Australian FJ Rally 19th March 2016.

[Arnie]

              SATURDAY RIDE ROUTES

You'll have a choice of 2 group ride routes on Saturday.
Both routes will travel in an Anti-Clockwise direction starting and ending at Harrietville
Both routes will have us all together for the obligatory group picture at Hotham Heights
and for lunch at the Blue Duck Inn at Anglers Rest (shown as 2855 Omeo Hwy) on maps

Those wanting a Shorter ride will turn off at Bogong High Plains Road (shown as Big Red)
and travel through both Falls Creek and Mt. Beauty ski resort areas.  You'll rejoin the B500
Great Alpine Rd at Germantown returning to Harrietville.   235km and 4hr.35min Google time

            https://goo.gl/maps/aaGz663XBcn


The Longer Ride will not turn off at Big Red, but continue North through Mitta Mitta and up to
Tangambalanga before turning back South through Dederang, Kancoona, and re-joining the
B500 Great Alpine Road at Ovens and returning to Harrietville.   370kms  5hrs 48min Google time

            https://goo.gl/maps/WZ6wAmruoHP2

From my investigations, fuel should be available at Harrietville, Omeo, Mitta Mitta, Tallangatta (near Tangambalanga), Falls Creek, Mt. Beauty, and Bright.  I would expect that only those doing the long ride
will need to fuel during the ride, and Omeo is suggested.

Both rides have very few straight sections.  Zoom in on the route and see how squiggly the line gets :-)

See Youse all next Friday

Arnie (acting map detailer for Pete)

[X-Ray]

Oooohh, looks great, nice work Arnie and Pete. Wow, FRiday week and we're there

[oldktmdude]

   Thanks for putting the maps together Arnie.  The Rally would have been long over before I could figure out how to use the new google map nightmare.
See you all soon. Regards, Pete.

[The General]

On reflection, this ride route plan is not only the best I`ve seen, but truly the best ever imajinable, practical and jaw dropping, scenically!!

Yeah I`ve been known to exaggerate some statements over the years, but you just can`t get anything better than this Rally agenda.

In the background, when it comes to planning, I (unfortunately sometimes) go down a lot of "what if`s" in my head. They involve weather, pics, points of interest, timing, shelter, social intercourse, communications, retrieval, fun, frolics & opportunities!

Ironically, too much organising can be adverse to the fantastic spirit that this gettogether always seems to engender. (So it`s mostly done on the quiet between whoever wants input). It`s got me beat why such a diverse group of characters that are mainly strangers up front, can have so much enjoyment every year, no matter they`re personalities and all so civilly with both genders raving!......This year`s ride definitely has it all!...and with all bases covered. Repeat...This is the best Saturday ride plan ever! The actual ride time (in tha saddle) before lunch, is only an hour & a quarter to make the most of the oohs & ahhhhs,....and and  incredible photo opportunities without too much Rush. After lunch can be any combination of sightseeing and fantastic rides. The setting sun is in the right position for the curve addicts as well as the layback.......This social intercourse is not to be missed!.......Big Congrats Pete!

Without giving too much away.... I know there are more trophies this year as well as the legendary Chook Raffle!   

(Coming by car....no prob, Cancelling that wedding, or an ocean Cruise, having trouble getting permission still?...no prob, just give me a call, esp if you need a bed or a set of ear muffs or both!)

I think Noel put it best and worth repeating.....

Type "Harrietville" into google images.

Then check out riding sites or google maps on Mt Hotham, Falls Creek, Dinner Plain, Anglers Rest (the Blue Duck Inn) Bright, Omeo, Murray Valley Highway, the Alpine Way, Great Alpine Rd, Mt Buffalo, Khancoban, Mitta Mitta Valley (Pete's favourite) Mt Beauty......

For those coming from the North, if you think your heart can stand it and you want a glimpse of what Heaven will be like for crusty old FJ riders, come down through the Snowys.

After a weekend down here you'll be hanging out for some straight roads and quite likely the centre of your tyres will be the only part left anyway.

I visited the rally venue a while back, as have Richard (Rover) and Pete (Oldktmdude) and it just has great rally location written all over it.

Harrietville is a 'blink and you miss it' village with lots of charm in a great location.

The local traders are well accustomed to motorbike gatherings and love them, even the the bikies. The two groups they dislike are cyclists, (increasingly popular in this area) and BMW group rides. Not a problem however over the rally weekend, we have booked the joint out and more, the spill over spreading to neighbouring sites.

Harrietville is ours!

To any fringe dwellers out there, take the plunge, it will be a great weekend. If your bikes not going don't worry about it, drive up (or down). If you need to turn up on a non FJ, no worries. If you're reading this site your welcome (and maybe even your mate if he's not an arsehole)

Wives and partners are not only welcome but encouraged. Events have been arranged to guarantee they enjoy the weekend while the blokes are off doing blokey stuff, like riding and bullshitting. They probably get their fill of that at home anyway.

Word has it there will be a celebrity attendance but modesty forbids me from giving any clues.   

[oz.fj]

Whoo hoo.... Its all coming together

The ride route looks fantastic . Not to many straight lines on that map.

My rally shirt turned up today. Thanks Roverfj1200


I'm Ready...Bring it on

[NotSo]

  A week today and we will be well on our way. Sounds great on the Vic side of the Snowies, I have lived in Canberra for about 8 years in the 80's so I know how good the east side of the Snowies are.

The maps for Saturday look great and a job well done Pete, should be great and many pics to be had. With good weather it will be a great weekend.
Don't the tee shirts look good too, Bro has mine. 

Shane ... 

[Jeff0308]

Hi everyone. Just a quick word to say We ( my wife and I) pulled the pin on coming up. Can't trust the bike at this stage and it's in bits, yet again. No time to sort it out at the moment. Getting really pissed off with it. To busy with work commitments to be bothered sorting it out. Ran out of time and don't trust it to do the distance or ride. As for driving up, trailering it there, waste of time  if it's not trustworthy or sorted. I cancelled my room at the snowline so if anyone needs a room give them a call.
Jeff

[X-Ray]

Not good news Jeff, was looking forward to seeing you there. Where there's a will there's a way, so plenty of time for the next one. I understand completely about running out of time/work commitments/things to do etc, happens all too often, 

[Layback]

Perfectly said General..

Thank you to everyone who who has anything to do with organising the rally. I'm looking forward to meeting you all.

I will be on the Spirit of Tasmania on Wednesday 16/2/16 night arriving in Melbourne on Thursday morning. If anyone is riding from Melbourne to Harrieville and wants to ride up together on Friday please let me know a meeting point.

Cheers
Len

[oz.fj]

Perfectly said General..

Thank you to everyone who who has anything to do with organising the rally. I'm looking forward to meeting you all.

I will be on the Spirit of Tasmania on Wednesday 16/2/16 night arriving in Melbourne on Thursday morning. If anyone is riding from Melbourne to Harrieville and wants to ride up together on Friday please let me know a meeting point.

Cheers
Len

Hi Len
Chromaxe (Glen) and I are meeting here Park Squire Motor Inn and Serviced Apartments 94 Flemington Road Parkville VIC 3052 at 0830 Friday morning .
You are more than welcome to head up with us.
Darran

[Urban_Legend]

So. Only one week to go, but whose counting.  Me. I think the bike is all ready. I have most of my stuff organised,  just need a self inflating mattress and I'm good to go. Can't wait to meet up with some old friends and make some new ones.

Mark

[Layback]

Hi Len
Chromaxe (Glen) and I are meeting here Park Squire Motor Inn and Serviced Apartments 94 Flemington Road Parkville VIC 3052 at 0830 Friday morning .
You are more than welcome to head up with us.
Darran

[/quote]
Darran, that sounds perfect mate. I'll see you both a bit before 8:30.

Cheers
Len

[The General]

Weather Alert for Snowy Mountains TODAY!
Friday 11 March

UV Alert from 9:50 am to 4:50 pm, UV Index predicted to reach 10 [Very High]
Chance of snow0% at 1800m0% at 1400m0% at 1000m0%

                      Min/Max
  Perisher Valley  9 21
  Cooma  13 30
  Cabramurra  15 23
  Thredbo Top Station  11 18
  Jindabyne  13 26
Heeeehehe......apparently we might need Sunscreen! 

[Chromaxe]

Hi Len
Chromaxe (Glen) and I are meeting here Park Squire Motor Inn and Serviced Apartments 94 Flemington Road Parkville VIC 3052 at 0830 Friday morning .
You are more than welcome to head up with us.
Darran

Darran, that sounds perfect mate. I'll see you both a bit before 8:30.

Cheers
Len

[/quote]
See you then Len. Arnie we were heading via Broadford - how about we meet you there at about 0915-0930? Main Street or the Track gate?

[Troyskie]

Looks like the weather gods are with us (they're only fooling around on Friday  )