Triumphrat

Old Scratcher · 11-08-2007

Ah my daily blast around the block. Up the Kuranda Range across the tablelands & back down the Gillies Range. 250klms of bliss & excitment. I love it! (as I've told you all many times before). So I'm cruising back into town along a 3 lane hwy, congratulating myself on another safe trip around the block, & re-living the close encounters I'd had overtaking trucks on the ranges. When I look up to see a little old lady in a Toyota Yaris heading straight for me, fast. She hasn't seen the median strip while turning onto the other side of the hwy, & thinks she's on a dual-carriage way. So she's honking at me! & yelling out her window for me to get out of her way, which I duly did. The last I saw of her face, its composure was starting to fall apart, as she caught sight of the row of traffic coming up behind me, & heading her way. It looked hillarious in my mirrors. I didn't see any crashes, but there were cars going everywhere.
So forget about carving up the curves or overtaking semi's. It's the little old lady in the Toyota Yaris that you have to watch out for. She'll kill ya!

wonderdog · 11-08-2007

Yep, they'll get ya! This tale is a bit different, but the same.
When I was cycling a lot, the little old ladies scared me to death. They would stay behind, knowing that if they passed, you would instantly lose control and fall in front of their car and get squished. As the line of traffic behind them got longer, they would become more nervous and suddenly jump ahead all the while laying on the horn!

Of course, they were doing this in the interest of MY safety.

The first couple got me, after that I expected it and just smiled to myself as they screamed by.

I experienced the wrong way oldster not long ago in my cage, but it still makes for a very high sphincter factor!

Dennis

Skyblue62 · 11-08-2007

Yep little old ladies, whilst travelling through a major town on a main road - little old lady reverses out of her drive straight infront of me, she wasn't even looking behind her - eyes front as they say, thankfully a bit of hard braking and a body swerve saved the day

Also old male cagers with hats on, if they have glasses on they're even worse and if they're smokin a pipe aswell - pull over and go in the opposite direction!

SpeedyPete · 11-08-2007

250km/day? For real?

That'd be somewhere between 4-5hrs/day on the bike and if you're doing this even 3 days/week that means you're between 35,000-40,000km/year on old bonnie.

If that's true, I'm green with envy as it suggests all the things I aspire to:

- independently wealthy
- few family committments
- living in Oz
- own a cool motorcycle

I guess I'm 1 for 4 on the list.

Good on ya!

P

Old Scratcher · 11-08-2007

Well Speedypete my old mate. Envy was not the emotional response I was looking for. But I thank you for the kind words about my good fortune (you're right on all 4 counts) & I hope I don't sound too smug or glib, when I say that they're good things to aspire to. As all I'm trying to say is that I'm happy & content with my lot. & I count my blessings evey day I watch the Sun rise over Cairns Inlet (like now) & plan where I'm going to ride to today.
I'm not saying that I don't have hassles & personal problems to deal with, & I've worked lots of evil, nasty jobs in the past, to put myself in the position I am today. But the end has justified the means (for me). & I can only advise you to keep plugging away at your aspirations, as it's the only way you'll make them a reality. & as I'm gueesing your 1 out of 4 is a cool bike, at least you can get out for a ride every now & then, & remind yourself what you're working towards.
As for living in Oz. This country is in the middle of its biggest resouces boom ever, as we dig up the outback & sell it to China. Which, I must confess, is a strong source of my income, through the stock market. & this has led to a massive skills shortage, primarily in the mines. But it's also now spreading throughout the community, as the mines snap up all the Tradies. So we're now accepting more qualified imigrants than ever, & the govt's list of prefered proffessions grows daily. So if you've got the right qualifications, you could be living & working in Aust. within months. See your nearest Aust. Consulate.
I hope this helps, & I see you cruising in the Aussie sunshine sometime soon. We need more cool bikes (& bikers) over here.
All the best
Scratch

UraniumC · 11-08-2007

a few years back I'm following a car doing about 35-40 mph. As we come to the intersection there is another car stopped at the stop sign.

My 6th sense is tingling and I just know as soon as the car in front of me passes thru, this car at the stop sign is pulling out into my path.

Sure enough, out it comes. But I'm ready, have slowed and am calculating my path to go around and behind her, mentally congratulating myself on my superior riding and perception skills.

It is at this point, the little old lady driving looks over, sees me bearing down on her. Her eyes get wide (I can see the whites of them at this point), she panics and stops dead in the center of the intersection. Now this, I had not expected or planned for.

Made for an interesting swerve behind her and more than a little loss of the self satifaction I'd been enjoying only moments before.

Old Scratcher · 11-08-2007

Yep they really are amazing. I classify them in the same category as wild Brahma Bulls, which are the most unpredictable & dangerous thing on our roads (along with little old ladies)

ozbon · 11-08-2007

Hey scratch,

It's the Braham Bulls in hats and smoking pipes that you really gotta look out for!!

love the tropics!!!

gypsy56 · 11-08-2007

An old lady calls her husband up on his cell phone and says "Honey, be careful on the freeway, the man on the radio says some idiot is driving the wrong way!"
The old man replies "Some idiot hell, there's hundreds of 'em!"