By 
- It’s What We Do
- The Risk
- Suzuki Adventure Ride
- The Truth Is Out There
- The Long Paddock
- Congregation 2018
- Forma boots winner
- WR250R: Less May Be More
- 3 Mates. 3 WR250Rs. 3000km
- 2018 Triumphs
- Brrr!
- Outback Run
- The Land Of One-lane Bridges
- Motorrad Garage Africa Twin
- GS Trophy:Behind The Scenes
- Andy Strapz
- Nepal with Karen Ramsay
- Checkout
- Fit Out
The annual adventure-riders’ get together is just around the corner, and preparations are going like Toby Price in office in a Sydney business a cancelled section of Dakar complex, for the first time that nobody told him about.The loop for this year’s Congregation is a laid-back,open-track, there-and-back dream ride. We know.We’ve done it.
On a glorious autumn morning, the two riders set off to see what the loop had to offer.
With the 2018 Congregation getting closer every day, the adventure loop had to be planned, route-sheeted and the GPX files sorted. When a general, “Anyone want to tackle this?” was offered to staff, an office in a Sydney business complex, for the first time in its entire history, achieved total silence. Heads were ducked behind desk partitions as people tried their best to be invisible and the honking of the coffee cart in the parking lot sounded a lonely-but-unanswered clarion call.
No-one was game to move in case they were lumbered with the task.It wasn’t a job for amateurs anyway, so a call was made to Marty HC at Dualsport Australia, and he was only too keen to help.
The publisher kicked off the day with a puncture on the rear of his DRZ.
“Sure,” offered the GPX guru, “Why don’t you guys try the Afternoon Delight loop from disc three?”
Grabbing a copy of the disc – which we’d been too busy to ride when it was released – showed the route to be a picturesque 70km of cruising through the New England region around Inverell.
There were no requests for anyone to do a recce ride. The editor and publisher slunk out the door on a weekday mumbling something about ‘Congregation business’ and disappeared.
“Hey! Let’s get another selfie!”
Gone astray
Disc three of the Dualsport Australia series was the latest in the series, and where Adventure Rider Magazine had ridden pretty near all of the first two, the mag’s growth and the work that came with it meant disc three kind of slipped in under the radar a bit. So on a glorious autumn morning, the route was loaded and the two riders set off from Vince Strang’s Suzuki dealership in Inverell to see what the loop had to offer.
The look of someone who lost their phone, rode 70km back to where he last saw it, and found the phone lying in the dust.
Like all the Dualsport Australia discs, once loaded, it was simply a matter of following the pink line and taking in the sights. Route sheets are included of course, as are fuel stops and a heap of local information on accommodation and points of interest.
With such a short loop those things weren’t a big deal, but it’s a reminder of just how much great information is packed on to each of the discs.
Trying out a few interesting side tracks when they appeared.
Information there may be, but there’s no program or app for common sense. The editor led off on a beautiful, blue-sky,sunny day. So much was he enjoying himself that he apparently didn’t think there was a lot of point in actually paying any attention to the GPS, and early in the piece he found himself well off the pink line and god-knew-where out in the mulga.
It was dusty, so the publisher had stayed well back, but realised he should stick with the leader.
When the editor realised his predicament he pulled up and made a few lame excuses about wanting ‘a couple of pics’. This was done, including a selfie on the phone for social-media use, and the pair mounted up and headed back in search of the correct route.
Missed call
Back on the pink line everything went like clockwork.
The route was very similar to one used in 2016, but with a couple of small additions, especially one incredibly beautiful section called Paradise Road.
The executive team from Adventure Rider Magazine took its task very seriously and belted along pointing at eagles,riding through fun bits a couple of times and trying out a few interesting side tracks when they appeared. Before long the familiar ruts and erosion mounds of the Old Armidale Road were dealt with and the 70km loop was all but done.With his mind always on the job the editor squealed, “Hey! Let’s get another selfie!”
The publisher agreed that was a good idea and began combing his hair when a problem surfaced: where was the editor’s phone?
After a great deal of searching and dialling, it appeared the phone was no longer part of the editor’s luggage. The only place it could’ve been was where the last selfie had been done.
Back again
In a demonstration of true selflessness, the pair decided to finish the loop, then ride it again to find that same place where they’d been lost. If it meant another hour or so on the bikes, the pair agreed it had to be done and took off like scalded cats.
The phone, sure enough, was still lying in the dust where it’d been dropped.
It was recovered with much smiling and self-congratulation, and the two riders headed back to Inverell Maccas for a cold squishie and a toastie before heading out to Green Valley Farm to check the route Dualsport Australia had provided between Vince Strang’s and the Congregation itself.
Excellent
At the gate to Green Valley Farm it was agreed the loop was excellent. It’ll be perfect for sightseeing on big bikes and a bit of fun in places for those feeling a little feisty. New England must be just about the dualsport capital of NSW,and this small taster will be ideal for Congregationers looking for a short ride during their stay.
It had to be a short loop because all the attractions of previous Congregations are set for the 2018 event. There’ll be skills demonstrations, a talk or two fromskills demonstrations, a talk or two from high-profile riders, superb camping and of course the catering at Green Valley Farm will be at its usual high standard,so no-one will want to risk missing the tucker.
Keep an eye on www.advridermag.com.au for up-to-date info on this year’s event,make sure you phone or email Kathy to register before you leave, and we’ll see you there.
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