I was like a fish out of water on the Domi as far as that went. As a result I did not get many pictures and there are many good reports on the ride with pics over on ADVRider.com The next pic I got off was when we finally made it to the Condamine River Rd. Before then though we had to cut a lot out of the route to make it to the Gorge well before dark 'cos that's no place to be for the first time on a loaded bike in the dark. We got stuck at Crows Nest on ANZAC day and the fuel station was closed 'til 1:00pm. We cooled our heals and had some lunch. At 1:00pm the servo opened and we all queued for fuel. On the road we Hwy'd it down to Gatton. Got back on track down through Mt Mort and Warrill View to Boonah. Stopped for some more fuael, and said hooroo to SuperQLDer, Kougar and Co as they were not far form home. Fuelled and fed we took off for the Head Rd and the gorge for some river crossing 'Cherry Poping'.
It was getting pretty dark, it was about 5:00pm and the lights were reflecting welll off the water as we got to the first crossing. We had a quck chat and explained the tequnique for gettin through the roccky crossing and picking the right line and let 'em go. The first was a bit bodgy but once out the other side with eyes the size of dinner plates we said "Be more agressive!!" and the next couple improved well. After that they were all champion crosses and I was the ony one to fall off in the water. The domi went down with way too much weight too high and to far back. She went right under and stalled. I did not know how she would react to the water so I quickly stood her up before anyone cold get a shot of on their cameras 
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I cranked her about 2 or 3times and she fired and idled like a champ. I put a little choke on for good measure and revved her a few times and pumped all the water out the pipe and we were off. Me and the Domi were bonding quite well!
We all enjoyed the gorge road as it is a very beautiful place, especially in the dusk. There were a few campers in 4WDs on the side whose kids came running out to see us through the water. We all waved and kept on going. I was getting cold as I was soaked through, top to bottom. It was still good fun though.
We rolled into Woodenbong about 6:30-7:00pm after doing battle with the B-Doubles and the roadworks across the Mt Lindsey Rd. There were swarms of bugs out and a drizzle of rain. Visability was very poor, particualrly in the lights of oncoming traffic. Some of the bridge replacements were half done and the tight entrance and exit off them for the trucks meant they were well over onto our side of the deck and being on the bridge with them was not pleasant!! We all arrived safe, sound and happy to a Woodenbong Hotel that was GOING OFF!! It was ANZAC day and every person within a 50 Km radius must have been there. 5 deep at the bar and that after you got through the Two-up crowd in the foyer. It was a huge night and we all decided we will get back down there soon. The publican found us in the dinning room having a few quiet ones after dinner and was closing up. he realised we were riders and they take care of the riders dfown there so he came back and said do you want any take aways? We said yes and put in the orders. He was happy to leave us there drinking and later on came back about midnight with another round on him, had a chat and said good night. A real nice bloke and a nice town.
Day 3 started even more fuzzy than day 2 as this was a big few days for us old blokes and smashin the beers past midnight 2 days in a row after a big ride was well out of normal operations! The poor old Domi had broken her rack yesterday and it was being held on with harness ties and ocky straps so I had to decide to opt out of the run all the way down to Nymboida.
I was going to get down to Tabulum and hand over the Spanner to Burren Rider for his leg so we tarmac'd it down through Bonalbo to Tabulam and met up with the others. a couple of us kept on heading south toward home and Andy, Rob and I turned around and headed home through Paddy's Flat and White Swamp.
We stopped and had a look at the WWII tank Traps on the banks of the Clarence. Strange to see such odd evidence of man in an otherwise pristine river valley.
We made Boonah for lunch about 1:00pm and then headed home via Peakes Crossing and the new Centenery Hwy. Andy, Rob and I said hooroo at Brendale and we all went our seperat ways. It was strange to be back in the commotion of the Long weekend and millling a round in the traffic after such a great 3 days in the wilderness. Can't wait for th next ride out thorugh all of Rucksta's Day 2 route and another night at the Woddenbong Hotel. Aaahh well back to normality.
Adventure On!!
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