The best laid plans can often be upset by simply turning left instead of right, writes ELWYN JORDAN.
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A few years ago I organised a charity ride. The plan was for everyone to meet at a motorcycle shop in Oak Flats, where each of the riders would make a donation to our nominated charity, then ride to Mittagong RSL Club for lunch, where there would be a raffle and other formalities.
The plan was to exit the shop, turn right, and I would lead them to Mittagong. But some riders from Sydney said they needed fuel. That was perhaps understandable, although as someone said later, “At the start of an event like this everyone should have full tanks and empty bladders!” (That’s a piece of advice you could add to my comments last week).
My first mistake was that I forgot there was a servo on the way to Macquarie Pass and decided we should go left, to get to one of the servos on the highway. So I told everyone that we would all turn left so that these people could get fuel.
Bikes were started, and as we headed out the driveway, half the group turned left and the others turned right! With riders heading off in opposite directions, what was I to do? I decided to go left and follow the guys going for fuel, thinking they would need me to lead them. Then one of them said, “You go with the others; we’ll catch up!” “Are you sure you’ll be okay?” I asked. “Yeah, yeah, we’ll find our way,” they assured me. So I left.
That was my second mistake! I knew there were people in the other group who knew where to go, so I should’ve stayed with the Sydney people, but I took their assurance and left to catch up with the others.
On the way to Macquarie Pass, I met a lady parked by the side of the road. She said she’d turned right out of the shop, then ridden back to a servo, filled up and left. Not seeing any of her Sydney friends behind her, she decided to stop and wait. I waited with her for 10 minutes or so, but no-one came. I knew that the other group would have been well ahead and I thought I should go, but she wanted to wait. I explained how to get to Mittagong and suggested that if the others didn't turn up, she should carry on by herself.
So there I was, having organised this ride with a whole bunch of bikes, and I was riding on my own with no idea where everyone was!
I caught up with a couple of riders at Robertson Pie Shop. I left from there with just one bike following me.
Although I was feeling very stressed at the chaotic turn of events, the ride itself was good; and I tried to relax and enjoy it.
It was autumn, and the Southern Highlands was beautiful with trees displaying a dazzling palette of gold and green. The sun was warm, the air was still, and the traffic light.
Having arrived at our destination there was still no sign of the group who had gone to get fuel, nor the lady who had been waiting by the roadside.
After many phone calls and text messages, eventually everyone was accounted for.
The Sydney guys had left the servo and gone the wrong way. By the time they got to Kiama, they realised their mistake, but decided to just carry on to Kangaroo Valley. Apparently they had an enjoyable ride – just not with us!
The lady eventually gave up waiting and went home. I don’t know why she didn’t continue the ride, but she could take some consolation from the fact that, out of all those who had gone to get fuel, she was the only one who had ended up on the right road!
Even our return journey got broken up. I was riding with one of my music pupils, and he needed to stop for fuel: so that put us behind the others.
As we rode through Robertson, with autumn-toned trees lining the road, I stopped, explaining to my pupil that I wanted to get a couple of photos for the article I would write for my web-site. He seemed puzzled, but said he’d carry on to our coffee-stop.
At the Pie Shop, the others saw a lone rider pull in. Knowing that I had been riding with him, they asked, “Where's Elwyn?” “He's taking pictures of trees!” he replied. They probably concluded that I was a hopeless leader, and a bit weird as well!
Elwyn Jordan is a musician and full-time music teacher. Besides music, his interests include technology and motoring. He runs a motorcycling website called The Old Bloke. http://theoldbloke.homestead.com. You are welcome to get in touch with Elwyn at elwyn.jordan@yahoo.com.au