Easter Monday ride.

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DJ Downunder
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Easter Monday ride.

Post by DJ Downunder »

Today was Easter Monday and it is a public holiday down under...We are now well into Autumn here and Winter is only weeks away so to make the most of a beautiful Summer'ish day I spent all morning at the beach..just for a change....and by about midday I was starting to fry in the heat (28deg C / 82 F today) so I headed home and thought about doing a ride.

About a year or so ago I did a Great Ride called 'Looking for the Puffing Billy'..I had a great ride..took pics and posted them..but didn't see the Puffing Billy....so...today I thought I would try again.

About half an hour from home the road winds up the hills towards where the Puffing Billy is..btw..the Puffing Billy is the only remaining small gauge steam train and it takes tourists for a very scenic ride through the hills..here's a few pics that I took on the way up..it's a great road for bikes.

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This is the station that the Puffing Billy stops at (the last stop)..and it was on its way down for the last run of the day.

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I decided to ride up the road that the Puffing Billy winds it's way besides..and I stopped at this old trestle bridge that the train goes over.

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I walked up the hill and looked to see if Puffing Billy was coming..This is looking left..and then right.

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I was told that it's a fair way off so I decided to ride a few miles up the road and wait further up along side the track to get a picture of it.

Here's just a couple of pics while I was waiting for the train.

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And here is Puffing Billy.

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What's wrong with this pic...The idea is for the parents to sit inside and the kids to sit in the windows with their legs hanging out..here's a couple of big kids showing their little one how it's done..

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Once the train had passed I thought..I wonder if I could race it down the road again and get another pic at the old trestle bridge...What a great idea.

So after some peg scraping and a smile from ear to ear I beat the train back down and ran back up the hill under the bridge to get ready for another pic.

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There were others there with cameras looking for a good spot to take a pic from..here a few pics while I waited for the train.

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I hear a steam whistle that makes me jump and here she comes.

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I then step into the tracks and look at the Puffing Billy disappearing around the corner.

I suddenly hear another train whistle behind me that almost made me wet myself.

I look around and see this..not a train at all...just a little fire truck that follows the train..geees it had a big sounding whistle for such a little carrage.

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Just up the road I saw these long hair goats...funny looking things.

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Next stop was the local Pub for a nice cold coke.

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The couple at the table next to me had this cool puppy..so I took a couple of pics.

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No fast shutter was going to freeze still that even faster wagging tail.

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Cheers guys...I hope you liked coming on my ride with me today.

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One last pic...I stopped on my way home to catch the sun setting on my tank after a great Autumn day down under...Happy Easter.

DJ

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Last edited by DJ Downunder on Tue Apr 10, 2007 1:23 am, edited 3 times in total.
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R4R&R
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Post by R4R&R »

DJ, great pics as usual. I like how you usually find a theme to put with your rides, and the typical food/Coke shot at the end.

I see you have the N8! shirt - is he popular downunder too?
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chris
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Post by chris »

Entertaining as ever! Cheers DJ.
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sjbmw
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Post by sjbmw »

Way cool!

The people on the train have that "Hey! Didn't I just see you?" look.

Puffing Billy.

I went to high school with a puffing Billy.... :)
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DJ Downunder
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Post by DJ Downunder »

Thanks guys.
I see you have the N8! shirt - is he popular downunder too?
Nope...I don't think anyone down under has even heard of him...but I'm a great fan and would love to see him race one day.

Nate just sent me this shirt one day..I don't know why..but I sure appreciate it...what a nice guy... :smt023 :smt023
I went to high school with a puffing Billy....
Good one Herb.. :lol:

DJ
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cruiser
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Post by cruiser »

Great photo-set DJ and an excellent narrative... I almost felt as though I was there with you! You've shown us all, with this and your other posts, what a beautiful land you have there, in Australia. I've never been down under and probably never will be, but your presence in and around this forum is definitely the next best thing... cheers mate!

I hope we never become too complacent and take this technological marvel - the Internet, for granted.... how else could we make so many new 'cyber-friends' who share the same passion, from all around our wonderful word.

cruiser - Mike
Last edited by cruiser on Wed Apr 11, 2007 2:26 am, edited 1 time in total.
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DJ Downunder
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Post by DJ Downunder »

Thanks Mike...it's all just a bit of fun but pictures add a whole new dimension don't they.

DJ
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Post by taosports »

Nice set of photos as usual DJ :smt041

So, I'll ask the stupid question...who is Nate? (You can tell I don't follow the mc racing scene.) :oops:
DJ Downunder
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Post by DJ Downunder »

Thanks Michael.

Nate Kern is a famous American motorcycle racer who, these days, races BMW's...and does very well..even against the big Japanese bikes.

Here's a link to his site.. http://www.natekern.com/

and http://nate-kern.blogspot.com/

and more here http://www.mac-pac.org/nk.html

and http://www.bmwmotorcycles.com/etc/utils ... at=general

DJ

http://www.natekern.com/images/gallery/11.jpg

http://www.natekern.com/images/gallery/10.jpg

http://www.natekern.com/images/gallery/05.jpg

http://www.natekern.com/images/gallery/02.jpg
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Post by Ian »

Top Story DJ - need to add this to my must do list down south.
Ian

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