Last Sunday the weather forecast looked pretty good. There had been plenty of rain about and there was predicted to be plenty more but it was mainly restricted to the coast so a Putty Road ride seemed like a good idea. Certainly it would be a good opportunity to get a long ride in and check out the new bike as a possible replacement for the VFR.
It all started well and, since we weren’t in a super hurry, we didn’t head off until after 10. The suspension of the Hornet seemed to make pretty light work of the Oaks Road and we got to Penrith pretty quickly and easily. But, as we headed west towards Windsor, the skies darkened and, by the time we got to the town, it was raining pretty heavily and it was time to stop and check the rain radar.
We filled up with fuel anyway but the rain radar told a sad story. The band of rain that had been heading up the coast had shifted inland and now covered all the area where we were planning on riding. Neither of us had brought our “wets” foolishly believing the BOM map when we set out so there was nothing left to do but turn around and head home.
By the time we were only just out of Windsor on the way home, the rain had stopped and our slightly wet gear had started to dry. Annoying, but, plainly heading home was the right decision.
We stopped at Mulgoa for a break and some coffee and the traditional two-bike shot under the famous peppercorn tree. From there the trip home was pretty much a breeze and I got home dried out and fresh. Unfortunately, Paul lives around the other side of the lake and he ran into a big shower within sight of home and arrived home as wet as he had been at Windsor.
The rain is hanging around still so we will wait until we get an assuredly dry couple of days and we’ll try the Putty run again. The ride didn’t show up any glitches in the bike although a little bug screen fairing might help a bit. I’ll also need to get a Pinlock screen for my new helmet though it certainly seems to shed water better than the old Vision R did, I guess progress is good sometimes.
Home before dinner meant that I had the night to watch the MotoGp races and they certainly were good. Moto3 was mayhem on wheels, as usual and quite where Pedro Acosta will end up is anyone’s guess; fast-tracked to MotoGp is mine.
It’s great to watch the way that Remy Gardner has matured, he certainly is deserving of the call-up to the KTM MotoGp team next season. And Marquez’s stunning win in the big race? What can you say? He made the best of the sketchy conditions to gap the more tentative pack following him then just managed the gap till the end. Assen this weekend will be more difficult but the confidence will now be flowing, there are still plenty of races remaining for him to try and make an impact on the championship.
Roll on Sunday.
