FRIDAY 16TH
SEPTEMBER, 2016
OBERON
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Blackheath
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Old Post Office, Blackheath
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Ian at Richmond |
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Oberon Branch Library
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Deputy Mayor and library staff
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Oberon library customers
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Ducatis available on two week loan |
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I love riding my bike in the library |
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Can I start it up? |
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Another library we took the Ducati into. |
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Oberon Library, Alan Flores with the Deputy Mayor |
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Add caption |
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About to leave |
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Too big to get inside the library |
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Alan and Ian at Oberon |
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Blackheath station |
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Oberon library customers |
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Oberon Library |
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Ian with Library customers at Oberon |
PORTLAND
The ride to
Oberon was in showery weather and strong winds and not much heat. The ride down from Mt Victoria was full of
problems due to road works but once down the vistas through the valleys with
the occasional ray of sunshine was well worth the ride. Only three libraries
today.
Oberon
library is a new building a short walk from the main street.
We were
greeted by the general manager, the deputy mayor and a councillor and library
staff. More refreshments and talk of the affect possible amalgamation with
Bathurst may have on a Oberon population of 3,000.
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Branch Librarian |
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Portland branch library |
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Window display |
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Portland Library customers |
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They never let me lend books |
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What's that Flores saying this time? |
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Portland Library |
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It's always a joy to visit. |
KANDOS
The ride to
Kandos was fast through a long valley and then there was the unbelievable view
of the Aussie Grand Canyon, not as deep but extremely wide. Riding past at
130km it was hard to appreciate.
We entered
town from the south, crossing the disused railroad tracks, past the closed
station and along a road so wide it was bigger than some towns we passed
through. The library is underneath one of the largest halls you will ever see
in a country town built by the workers at the local cement mine, now closed. One
can imagine the dances and concerts held there during the fifties and sixties.
The next day was talk like a pirate day and the locals were busy getting the
hall prepared.
The library
was under the hall and Kerry was its guardian. A large library with appealing
children’s and reference sections and easy parking out front.
One of the
library members who came to greet us was the last Kandos station master who
came to town 23 years ago to manage the station and now at 82 looked back and
wondered why they closed the station down. He had served the town well. He said he owned one of the first Triumphs in Australia, a Bonneville.
Blackheath
was a hundred and thirty kilometres away in freezing wind but blue skies and
great vistas. The wild goats at the top of the pass at Mt Victoria were a
concern to all of us but have been there for years and yet to cause an
accident.
Hard liquor
to warm us up in Ian and Sherrey’s room then a quick drink at the pub and a
delicious meal at the Chinese restaurant.
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Kerry, Sherrey, Roger and Ross at Kandos Library |
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and Alan |
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Kandos Station Master retired |
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Kandos Library |
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The Turista's steeds |
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Kandos branch library children's section |
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They are both available for two week loans |
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Kandos Branch Librarian, Kerry |
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Kandos branch librarian, Kerry and Alan Flores |
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Ducati Monster S4RS Testastretta |
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Kandos Railroad Station |
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Last train to Kandos |
The 2016 Biblio Turistas
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Alan Flores |
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Ross |
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Alan Walker |
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Roger |
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Sherrey |
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Ian |
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Helen and Richard |
SATURDAY 17TH
SEPTEMBER, 2016
BLACKHEATH
We gathered
at the Blackheath branch library at 9.30, cup of tea and a talk with the staff
and again Vicki was there to take care of us and was also at Katoomba and
Blaxland. What a hard working woman.
Another
Biker called Brahma Kumaris from the local meditation centre joined us for a
cuppa and the staff told tales of how they escaped the clutches of the big
smoke to hide in Blackheath and tend their gardens and lend books to their
community. There was some murmur bout witness protection program, but if that
is the case their pictures on this blog will son ruin that. The Southern mob
left the ride here and turned their mounts toward Oberon, Goulburn and Canberra
and even Ballarat. It is always a sad farewell, but we usually meet up again in
a year’s time ready for another ride. It is a credit to all the participants
that we have ridden together for eleven years now without ever any conflict,
lots of humour and sharing and caring.
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Helen, Richard and Sherrey with Blackheath branch librarian | | |
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Blackheath branch library |
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Blue Mountains City Librarian,Vicki hosting a cuppa at Blackheath branch library |
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Blackheath branch library customer |
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