ALBANY VINTAGE & CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE CLUB

October 2015 Club News

The Kulin Pub Ride

For once we’d picked the best winter’s weather for a weekend away. The temperature was in the low ‘20’s, sunny, no wind. Our small band set off for the Stirlings and a coffee at the Bluff Knoll Cafe. Bill was having trouble with the front brake on his beautiful 900SS Ducati and decided to take it home, saying he would catch us up on his other bike.

The Bluff Knoll Cafe is one of the few places that are open all week in the Great Southern and as we were enjoying a drink Garry Taylor arrived, he’d forgotten something and had to return home as well. We then continued on through Amelup to Gnowangerup.

There to our surprise were Chris, Dan, Cesco and Jaye waiting at the roadhouse. They were on their way to meet the others for the off-road trip to Yulara, near Alice Springs for the 2015 Black Dog Ride.


It was great to catch up and see them off on their trip which raises awareness for depression as well as a fund-raiser. A short time after we arrived Bill arrived on another Ducati, this time a 750SS

We then rode through Katanning to Wagin (yes we were zig-zagging a bit) and Dumbleyung for a break. Here we were met by Colby from Kulin who rode over to meet us on his Victory. We then continued on through Tincurin and Harrismith to finally arrive at Kulin. There we were met by the Perth riders who had arrived not long before. Kenny had pitched his tent out the back as the pub was full.

It was great to see everyone. We chatted outside before heading to the bar. The meal we had that evening was excellent and the hotel these days has been refurbished, seems to improve each time we go there. The publican was very obliging.

Most of the night was spent in the dining room with everyone sat around socialising. Next morning Kenny disappeared early as usual while the rest of us either slept in, went for a walk or chatted in the TV room before we had breakfast.

It was then time to head home, Bill’s Ducati was a like a starting gun going off as he was kicking it over, with an occasional back-fire.


That got everyone going, John Mac took to the dirt and Ronnie went to Tambellup where there was a local motocross event and the Perth crowd back to the big smoke.

The day was once again perfect, the canola looking brilliant against the blue sky. There’s no fuel between Lake Grace and Albany as Ongerup Roadhouse has now closed completely. Bill was wondering if he had enough to get to Albany, but the owner of the Bluff Knoll Cafe volunteered to sell him some fuel, so that solved that problem, nice people.

The only downside was just out of Albany I blew the rear shockie, but even that didn’t spoil a great weekend. Thanks for the company