Yeeeeehah! Vroooom! The Condamine Bell Rodeo.

[Django]

Hi Ptero,

thank you very much for this excellent ride report. I really appreciate your writing. It inspires me a lot as a non native English reader, to read from a real gentleman writer.

Cheers.

[Doug_imp]

Looks like a great time. I couldn't camp like that any more, would be lucky if I could stand up straight the next morning if at all. Would have to be Hotel 6 for me. I love the "crowd" at the rodeo. I wish the crowds around here were that small. I also didn't realize that Rodeo was a down under thing, thought it was only in the U.S.

[Pterodactyl_imp]

Looks like a great time. I couldn't camp like that any more, would be lucky if I could stand up straight the next morning if at all. Would have to be Hotel 6 for me. I love the "crowd" at the rodeo. I wish the crowds around here were that small. I also didn't realize that Rodeo was a down under thing, thought it was only in the U.S.

Roughriding, as it used to be known in Australia, has a history here dating back to the 1880s. In the early sixties, at the time when an Australian won the bareback ride at the Calgary Stampede, it developed an American style and roughriders became cowboys, dressed like them, and rode broncos instead of buckjumpers. A kind of Agricultural Imperialism I guess. Well received though. Over the years Australians have competed in the various US circuits and achieved some success. Dave Appleton, Bernie Smythe, [url=http://www.troydunnworld.com.au/about.html]Troy Dunn and Glenn O'Neill would be some examples.

The huge, very impressive, professional events in the States are magnificent and going to one, preferably on two wheels, is on my bucket list. But I still love that small Aussie bush town atmosphere epitomised by the Condamine Bell. A bit like COTA compared to PI; they both have their own style, just different, and equally appealing depending on your mood.

As for camping from two wheels, well maybe you would surprise yourself. Me? I've always preferred a firm mattress .

Cheers mate.
'Geezer, MG, MTC, ‘Birds, Whiskey, Ferret, Ride4, Rocky, Volchkoff and Django, thanks for the kind remarks. I appreciate your comments. On this great forum there has been some interesting discussion on why we ride bikes. Well you have probably picked up by now that one of the joys of life for me is packing the CB for a camping trip. Not just to “get away from it all” but also to explore, sometimes revisit, and just plain enjoy this country and it’s people. I hope I can wring it out for a few more years.

Cheers, and once again, thanks.

[Cormanus]

Thanks for a great report, Pterodactyl. I can't tell you how much I enjoy your ride reports. I nearly always get a good belly laugh. This time it had to do with the chap's hat. I'm glad you got the Gremlin Bell affixed. I did too just before I left. I found a ring under the engine that holds a couple of the breather pipes and attached it to that. I'll try to get a photo when I'm home briefly soon.

I'm already missing our rides. There aren't very many bikes to be seen here, although there's a prominent scooter shop. Interesting, really when you consider the number f small capacity bikes and scooters in Asian countries.

Cheers

[Pterodactyl_imp]

Great to hear from you mate, and see you back on the forum. The Condamine was a different world to the big smoke I live in now. You would have had a good time I'm sure. I am riding to PI with a group of about ten, overnights at Cooma and Omeo, and meeting noroomtomove at the track on the Thursday afternoon. That ensures at least two CBs to intimidate those wannabes like Rossi, MM et al.

Cheers and thanks for your kind comments.

[curlyjoe]

Great prose and pics Pterodactyl!

Would mind commenting a bit more on this?

"There were still plenty of kangaroos around so I delayed departure"

[Pterodactyl_imp]

Great prose and pics Pterodactyl!

Would mind commenting a bit more on this?

"There were still plenty of kangaroos around so I delayed departure"

Why wait for the roos? Well, read on.

In an old thread, Cormanus posted [url=http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=a95_1390964255]a link that only too vividly shows a real threat we face riding here in Oz. To wit, Kangaroos. Sometimes known as Kangabloodyroos. While not directly dangerous to humans, after all they are not carnivorous and don’t hunt us down, they are a real and common hazard to motorists of all varieties. Dusk, dawn and night are prime kangaroo times and can make riding in bush, outback or even some semi-urban areas very dangerous. During the day they tend to retreat to the scrub and rest. Almost without exception any vehicle, from private car to interstate truck, that travels country roads at night is equipped with a Roo Bar. Unfortunately not practical on a motorcycle.

Riding in or adjacent to National Parks can be particularly dangerous as roads are mostly unfenced and culling is prohibited. Roos often feed on the fresh grass shoots that grow on road shoulders and verges. I have had plenty of roo hits in cars and trucks but, as yet, none on a bike. No bike hits because I avoid riding in those conditions and, if caught out, ride very, very carefully. With roos it is not a matter of turning a corner and seeing one in the middle of the road and then stopping or taking some kind of avoidance action. They will literally leave the side of the road, or adjacent scrub, and bound, very erratically and unpredictably across or even up or down the road. From a position of safety on the side of the road they will often, it seems, track you down like a big furry sidewinder missile. Don't ask me why they are so intent on mutual destruction; it's just what they do. Some years ago I had a brand new ute (pickup), my pride and joy, when, leaving a pub near Roma in Central Queensland at night, and driving very slowly, a Big Red jumped into the offside door. The roo left the scene without leaving his insurance details. Believe me, they cease to be cute little "Skippies" when you are "roofully" surveying the damage!

Let me recount a tale (whoops I almost typed tail). I have been a witness to our esteemed fellow forum member, Cormanus, being very close to being taken out by a kangaroo. From memory we had left Guyra on a sunny, clear but cold morning at about 9:30 and were riding eastward on the Guyra – Ebor Road. At that hour in those conditions a roo strike is unlikely. We were riding at about 120kph with Cormanus leading me by 100meters: apart from frozen fingers we had not a care in the world. Suddenly Cormanus was enveloped in a horizontal rain of grey furry objects from which, thankfully, he emerged unscathed. I say thankfully cause if he had been struck it would have stuffed up my plans for the day; you know, calling (assuming we had a cell phone network) and waiting for an ambulance, giving statements, perhaps even having to give succor to him while he was in extremis. All that stuff takes up good riding time.

At spots particularly hazardous there are often signs such as these:





Here a couple of photos of roos of the Eastern Grey variety at campsites I have used while biking:





Cheers, and hoping (or should that be hopping?) your question is answered.

[noroomtomove]

With regards to Pterodactyl's post it relates to the smell of summer, once we pass the Equinox the road kill brews up.I have been in luck regarding Roo's and Wombats my last encounter was in a HZ Kingswood wagon near Goondiwindi in the late afternoon when I really should have been doing other things maybe 1984-85. I did confront a flock of Galahs in all places Canberra, true story- headlight smashed and in need of Adventure underwear.

[curlyjoe]

Thank you for expanding on the story, Pterodactyl. When I first read your original post I thought Kangaroo "nature watch" or "riding hazard". Clearly I had no idea how hazardous "roos" are to the motoring public!

Sadly, my only "knowledge" of Australian nature is limited to movies such as Crocodile Dundee.

Thanks for sharing!

[flynrider]

Thank you for expanding on the story, Pterodactyl. When I first read your original post I thought Kangaroo "nature watch" or "riding hazard". Clearly I had no idea how hazardous "roos" are to the motoring public!

Sadly, my only "knowledge" of Australian nature is limited to movies such as Crocodile Dundee.

Thanks for sharing!

Crikey!!