Men are from Mars, women are from Venus

Her Diary:

Tonight, I thought my husband was acting weird. We had made plans to meet at a nice restaurant for dinner.I was shopping with my friends all day long, so I thought he was upset at the fact that I was a bit late, but he made no comment on it. Conversation wasn’t flowing, so I suggested that we go somewhere quiet so we could talk.He agreed, but he didn’t say much.I asked him what was wrong; he said, “Nothing.” I asked him if it was my fault that he was upset. He said he wasn’t upset, that it had nothing to do with me, and not to worry about it. On the way home, I told him that I loved him. He smiled slightly, and kept driving.I can’t explain his behaviour – I don’t know why he didn’t say, “I love you, too.”

When we got home, I felt as I had lost him completely, as if he wanted nothing to do with me anymore. He just sat there quietly, and watched TV.He continued to seem distant and absent. Finally, with silence all around us, I decided to go to bed.About 15 minutes later, he came to bed. But I still felt that he was distracted, and his thoughts were somewhere else. He fell asleep – I cried. I don’t know what to do.I’m almost sure that his thought are with someone else. My life is a disaster.

His Diary:

Bike won’t start … can’t figure out why.

To The Out and Back....

Well guys we {george,terry,dave and me} just completed a 4,500km motorcycle journey from Victoria, up through central NSW to the QLD borders into the SW Qld. Oil fields. An epic journey and not many twisty mountain roads as most motorcyclist love, but this time taking in the out back areas of Bourke, the Darling River and a very isolated town on the QLD border called Hungerford where we were supposed to make it to the Hungerford annual Gymkhana.

Well we didn’t make it because out back, the roads are not very safe when rain is predicted and when we got to Bourke, as they can turn into ice skating rinks and you can be isolated for days. So a big detour through the Jackson oilfields. And the highlights, Flat tyres, nearly losing it at 60 kms in a bull dust rut, Dave Mylius hitting Mr Emu (one of 10 zillion) and off the bike, then laying on the road beside him, with poor Mr emu squawking in his death throes, Dave splitting his leg open but still continuing down to Bourke, then riding the KL into the Emergency Ramp at the hospital, on the bike kick the stand down and go in to have gravel dug out of his knee, lots of very odd people at the towns and pubs all along the way, including a bunch of lap dancers who turned out to be Jehovas Witnesses, some guy making moonshine, the Grand Final being watched in a Rugby League heartland, amazing camping in the Australian bush alongside billabongs and riversides…and finally Mike reciting to Terry, The Man from Snowy River yes all verses, fireside at the back of Forbes after some/few… glasses of red..

Queens Birthday to Dunkeld

Everything you need to know...

When: Queens Birthday Weekend 2011
Who: Mick (Versys), George ('Prilla RS), Alby (KTM Adventure), Stuart (K1100LT)
Where: Western Victoria to Dunkeld, back though the Grampians
Weather: Showers, cold
How far: 604km
Notable event: Alby rolling in on his new KTM Adventure



Notable sayings:

Alby - "Don't you love that new bike smell"



Mick - "Where's my airbed?"
Mick (again) - "Where's my credit card?"



George - "I didn't sleep, my tent was too close to Mick's"

Stuart
11th June 2011

Cult of the 'K'

This post is dedicated to the BMW K series motorcycles. With the K1200LT, BMW's production of the K series longtidinal four cylinder ceased after 27 years. The K series produced 16 road models (but no dual purpose variants) from 750 to 1,200 cc. The K series was designed by BMW's Dr's Eng Josef Fritzenwenger and Stefan Pachernegg, with the first bikes released in 1983. The unique engine/gearbox/drive train spine was revolutionary in that the power ran along the bike until the differential. There is a wealth of material on the 'Net on their design, modifications and 'How to' resources. This posting is about the five K series BMW's I have owned between 1988 and 2011. K100 (1988 to 1996) My first K100 was bought in Melbourne as our transport while I was a student in Tasmania. Over eight years, it transported us around Tasmania and the east coast of Australia, before sailing accross the Tasman with me on 'Union Rotorua'. Sold in 1996 for a BMW F650. K100RS (2003-2005) My second (K100RS) was bought sight unseen on eBay - I rode it back to London from Norfolk. We were moving to Australia from the UK, and my 2001 Ducati didn't qualify for importation. At 20 years, the RS was able to be loaded into our household container for a sea trip to Melbourne and new life in the Colonies. Great handling sports tourer, sold on eBay and moved to South Australia. K1200RS (2005-2006) The third was an ex-Police K1200RS, which had been converted back to dual-seat configuration. Despite the telltale white, the K1200 was a weapon of smooth power, comfort and long distance weekend runs. Sadly, the only bike I've ever written off - embedded in the back of a sub-compact on the daily commute. K100RT (2008 - ) My fourth is another ex-Police K100RT. The 'RT started life in Tasmania with a fellow uni student, migrated to New Zealand for a while then back to Queensland and now Melbourne. Like an old racehorse, she has been put out to pasture and the odd weekend ride. Roadworthy, but with only 107,000 km on the clock after 26 years, plenty of riding left. K1100LT (2011 - ) My fifth and current squeeze is K1100LT full dress tourer. For less than the price of a scooter, it's got full luggage, stereo and an 1,100 cc powerplant that pulls like a tractor. This will be the mount for my forthcoming East Coast road trip (2 weeks plus or minus). What has made the K series a legend? K series bikes are bulletproof and will run to 300,000km. The gearboxes are legendary for smoothness and parts are readily available from after-market suppliers worldwide. Hopefully, there will always be a K in my garage. Stuart 10th April 2011

Yes Sir, you can have the luxury edition!

Stuart has bought a new (well, nearly new...) bike for this year's planned road trip. While I love the Street Triple dearly, even I'm stretching credibility to call it a tourer for Shafted's weekend jaunts to nowhere.



The bike was brought privately after a failed eBay auction - the Seller was relocating interstate and couldn't justify the freight cost to the West. It has colour-mathced panniers and top box, (dodgy) ABS and a stereo.



The handling is pretty good considering the mass, and last weekend it got the Pillion's 'stamp of approval' after a ride to Healseville for lunch. A small sub-committee (two - me and Giles) has been formed to plan a road trip to head north through central VIC, NSW and QLD and maybe a return down the coast.

Stuart
30th March 2011

Mick...Long Service Leave..Life of Riley Take: 001

1/ pIC oNE .. aBOVE ME nOW IN bLGHTY..11/2010

2/NEXT THE dESTINATION AT ..THE bros GF HOUSE ..bLUEYS bEACH

THE vIEW fROM tHE LOUNGE bACK oF bATHURST

bACK OF BATHURST

fIRST nIGHT AT "yACKA"

“The Reverse GP Ride…”8 days in total …. VIC-NSW-VIC

Hey guys, Just to keep you up to speed on the life of Riley.. First week off tried to remember how to surf by heading down the coast, then jumped on the bike, a did the “Reverse GP Ride…”8 days in total …. The route/highlights:

1. Mansfield, Whitfield, Yakandandah


2. Yakandanda – Tumbarumba


3. Tumbarumba, Gundagai, Harden,Frogmore, Bathurst…


4. Bathurst, Sofala, along the back way to Bylong, back out at Denman and down through the Hunter Valley.


5. Stay at Singleton and come out at Buladleah, Pacifico Hwy


6. Passing bike crew all on their way to the GP all day.


7. Then to Blueys’ Beach near Forster, to watch the GP in my brothers GFs place big screen and view of the beach.


8. Then return back down the Famous Putty Road.. great ride and managed to hit rain again, and noted lots of crosses on this road there where motorcyclists have gone down ! (and lots of signs about motorcyclists going too fast…


9. Down the Hume and back to melba.


10. 1 week trip 2,800 Kms


11. Midori’ went great accept .... I had to change a tyre and then I dropped it while stopped at a give way sign, and strained my shoulder, and couldn’t surf at my Bothers’ (sorry his GF’s) beach house.


12. Some really nice riding around the back of the blue mountains !


13. Passing guys heading home from the GP ..cold and wet ..me had a warm beach house and a big screen.. Jim Beam as my only friends..

Well now in Spain after 3 weeks in Ol' Blighty.. and as our dollar is so strong ... i had to have some Retail Therapy...try a NEW Hein Gerick Jacket ... try 190.00 quid which was only $300.00 A$ hey you gotta love our strong dollar...! Oh and a Pint in UK is now 1/2 what it is in AUSTRALIA !! (GBP 2.60 = $5.00 A .. Pint in Australia..$8.00 !!!)

Things my Motorcycle has taught Me

Die Fritz nicht funktioniert, ...  aber mit rosa Lederhose, kann es besser funktionieren ya ????

The only good view of a thunderstorm is in your rear view mirror.
People ask us why we ride a motorcycle. For those who have experienced the
joy, no explanation is necessary; for those who have not, no explanation is possible.
Four wheels move the body; two wheels move the soul.
Most motorcycle problems are caused by the nut that connects the handlebars to the saddle.
Life may begin at 40, but it doesn't get real interesting until about 140
mph!
You start the game of life with a full pot of luck and an empty pot of
experience. The object is to fill the pot of experience before you empty the pot of luck.
If you wait, all that happens is that you get older.
Midnight bugs taste just as bad as noon time bugs.
Saddlebags can never hold everything you want, but they CAN hold everything you need.
Don't ride so late into the night that you sleep through the sunrise.
Sometimes it takes a whole tank full of gas before you can think straight.
Never hesitate to ride past the last street light at the edge of town.
Never do less than forty miles before breakfast.
A bike on the road is worth two in the shed.
Respect the person who has seen the dark side of motorcycling and lived, and still rides.
Young riders pick a destination and go. Old riders pick a direction and go.
A good mechanic will let you watch without charging you for it.
Sometimes the fastest way to get there is to stop for the night.
Always back your bike into the curb and sit where you can see it.
There are drunk riders and there are old riders, but there are not many old, drunk riders.
Two-lane blacktop isn't a highway - it's an attitude.
When you look down the road, it seems to never end; but you better believe
it does!
Winter is nature's way of telling you to test the electrics.
Keep your bike in good repair. Motorcycle boots are not all that comfortable for walking.
People are like motorcycles; each is customized a bit differently.
Sometimes, the best communication happens when you're on separate bikes.
When you're riding lead, don't spit.
A friend is someone who'll get out of bed at 2 a.m.. to drive his pickup to the middle of nowhere to get you when you're broken down.
Catching a bee in your shirt @ 70 mph can double your vocabulary.
Catching a bee in your helmet will triple that special vocabulary.
There's something ugly about a NEW bike on a trailer.
Everyone crashes. Some get back on. Some don't. Some can't.
If you can't get it going with bungee cords and duct tape, it's serious.
If you ride like there's no tomorrow, today will be a BLAST!
The best modifications cannot be seen from the outside..
Always replace the cheapest parts first.
You can forget what you do for a living when your knees are in the breeze.
Only a biker knows why a dog sticks his head out of a car window.
Keep the painted side up, and the rubber side down!