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Mackay HOG Rally 2002

Well it had to happen. Perfect riding weather right up till 2 days before we left. Then it changed. Got to Tamworth to be told it had snowed at Armidale and Uralla and we were heading for Port Macquarie via Walcha. No worries, 2 straws and a litre of anti-freeze there and we made it over the range just as the light faded, in good spirits. Stayed the night and headed off early the next morning with an extra bike and kept picking up people on the way through to Coffs harbour till we had 17 bikes and a backup vehicle.

Avoided Grafton with a couple of detours thanks to an over-zealous Harley hater there and with a couple of good legs made it over the boarder and onto Pomona where we stopped the night and celebrated a Blues victory over the Reds in the State of Origin. For some reason the Blues supporting bikers found the front bar devoid of locals by about half time. A good night had by all!

Another day dawned and we hit the road again. Alas electrical troubles hit but no worries. Backup in the finest of styles arrived and a bit of gear shifting saw us into Rockhampton. Thanks Morgan & Wackers, was appreciated! A good night in Rocky and the morning got us sorted out and on the road again for a leisurely run into Mackay.

A quick pegging of tents and out to the Taylors Hotel for a bit of music and dining. With the promise of free pizzas and topless ticket sellers how could we resist? Was tough going, but someone hadda do it!

Saturday saw us take a short run into the hinterlands and then disaster struck. We found the local fish markets! Half priced king prawns and oysters! A few ales to help them slide down and hey, from there it all hadda be good. The Mackay chapter did their best and we made the most of their hospitality with the weekend going far too quickly!

Then it happened! The event of the rally. At 4.46 a.m. Monday morning down it came in buckets! Within minutes we were in a flood. Tent floors were like waterbeds and they were the lucky ones. Water went through some and one guy with a wooden leg, slightly inebriated from a good night nearly drowned. Everyone was up and trudging at least ankle deep through water.

Unfortunately one of the bikes failed to start (yeh yeh...ok..it was mine) after this and it wasn't till after lunch we rode out and again through heavy rain to Rockhampton. Left early the next morning and that night found ourselves close to home at Bingara. Another good night had by all! A short stroll to Tamworth the next day and it was all but over.

4,000 km round trip, not bad. So where we off to next?