Ride Reports

Riverland Rally 2003

The Vietnam Veterans/MRA ‘Support Childhood Cancer’ was held on the weekend of February 22 and 23 this year in perfect conditions - calm and cool weather. Unbelievable for this time of year when it is usually too hot to get me out from under the air conditioner. Earlier in the week the rains from the north swept down and across most of Australia, breaking the drought in many parched areas. Even in Adelaide it had rained steadily for 36 hours non stop. And two days later, we had planned to go to the Riverland Rally. Now we wondered if the rally site would be washed away or under water? Brian and I were unable to leave for the Rally with either the official MRA ride or our Ulysses group. Brian’s Triumph had been put into be serviced earlier in the week and had been delayed for parts and wasn’t able to be collected until 9.30 Saturday morning. So we spent early Saturday morning shopping for a new air mattress and a carry bag for packing tent and odds and ends when travelling, at Tea Tree Plaza. Wandering around the shops is not our usual start to a camping weekend. We got away only an hour and half later then planned, and headed off in cool and cloudy weather (will it rain or won’t it, will it get colder or warm up? One of those difficult to know what to wear rides). And of course, because it was Brian and me riding – it ended up with no rain at all, cloudy and perfectly calm, all the way to Renmark. Absolutely perfect riding conditions. The group ride, lead by Ride Captain - Wayne, apparently left with about 35 bikes, had a good ride up with no major incidences, stopped at Blanchetown and Berri for lunch before getting to Renmark to set up camp on the damp (but not flooded) oval next to a group from the MRA and Flinders Tourers. From the Gawler Bypass, I saw a large flock of ‘guard geese’ being herded from one orchard to another. Out past the Barossa Valley, the land was brown and dry but the puddles beside the road edges spoke the story of the recent rains, and as we returned Sunday, many areas had just the faintest tinge of green grass sprouts. By next weekend, it will appear another world. Blanchetown Service Station told me that they had 5” of rain. Either side of Waikerie, the highway has been slowed to a 60 km limit for many kilometres, as the road works appear to be inserting more passing lanes. I also noticed that quite a number of young lambs were grazing on the road verges where there remained some feed, while their mothers remained in the barren paddocks bleating their distress at being separated. Brian and I arrived safely and set up camp on the oval - in front of our usual group. I did warn Brian about the risk to his beauty sleep by camping so close to every one else, but no, he wouldn’t listen. And of course later, much later in the night while I blissfully slept the night away with my ear plugs in, he got to hear everyone come back from the concert, everyone chattering away for a last drink or so, every lost camper and midnight to dawn morning chorus of the ‘Ulysses Snoring Group Ensemble’. Our new mattress was really comfortable and I slept very well – no back trouble at all, and the night was really very mild, almost warm. Anyway, after setting up camp we wandered across to the main arena to view the display stalls, trading shops, bike display and side show alley, when I got side tracked by the Barossa helicopter people, and booked myself on my first helicopter ride. Talk about exciting, the helicopter ride was just fabulous. Just like riding a bike but with an added dimension of up and down and a stunning view. I got to sit in the front seat beside the pilot and we really did go up to the 1000 ft while doing the lap of the town. The Side Show Alley had a slow start, but by late afternoon, it was in full swing. And in the evening if you were over 20 years old and were hanging out there, you were like a fish out of water – every kid in town had arrived for the evening. A large number of lovely bikes were on display in the exhibition area. There was a small selection of trade stalls, many information booths and plenty of food and drink stalls to provide the catering for the large crowd who came for the evening concert. As usual, the concert was excellent. Scott McBain and tiny daughter (who is now all grown up at 3 years old!) was the host for the evening. (Apologies here – all the names are probably spelt wrong or just entirely muddled up) The ‘Boomers’ started the evening with a great mix of everything for young and old to get us warmed up, followed by the ‘Casualtees’ then John Schumann and friends and his band the ‘Flinders Rangers’ with lovely Catherine Lambert as guest singer. John’s ‘I was only 19’ had many of the crowd standing as for a national anthem. His final song led into the spectacular Fireworks Display, which never cease to delight and amaze me with their effects and beauty. And as usual the smoke and debris seemed to be drifting across to where we had our tents, but when we returned later, all was well. By now it is well after dark (actually about 10.30) and I am exhausted, so to the sounds of the next band (I didn’t get their name, sorry) I wandered back to our tent to sleep. For all the really good gossip (and yes there was some action and it was noticed) you will have to ask someone who can stay up later then me. Next morning dawned cool and foggy! But our tents were dry and easy to pack away. Brian and I scrounged some water for coffee from our very kind neighbours and had cereal for breakfast, but the Football Club was offering the cooked breakfast for $5 for anyone interested and we noticed McDonalds down the road doing a brisk trade as well. We rode home again in perfectly calm conditions with the low cloud/fog extending from Renmark to Blanchetown. The sun finally burned through around Truro and it got steadily warmer and more humid as we got closer to Adelaide. It was a really good weekend. To all of you that thought about going but decided not to, you missed a very good time. And for those who haven’t been before, it is an excellent show for a worthy charity and well worth attending. Kerry and Brian Booy