The next Turismo

[Betty]

Keep it coming Mark, it may just get some uninitiated OZMO's interested in future  Turismos   

For photos it is best to follow the link Heather posted above somewhere ... might provide a better feel for the event.

[Betty]

Sorry for the delay ... been a bit busy.

DAY 4 – WEDNESDAY (ALBURY to ALBURY LOOP)

Another 400+km day was planned and a review of the route had me contemplating short-circuiting the planned guide just to be back in time for dinner. The plan was to head down to Mount Beauty over Falls Creek to Omeo then back through Hotham towards Bright on the way back … but the weather had other plans.

I had been over Falls Creek before and didn’t fancy doing it again as part of a long day but with constant rain there was no chance. Two nights in the one place was a blessing as it allowed us to take the soft option … but we were not alone as the number of riders out on the day would have been lucky to reach double figures. Covering 400+km of tight twisty Alpine roads in the wet is not my idea of fun with the risk/reward equation thrown way out of kilter.

I believe Rendang was the only OzMo to make the effort/sacrifice but the weather eventually turned him around too. Well done, but you are welcome to that kind of riding … I’ll leave it alone if I have the option.

So we had a leisurely (if ordinary) breakfast where Andy reacquainted himself with his new Queensland mates. Then we just filled in the day bumming around the resort. Fortunately (especially for someone without a foxtel subscription) I stumbled across a replay of the Mariners vs Sydney game on the telly … so I got to relive the glory – it was almost as much fun the second time. 7-2 woohoo!

Ready ... but not quite willing:


Luckily there was some good looking birds at the resort to keep us entertained:

[Betty]

Sorry for the delay peoples now it's time to finish this off. I was hoping for a photo showing all the OzMos together but it has not been forthcoming ... and I have been kinda busy ... final instalments:

THE GALA DINNER

Then it was the Gala Dinner as the last night … this time with a Western theme. The Boss was pretty disappointed with the effort (or lack thereof) put in by many of the participants with most opting for a simple check shirt. At least the Ozmos made some effort!

Jukie managed to pick up a small prize for best female costume … and I tied with a Cactus for the blokes prize. But every bonus has a downside as now we had to try and fit more ‘stuff’ on the bike for the trip home.

While the rain continued to pour down outside the night involved plenty of drinking, Jukie tearing up the dance floor (including a dance with the big man) and some creepy guy with a video camera.

More food:


And dessert:


Father and son re-united at last:


I must have looked like I was having fun:


Because I managed to pick up a pillion:

[Betty]

DAY 5 – DEPARTURE (ALBURY to SOMEWHERE)

Next morning we bid our farewells and the NSW OzMos headed for home. With the weather improving in parts we selected a route to avoid the worst as we all had various reasons to get back home. We headed back out to Corryong and then up to Gundagai before things got really boring. After a stop at Yass Rendang decided it was worth heading for home and the rest of us decided it was worth heading to a hotel for a swim and food.

By the following arvo we were all home and Tursimo was done for another ‘year’.

Somewhere to stay in Goulburn:


I still can't come to terms with the American nickname for our fine motor-sickles, but I took the photo anyway:


... and apologies to everyone for covering up parts of Andy's bike, but he'd had enough of the spotlight ... and we were in the middle of a roundabout

[Betty]

OTHER STUFF

More about Turismo itself:
•   Tyres are available everyday
•   Pick-up support is available throughout in case of any incidences
•   The boys in the big red truck are there to help with any minor issues (especially at the start and end of the day)
•   Route maps are provided but you don’t receive them until the night before
•   A head count at dinner would suggest less than 100 participants this time

What about the bikes, you may ask … well:
•   There were representatives from each of the current Ducati families
•   There was a heavy slant towards the new Multi-stroodle which is even more intriguing considering it had not even been released before the last Turismo. So considering the reduced numbers and the proportion of these machines … it does not bode well for variety on any future Turismos. There was still a couple of old ‘stroodles along too
•   Monsters were relatively well represented … with six OzMos plus a few others. The new-style Monsters seemed limited to the smaller bikes ridden by those accompanying someone on a larger machine
•   I only remember one Hyper, one Diavel and maybe a couple of Streetfighters
•   There was a couple of old bikes (but not many) – think bevel, MHR, etc
•   Can’t remember more than one SS but there was still a few STs along for the journey
•   A couple of Coasties also managed to survive on their Sports Classics
•   The Superbikes were represented by machines from the 916 era through to the Panigale but nothing in large numbers

I didn't really get any photos of other bikes ... so you'll have to settle for a crappy shot at Old Parliament House where you can't actually see any of the bikes properly:


And a couple of ordinary photos of bikes gathered in the hotel carpark:

[Betty]

... and the record for most consecutive posts in a single thread, goes to ...

THE FUTURE

Well who knows? At the last event there were grumblings from people that the event was not what it used to be. Despite a few improvements I think the concensus would have to be that it has deteriorated further … it doesn’t mean that it is all bad or not worthwhile, just that there is room for improvement.

I think a conscious effort may be needed to try and encourage more participants and a greater variety of machines. Generally speaking the participants would be considered ‘mature’ but this does not preclude ‘hoons’ or rude Queenslanders. Although there seemed a decreasing number of people there to meet up with mates from Turismos past … most just seem to be those with plenty of money and plenty of spare time.

So maybe a re-think is needed before the event is strangled to death by a decreasing number of old farts on Multis.

Rendang’s comments (as a Turismo newbie) indicate that it is still a well run and worthwhile event. Hopefully any future event can be made more appealing to new and old alike.

[G]

Thanks for posting your report Betty.
Great to catch up with you. 

[Betty]

I was hoping for a photo showing all the OzMos together

... and now I have it. Thanks to Heather for chasing these up for me with photo credits to Jacob Hutson ... thanks for the photos and allowing us to share with the OzMo mob.


Some OzMos enjoying the Gala dinner:




I am not sure what G is doing to my bull (G seems pleased the bull not so much) ... but I am glad he could join us to get all the participating OzMos in the one photo:

[FIFO]

Always thought Certain elements of the DMF were Cowboys.
now there's proof

[Betty]

Always thought Certain elements of the DMF were Cowboys.

Only not the ones in the photo ... well, mostly.

[rendang]

   No not all, I look to be more in the complete dork category.

[Betty]

   No not all, I look to be more in the complete dork category.

   Surely the award for the most dorky looking must go to the bloke wearing the man-sized, novelty inflatable pilchers, a plastic hat and a silly grin.