Ride report below but a big thanks to the Triumph Whyalla And Tourer (TWAT pronounced Twaat not Twwat) Club for meeting up with us at Pt Broughton for the weekend. There were actually more of the TWAT riders than TRC members with only 7 TRC members doing the ride. They were a great bunch of guys (and girl) with most of them on Triumph's. Any one who has not been on a weekend trip you should seriously consider it as it is a lot of fun. You get to have a couple of rides, get to know other members and have the chance to relax and unwind a bit between rides. They really are a lot of fun and are available for members and partners. I know we are all busier today and time poor but if you do not make time for some good times in your life, life becomes pretty boring and mundane.

"Don't wait for a light to appear at the end of the tunnel, stride down there ... and light the bloody thing yourself"

Sara Anderson 1936 - 2005

Ride report below thanks to Allison Cunningham (Member #8)

Craig & I had a great weekend, we were looking forward to going on this ride for a long time, Being up in the Riverland , were a little isolated. The minute I hear that motor bike warm up I am standing at the front door in my leathers like a dog who has just heard the rattle of a leash… haha.

Anyway, the smile on my face soon turned to a grumpy pout 5 minutes out of Berri when my facemask slid off in the wind. Didn’t know if I should poke Craig in the ribs or not and go back home to get the full face but I thought  “hmm should be OK”, then my helmet decided it wanted to take off ! (Obviously I hadn’t done it up properly). I peered over Craigs shoulder to see that he was doing 130kph. Oh what joy. I couldn’t find my glasses when we left so Craig offered to give me some safety glasses to wear on the bike. They looked cool when I was sitting in the back yard sitting in the sun waiting to depart for Pt. Broughton. But now with no facemask and being choked with my helmet  these cool looking glasses wanted to fly off as well. A sneer appeared on my face.. still a 40minute ride to Morgan and having to swap arms every 5mins to hold on the glasses I was not a happy camper.  And then it rained!!!!My first words at Morgan when we arrived were “Im not having a nice time!”ldquo;Well ya should have worn a full face helmet dear” says he who was non the wiser of what I had just endured. Just before we left Morgan it rained. Oh man did it rain! Great I thought, I am going to arrive in Port Broughton with red spots all over my face from the rain hitting my face, wind burn and frizzy wild woolly hair. (It’s a woman thing)

Onward to Burra. Being my first long ride I dismounted the bike like I had a telegraph pole up my bum.While Craig filled up with petrol I dare not take off the helmet to see what had happened to the hair thing. While waiting for some bikes to arrive in Burra for lunch I gave in and revealed a hideous head of helmet hair. We wandered around the streets for a short time, I looking in every shop window (it was the hair thing). Eventually we heard some bikes thunder into town. They were the Whyalla boys (so much nicer than Twat, don’t you think?) oh sorry Twaat…Craig and I wandered over and introduced ourselves, and not long after the Adelaide riders arrived.  Really nice to see you all again.

After a quick catch-up and a feed we were off again, Port Broughton the final desitination. Three eager beavers headed out of Burra from the rest of the group while the rest of us steadily made our way to Pt Broughton via Spalding and Crystal Brook. A little confusion started to set in when the group separated but we all got there in the end.Twaats stayed at the hotel overlooking the water where the band was playing that night while a group of us stayed at the motel up the street (a quiet retreat if needed). The night was young, the evening was beautiful, no more rain. and OMG I didn’t bring my hair straightner.

Craig and I decided to stay back awhile, while the rest of the group, Dwayne, Debbie, Shane, Jim, Michelle (from Adelaide) and Stacey and Tony (from Whyalla) forwarded on to the bottom hotel. Debbie wanted to get into the chardony I think. About an hour later Craig and I caught up with them in the pub while the band was setting up. Debbie got a great deal on the Chardonny at the take away bottle shop! The pub was really set up well with an outdoor area to sit and drink as the crowd grew.The Twaat boys were settled and getting into the swing of things. We all caught up with one another and I decided to settle outdoors where it was a bit cooler.Debbie decided to stay in the pub with her Chardonny.

Time just flew and when we had to go in for dinner we were all a bit high on booze. Debbie brought her bottle of chardonny with her. We sat with the Twaat boys (Im not getting used to that name)Very good humoured boys and I have to apologise as I don’t have a good memory. I know there was Tommo, Dave and Patch… was there someone with a tattoo of the Finnish flag??? Or was it the St Andrews cross sideways. Hmmm. Anyway.We all enjoyed our meals. Shane was presented with his main meal before his soup so thus his meal and Debbies steak went under the warmer while the soup was served.All the while Debbie had to sit and drink her Chardonny. After the meals the band began and the party was in full swing.Craig had a good win on the horses in the pub so bought Debbie a chardonny.I in the meantime started on the water. Which brought me back to reality and the condition of my helmet head of hair! Oh bliss……We were all on such a high that some of us had to take off to that hotel up the road earlier that expected as not to lose the way.  Not Debbie though, Dwayne had just bought her a chardonny. About 11 pm Debbie was informing the manager of the incident with the meals, which needed to be addressed and hopefully will be remedied by the time we return to Pt. Broughton. Then out of the blue, Debbie had to go back to the motel room. Very fast! She even left her Chardonny on the table that took us all near 20 minutes to open!

The following morning the majority of us awoke with a lively sprite (won't mention names now) It was down to the corner diner for brekky. We all left the motel (minus one) The plan was to go back to Burra for lunch then depart our separate ways.The Twaat group proceded back to Whyalla via the ferry. Tony and Stacey via Port Augusta. Dwayne, Michelle, Jim, Craig and I headed to Burra while Shane and Debbie headed home.  Gotta love Chardonny eh Debbie …. Hehehe!

The ride to Burra was soooo nice. Michelle and I took out the cameras while being pillion princess and  took pictures. I taking short videos with the digital camera.Dwayne and Jim rode up along side Craig and  I got some great footage but unfortunately at this point in time we have to view it sideways until I become more technically minded. By the time I am finished I do hope to get a medley of our rides and put some music to it. Wild Hogs eat your heart out. We had a great meal at Burra and when we got back on the bikes to depart it was sad that the weekend had come to an end. My body screamed “oh no not again” as I clambered back on the bike but I knew I was on the home stretch. Now were home, I am wind burnt, bug gutted, severely helmet haired and I cant sit properly. But I had the best weekend and cant wait till the next weekend away.