Ninja Days

A RIDE TO BERRY

It was his first longer ride as my pillion. We took off mid morning and made our way up the Bulli Pass, heading west to Appin to ride along Broughton’s Pass, a windy road down towards and across the bridge and back up on the other side of the weir. To think that this was once the site of a gruesome massacre of indigenous souls! What a serene and beautiful, but sad place, desecrated by such a crime against humanity. To find out more, click on the green hyperlink in the text. (Ahhhh I am soooo proud of myself for having that worked out...finally!)


Once in the Highlands, we dropped into our favourite Garden place, The Pot Shop, just as the road takes you into Mittagong. We love their innovative garden features and we always leave it with new ideas and dreams. This visit was even more special than usual, because we met David, who happened to be a kindred soul. It was amazing to listen to him talk about the pleasures of track riding. He has been through the Wrist Twist several times and taken the Superbike Challenge all the way. He has been on the track with the Great Gardner and is about to do it again. On our way out he handed me his card and told me to keep it and hand it to the chap running my first Superbike course, which should not be too far off…

We stopped over at the Bowral Hotel for a most refreshing Lemon, Lime and Bitters. I think I decided then that I should make that my 2007 drink of choice. At least when I am out and about on the ZX.

Another stop at the ‘Friendly Inn Hotel’, Kangaroo Valley, another Lemon, Lime and Bitters and a fine lunch to match the kind of day we were having. We managed to get ourselves seated at a neat shady sidewalk table, munching on tempura fish on basamic rocket salad, watching the trickling traffic pass by.


Did you know, that the average age of the Australian motorcycle rider is around 43 years? Well, today I came across a fair few of us/those, who’d take that average up way past the 30 mark. Good effort, guys! On this trip there was at least one funny moment when a brand new Ducati rider we came upon, riding steadily along, was completely oblivious to the fact that we were riding right behind him. He must have noticed that there was a change of sound in the air, obviously due to my lovely Yoshimura pipes at medium revs, but he kept looking down to check if there was something wrong with his engine. At the lights he had a big stretch and almost dropped the bike in the process. My pillion giggled a little and poked me in the side... I managed to keep a straight face and pretended I had not seen it. After all, the wobbles could happen to all of us...

Our trip took the sweetest turn just after leaving Kangaroo Valley when we turned off Cambewarra Rd taking a left on Berry Mountain Road via Bellawongarah, then along Kangaroo Valley Rd to hit Queen St on the western side of Berry. Those tight serpentines and gorgeous views... trees forming shady cathedrals above the road... neat, stonewalled properties in rural settings... all this will become a regular future attraction for me. It is the way to go, a great way to experience the awesome beauty of this southern area, yet easily missed if you don't know where to turn off. I feel like I have for the first time just discovered a secret doorway... Can't wait til next time!



The cool and shaded verandah of the Great Southern Hotel at Berry served as a fine refuge from the heat of the day. Even the loudest conversation between a longhaired owner of an old, old dog and a young, stocky, weird guy, sitting at a table right next to us, about the state of the nation, accompanied by an accolade of expletives, could not spoil that moment for us. We concluded that this one was the best Lemon, Lime and Bitters we’ve had all day.

Those Berry shops are always seductive, but in the end the heat got to us and we made our way right back home to lounge around the pool. That’s when it hit me:

Life just does not get much better!

... and my handsome pillion agreed.

Labels: Ride Report

posted by The '95 Ninja ZX6R @ 3.2.07