SABERS Memorial Run 2012

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At the rides planning day last year it was agreed to consolidate the Tim Hunt Memorial Run and the Bryan White Remembrance Ride into one SABERS Memorial Ride each year. The MRA do a Ridden on Ride that SABERS members like to attend and we make room for it in our calendar. Too many memorial rides was the consensus.

This year’s inaugural SABERS Memorial Ride loosely followed previous years’ Tim Hunt Memorial Runs via Lady Bay with lunch in Victor Harbor and ending at Meadows.

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mem12-2The day was just glorious with 22 bikes and tricycles making the start and 1 bike joining us on route. We gathered at the Victoria Hotel up O’Halloran Hill with a large group of Ulyssians heading for Lyndoch. They left before us.

Before we made our way south we placed orders for lunch and collected donations for this year’s nominated charity the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia. Very topical for me just 2 years on from having my cancerous prostate removed and so far all good.

We took Chandlers Hill and Grant’s Gully Roads to Clarendon and then on through Kangarilla along McLaren Flat Road to McLaren Flat and McLaren Vale. The roads were free of debris, no wind and fantastic scenery. At McLaren Vale we turned up through a side street to Main Road which took us through to our morning tea break in Willunga.

Hadn’t stopped here before so it was all a bit unknown. Some of us had lovely coffee at La Terra Café, others found the Willunga Bakery but toilets were a challenge…sorry my fault for not checking it all out in person. Still it was a very nice place to stop, I won’t mind passing by again.

From Willunga we were stuck behind leisurely moving cars on Willunga Hill…no matter…took in the view. Then onto Pages Flat road to Myponga and South Road to Yankalilla and Normanville. We had a little marshalling problem here with a new comer but as we all knew the next stop was just down the road at Lady Bay no one got lost.

At Lady Bay we paused for reflection on SABERS members Tim & Bryan…gone but not forgotten.

The run down to Delamere was a delight and we pressed on to Cape Jervois for a quick comfort stop. I got a bit messed up heading for the toilet…bikes followed me out of the carpark through the narrow gap…the tricycles had to stop or go around…sorry!

Back then up the hill to Delamere and along the all-time favourite Range Road to Victor Harbor. Very little wind made it particulary pleasant with again very little traffic…just fabulous. Gary need some running repairs to the exhaust on the blue Buell. I goosed up in Victor and missed the turn into the Boulevard Café…but everyone had fabulous grins (especially those with new bikes…Crossrunner & Multistrada) once we were settled. Brenton had rung our meal orders ahead and as usual we were not disappointed. They always look after us here with timely delivery of food, a good selection and reasonably priced…recommended.

After lunch we fuelled up at the Caltex and then took the normal route through Port Elliot and Middleton to Goolwa. Not the most challenging of roads but such a beautiful day to be out. From Goolwa through Currency Creek to Strathalbyn…picturesque as ever…and along Paris Creek Road to the Meadows Bakery for end of ride.

Another absolutely awesome day to be out on our bikes, beautiful weather, great roads, good company and happy times to be had. Thanks to Brenton for phoning through the meal orders, thanks to Tony W for Tail End Charlie duties and thanks to those who took their turn at corner marshalling.

For the PCFA we took $300 in donations plus $55 from the lucky squares to make $355 for the day. Thank you for your generosity in particular Paul & Sonya who donated their winnings back.

Good day
Fred