Another Australian Douglas Rally has now been successfully completed in Victor Harbor, South Australia. I am sitting here the morning after with heavy rain outside so we were very lucky with the weather - three perfect days !! We had a bit over 30 bikes in attendance with entrants from SA, Victoria, NSW, ACT, Queensland and Tasmania as well as the UK and USA
First days run went to Clayton Bay and the National Trust Museum at Strathalbyn with a total distance of 132 km. A few minor machine issues as usual on the first day. Fantastic vintage motorcycling roads. Our LDMCC chairman (Chris) decided to follow one of the locals after lunch - unfortunately they took a wrong turn and ended up in the middle of nowhere with a gearbox sprocket falling of the gearbox (my TS on loan
). Eventually turned up back at the camp in the back of a fruit shop van.
The second day we visited a car and bike museum for morning tea and then on to Goolwa wharf for lunch where we were able to look over a historic paddle steamer and had a talk on the history of the place. Some members on the faster bikes were seen hanging out in local coffee shops ! Total distance 86kms
Most people I talked to thought the last day was one of their best ever vintage motorcycling days. Beautiful weather, great scenery and fantastic roads - quite challenging in places for the 2 3/4hp machines but all made it. We had a vew stops including at a lookout for a dam where we could see the various machines working hard up the hill from the dam wall. Morning tea was at Inman Valley and lunch at Myponga.
Overall a great rally and very well organised by the local team. Everyone is looking forward to the next rally which will be in 2014. However, we are yet to have someone put their hands up to run the next one - urgently looking for volunteers !
