In the begining God created motorbikes & then a Library

DAY ONE THURSDAY


Alan on his Ducati at Gosford Library (requires no encouragement to ride his bike into a library)



Ahh at last my plans are coming together (mad laughter ha ha ha) (Alan and co)


A truely splendid sight

It was cold with cloudy skies as the bikes were parked outside the Gosford City Library ready for the four-day odyssey we call the BT. As I was interviewed in my office by phone by ABC radio, the mayor was outside being interviewed for NBN TV while a reporter from the Express Advocate was waiting to do a pod cast of the trip. This has become a public relations event beyond my wildest expectations. It is usually very hard to get public libraries into the news but here was event that has colour, excitement and romance rolled into one.

Pre-ride briefing; 'Ok chaps listen up, does anyone know where I placed my keys..."

As another group of bikes arrived there was breakfast served and the workers passing through the park were trying to grasp what was going on. The mayor made his farewell speech just as the state minister for Education, John Della Bosca turned up to say hello to Mayor Mcfayden. We had a celebrity send off.

We were away half an hour late at 10am which was to be the story for the whole trip. Its not that we did not travel fast, it was a combination of road works and too tight a schedule. The short days also did not help, Next year we return to the longer days and warmer weather of summer. Having it during Library Week made sense, the sun setting at 5pm when we were never near our destination did not.


Got my motor running, headout on the highway...Born to be Mild.......



The Departure!

Maitland is a greatland

The Biblio Turismo gang gather at Maitland

Two of the Turistas were to meet us at Maitland and along with the librarian Keryl kept the mayor entertained and made sure he got his interview.




Keryl (Maitland Library manager) and Ian have a chat.

A nice morning tea and a chance to meet the other Turistas.


maitland Library

Soon we were off to Gloucester, The cloud built up and it got colder; the roads were great and free of traffic. The problem with the Duke was first encountered as we left Maitland. A sudden stop as if I had run out of fuel. After a few seconds the bike would start again so I was not overly concerned.

Gloucester

The possie arrive at Gloucester Library!

At Gloucester
Library we had lunch in the local café and spoke with the librarian and the local press. At this time we were an hour behind schedule but well fed and enjoying the trip. This was all about to change. Up until now all bikes were running well except my Duke. Every thirty minutes it seemed to starve of fuel and come to a complete stop. After several minutes it would start and goes perfectly until it happened all over again. I felt that I could nurse it to Tamworth and get it fixed there.

Thunderbolts way to oblivion

The ride out of Gloucester was perfect. Full tank of fuel, clear road, beautiful mountains, rushing creeks, autumn leaves, the sound of the duke music to my ears as I accelerated up the mountain, I was on a mission, to reach Tamworth before nightfall.

Halfway up the mountain it began to drizzle, then the fog set in then it got colder then the road became slippery and I was down to 20 k/h. After 50 kms of this I saw the turn off to Tamworth. It wasn't dirt, it was mud. Not easy to ride with clip on handlebars.

Wet wet wet!!!


Nice view midway up Thunderbolts way

Later the other Turistas told me that they saw the dirt road and then a sign that said “Tamworth 90 kms”. Sh*t, what has Flores done to us now? But it was only five kms of dirt as I said, but at the time I did feel the vibes. Character building Ian said, this is not a tour for the inexperienced or faint-hearted.

Umm, this will take some cleaning!

Pilot down--sos--

I was out of the dirt and beginning a steep descent when my machine stopped. I cruised downhill using gravity and attempted a restart as I had done before. The battery was flat, It was nearly dark I pushed the Duke to the side of the road and the last rider came by as so did a car, which I flagged down and he took me to Tamworth library.

That night I managed to get the NRMA to take me the seventy kms back up the mountain to get the bike on a tow truck and have him deliver it to my motel. We even saw a few kangaroos, an owl, rabbits and a live wombat crossing the road. The Tamworth librarians were wonderful, feeding us and helping us find our accommodation as well as convincing the NRMA that I should get my bike that night, as it may not be there in the morning.

A sad ending for the Ducati....but all is not lost as the following day the phoenix arose!

Dorrigo

Friday morning saw the crew leave on time and head for Armidale. After having my problems diagnosed by the bike mechanic across the road from the motel and fixed, I was off to join them. The Duke did not miss a beat for the rest of the trip. After speeds in excess of 13k per hour I managed to catch up with the others in time to be in the group photo for the paper.

Riders gather in Armidale



Biblio Bruce meanders into Armidale Library

The highway was an easy ride and cars pulled to one side as I approached at speed from the year like a man on a mission. It was still cold, but no wind and blue skies. More morning tea then on to Dorrigo for lunch. After lunch we were invited to the local child care centre to ride around their carpark for their visual pleasure, but by the time we got there they were asleep. I did manage to go in and read them a book while the others moved on to Belligen.


Once upon a time there was a little red Ducati......

Great hospitality at Dorrigo Library

The road down was tight and slow, but the road along the river to town was a dream. One of the most beautiful drives in the country with sweeping curves to enjoy.

The road was magnificent and some even slowed to 150 to enjoy the scenery, unfortunately Ian did himself some damage by using his foot to hold up the bike when he stopped rather than his center stand. Ian did not realize how heavy a fully laden Honda with pillion was. Lots of Johnny Walker medicine and rest helped ease the pain.

Belligen

We were met at Belligen by the general manager and the deputy mayor who were very welcoming and gracious and eager to show us plans of their new library.


Belligen Library

Departure

Coffs harbour

Soon we were on to Coffs Harbour to meet the local Ulysses club group and to talk with the staff. The Moto Guzzi in the library was raffled off and Pam was the lucky winner. Unfortunately she had to leave it as she already had her own bike. As it got dark we joined the Friday night commuters to Nambucca Heads.



Coffs Harbour the Turismo roders were greeted by the local clan.

Coffs library staff and Biblio Roger.


Alan falls in love with the local Guzzi.

Pam was also impressed....time to update?

The Coffs Harbour express book service delivery bike?

Alas Ross and Bruce did not find the Coffs Library, but they did find the beach....wow!!!

Beautiful!

That's an affirmative from me!

Nice helmet hair dude!

Day three

DAY THREE SATURDAY
A walk around the bay before breakfast and I was ready for a day of hard riding and meeting more of our colleagues.


Early morning walk

Our first stop was Stuart’s Point where we met the librarian who had a library full of customers. After a nice cup of coffee we were off to Kempsey where we did it all over again.







Two of our more adventurous Turistas headed off for Forster via the Oxley Highway, a few extra hundred kms at an appropriate speed was needed to let the Italian and German machines stretch their legs. It's nice to see men enjoying themselves on a fast machine and winding roads.

Taree

After riding for an hour we turned up at Taree. It is not often I am waved down by a beautiful women at the traffic lights and told” All the women are waiting for you at the library”. We had a meal fit for a King. There was a large dog in the library but it was soon taken to the park next door. After viewing the new library in rented premises one of the librarians led us to their latest library at on her brand new RS900 Triumph. Great bike but I was not to sure about the huge RS on the fairing. We then toured down to the main beach at Forster where we said our goodbyes as we watched dolphins surf the waves.



Nice Triumph

Nice Scenery

Nice Library

Nice helmet...umm debatable...

Nice bear or is that a dog?

A sidetrack adventure up th Oxley

An hour or two at the motel drinking wine and discussing the days ride set us up for an evening of wining and dining. Pam’s man turned up with a smile on his face and a tale of adventure on the Oxley. An accident avoided by good riding and a great bike.


Brian and Ross travelled the road less travelled (conboyne rd up and overthe Mountains)!


Brian on his adventure bike!!!


The GS in its natural element


Midway up the Oxley.

Chris, the local City Librarian met us at the Thai and Seafood restaurant (No Thai as the cook was away for the night). We all bought a bottle of wine and ate well. Ian’s leg was either feeling better or else he could no longer feel it due to his medication that was in the large red bottle on the table.

farewell

DAY FOUR SUNDAY

We rose at various times and headed off to our various destinations. I to the central coast, and others to Canberra, Noosa, Ballerat, Sydney, Griffith , Newcastle.

Ian and I left at 7.30am and although the ride past the lakes and through the valleys and across the mountains was superb, the cold finally numbed my toes and I was so cold I had to stop to thaw out. A short break at Raymond Terrace with Ian and was all I needed before the very quick ride home.

Pam,Brian and Ross visited the Forster Library before heading home. Chris provided an informative tour of the Library. Whilst not a new building the Library boasted an innovative design and had some absolutely stunning local indigenous art works on the wall. The childrens area also had a once operational local fishing boat installed, complete with two inbuilt computers, so the little ones could trawl the net? (Ross)

I am already planning next year’s run but it will be in the summer with longer and much warmer days.

Alan A. Flores
Tour Leader

Library Services Manager
Gosford City Library

I will return............

2008 Biblio Turismo

A LITTLE NONSENSE NOW AND THEN IS RELISHED BY THE WISEST MEN. Roald Dahl

Biblio Turismo is on again. This year it will be in May so as to coincide with Library and Information week. This is our third year and we want it to be our biggest yet.

Biblio Turismo is the NSW public library event of the year when librarians from across the state meet and visit public libraries over a three day period. We do it on motorbikes and use the event to help market public libraries. All those working in the library industry and their partners are invited to come.

So if you have a motorbike or can borrow one and do not mind having your picture in the paper then contact the organiser now. Last year we had bikes from 250cc to 1200cc. If you want to come in a car you are also most welcome.

We will be leaving Gosford on Thursday the 22nd, May and will finish at Forster on the Saturday night. We will travel via Tamworth, Armidale, Coffs Harbour and Taree.

Check out or website for more details and see what great fun we had in previous years.
http://www.biblioturismo.org/