Gympie-Gayndah this Sunday 11th April

Beaut. 7.30 at the BP Gympie south it is!

Moving back up to the land of GS. And with sayin g that Im sure the following replies to this post could have a thread of its own.

See you servo by 7.30am but Il be cutting it fine with timing looking forward to it cheers Trev

good luck with it mate ..... need some pics when u get it

I want to but getting the Transalp ready for Byrock and Cameron corner ride ANZAC weekend. Will catch you next time. Enjoy

Yes. You are absolutely correct. This is the perfect example of inadvertent and unplanned threadjacking

Count me in


Nope. I'll be away tomorrow. and the rest of the frickin' year.


I'm going to be a bit busy this week

and the next.

There is a way through and it is gazetted road but there is an unfriendly farmer who does his best to discourage anyone from using the route. But you can get through if you want to and he hasn't shot anyone yet. Enjoy your ride.

I saw the storm rolling through from Ban Ban and Murgon and immediately thought of you guys.

Hope you had a good one all the same.

yeah, how did it go. Waiting.......

I only decided to go on the ride on Saturday night havn't riden the DR since 27/8 Feb got up at 3.30am Sunday and left by 4.15am after fueling pumping tyres and doing my chain maintenance. Run into lots of fog and was down to 30/40 kph in some places so when I could I made up lots of time. Arrived in gympie and was eating maccas at 7.00am got to Woopwoops meeting place in gympie 10 mins early which is out of character for me. A GS from the Sunny coast and a Veradero from Maryborough joined Woopwop and I. We left right on time with Woopwoop in the lead and went to Maryborough through the forestry incident free apart from the two Drs going wide on a corner I had a close call as a 4X4 was coimg I nearly had to change underwear oh and the lead guys tried a bit of EMU mustering another photo opportunity lost through Tiaro. A guick refuel in Maryborough and on to Aramara via the dirt of course was a great ride through there and met Jock on his KLR. The five of us headed north to Broowena and turned left and come out at Bobigen road and from there 30klm up the tar to Banban for a refuel and then onto Thompsons crossing for lunch. After admiring the view and discussing how no one fell of in the crossing as it is moss covered and there was a good photo opportunity lost. Through Gayndah to McConnels lookout for a photo and exchange of ideas and Email adresses the southern lads went south and I headed north and was home at 2.00pm. so ten hours and 650klm later I can say every one had a good day thanks to Woopwoops planing and all the others input see you on the trails Trev (I will put photos to this report tommorow)

Left home at 7.00 in fine drizzle which cleared by the time I reached the servo. 7.30 saw AL510 (Varadero), Dragonwood Ted (GSA), TrevDR650 and I headed out Sandy Crk Rd to Anderleigh. Quickly into the state forest and north to Maryborough via Taurus Yard, Golden Gate & on through Teddington Weir. All wide well made smooth forest roads good for easy cruising.
Somewhere in Toolara/Tuan I ran parallel with about six juvenile emus for a couple of hundred metres. It made my day as I love emus and haven't seen any in there for many years.
Once through Maryborough we headed out Old Gayndah Road to Aramara via Musket Flat. (home of the fabled lost "Kettle of Gold"... pm me for false clues ) There's a bit of tar either end but 20 odd k's of v. nice gravel along there.
After meeting Jock (Old Ozy) on his KLR600 we headed down Gigoomgan Road and through Booubyjan Road. More "flavour of the day" ie well made smooth gravel road.
Up to Ban Ban then on to to a v. pleasant creekside spot for lunch. As Trev says above the slimy crossing came close to claiming at least one victim (me )
After we parted with Trev at McConnels lookout, Jock led us back down to Mt Debateable Rd via the "pregnant bridge". From there we headed straight down road to Hivesville. Ruined the smooth road record through here with a few bone jarring washouts & ruts which the council had cunningly disguised with stategically placed tyres.
From Hivesville time and looming storms helped us decide to just stick mainly on the tar...across to Cloyna(?) , up over the little tableland (beautiful as always up there) and through to Tansey and Kilkivan.
After a brief stop, we parted ways Jock & Al to head north via Woolooga and Ted & I to Gympie. Last saw Jock on the side of the road, putting on his jacket, before we headed into a brief but very violent little storm. Hope everyone got home OK.

Thanks for coming fellas. I had an absolute TOP day, helped by good company and excellent riding companions. Now post your photos

PS Sefton Road...no sign of at Booubyjan Road end. I'll have another look sometime, though it doesn't sound hopeful .
The Ridges Road thru.....probably do-able, see other posts in thread re "access issues"...we didn't tru either.

PPS (PSS?)...the secret to a comfortable DR650 seat?...fun..I musta done over 400k's today with nary a twinge.

I saw an Adv type on DR late this afternoon in Duke St. Was it one of you guys?

About 5.00?...probably me, though I'm more your Adv Lite.

http://s866.photobucket.com/albums/ab224/edsurman/Gympie Gyandah Ride 11April2010/

Great day nice fast open dirt, great country black top, bit a dust, bit of rain and no breakdowns or fall offs.
Great idea woopwoop and thanks guys for sharing your knowladge of some great roads
cheers guys it was a hoot

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Thanks Dragonwood, nice photos, here's a couple more courtesy of Jock.




Gayndah-Hivesville Road.




"Pregnant bridge"...hang on, what does that make those three?




View towards Gayndah over citrus orchards on the Burnett. Many years ago, when there was a lot of money in citrus a local fashion amongst orchardists meant it was not uncommon to see half a dozen of the the old classic shaped Citroens (geddit) in the main street of this small country town.

looks like a great day was had by all Jock made it home after enjoying some rain

Thanks Woopwoop for organizing a top ride and thanks to all the others for some great company. It pissed down after i left Kilkivan, was a pretty violent storm and i got soaked.A great day was had by all and i look forward to doing it again.

Cheers, Al.

Al sorry off topic but where did you get the bash plate for the Dero

Another thread jack, but Hunsta started it......
Dragonwood, I'm asking you because I know the Hivesville road that you refer to quite well.... and note teh comments earlier by Woopwoop about the roughness of the gullies.

I'm also thinking of getting a GSA at some stage. When I do this sort of open gravel road ride, I get along pretty quick and pound through teh washouts and float over teh grids because the 610 has fairly HD suspension. I also come in a bit late and fast to some corners and can wash off speed by sliding teh back etc etc.
I'd imagine the KLR is capable of this too on your ride.

When you ride the GSA through thsi sort of stuff, How does it go with the fast riding. Does it 'pound' through teh sharp gullys. Is it sort of grit your teeth and hope that it doesn't bottom out adn something fall off?, does it go through like a '67 Valiant (magic carpet ride). Or do you have to really watch it and slow down a fair bit more, and much earlier.

Lot of questions here, but I like the sort of riding you did this weekend and although the 610 breezes along at 110km/h and blasts along the gravel, it is a bit tiring, hard-seated, and I certainly wouldn't want to do ALL DAY on it too many consecutuve days.
See, I don't want to spend $22K plus (2nd hand) and find that although it is comfortable, I cant 'blast' along and there is no thrill.........

Thanks in advance for your reply(?)

(And be quiet Groomspa, I know you love the VeeStrom)