Bonneville America Forums Forums Off Topic Discussion Forums Lounge It's been a While

Gidday. Ha ha.

I've been meaning to get on here and just read and catch up with my OLD Buddies for some time now.

It's been an interesting year or more though due to events that were out of my control so i thought it a good idea to explain why my sudden absence from this great forum.

Most my old chums would remember I've had back problems since forever. Well after seven years of masking the chronic (means continual) back pain with heavy pain meds as a fireman, it got to the stage I couldn't manage it any longer.

I went on sick leave and basically just couldn't return back to work. Sounds pretty drastic and retiring at 52 years of age from the best job in the world isn't ideal. To be honest, I knew the time had come for me to hang up my boots and focus on my health otherwise I was going to end up a nervous wreck and / or endanger myself, the public or my work colleagues. I'd always sworn to myself that whenever I couldn't do my job to the level I felt was the minimum standard I had set for myself, I'd take myself off the road. I had done it three times before for six month plus stints for rehab and operations but the last time was the final one over a twenty five year career.

Fortunately I am fine in the financial department due to the fact I was retired on the grounds of invalidity. This meant my pension assumed I had worked till I was sixty five with the same remuneration.

So I've been busy since being retired last February and in fact, spent a month staying with my yanky bro Eddy (Fast Eddy) for a month and even riding down to the mid west rally last July. The trip and getting to know Eddy properly as well as many other forum brothers, was one of the best experiences I've ever had. The warmth of the people from the Mid West is indescribable. Something that is hard to explain back home here in Aus because you simply have to experience it and feel it.

Then on returning home I bought myself a new Triumph Tiger Explorer. It's a fantastic bike and which has now replaced my Speedmaster as my tourer of choice. I haven't sold my 865cc baby though. Oh no, I've got plans for her but mainly as a project type bike as another interest in retirement.

So there ya go. I'm still doing some final touches with readying the Tiger for big travels but ill leave that story to the "Other Bikes" section on this forum.

I hope to catch up with many of you as I read and respond to posts but thought it a good idea to explain my absence.

Cheers
Stacka

Thanks for the update, Stacka!

Ya know, I've been wonderin' what happened to ya since you ran into those dudes back there in the Midwest this summer.

(...yep, I had the most FRIGHTFUL imaginings of what those fellas might've done to ya to be away from the boards for so long!!!)

indescribable?

Good to see you back John. Ive been wondering if the bears or billys got you.

Good hearing from ya, Stacka. Thanks for explaining your absence. I sure hope that back of yours doesn't give you too much grief.

Good to hear from you buddy. Now that southern summer's on the way we expect to hear about your retired adventures while we take up our winter projects.

Gald to hear from you John, I thought after the Midwest Rally we might have scared you off
Have fun on the Triumph and that you've retired you'll have plenty of time to post about your adventures.

Thanks Guys. Great to see you're still around too cos we have lost some blokes in the past. Looks like there's something about our Bikes that gets into ya blood I reckon. That and this place which is like a family in many many ways.

I said to Matt (Leithal) that I will post some pics of mine from my last ride so keep a look out if you're interested.

By the way, The Midwest Rally was one of the best times I've had. The people were the best both to ride with and to socialise with too. Whilst it was only three days for me, I was thinking as I was leaving how I wished we had another week together. Maybe another time ya never know. I'm pretty sure I'd be welcome back at Eddy's so it's all about saving the cash I guess.

Later

we could send you some cash so you can come back!

Maybe next time you could make a GA rally.

Stacka, It was great meeting you @ the Midwest rally too! Glad to hear things are well with you, and now you have time to do some serious touring & I'm looking forward to the pics from your adventures.

I'm wondering what mods you got in mind for your Speedy?

Rumble on

Which one is that Matt?

Good to see you back on here, Stack. You know I've been following your progress on the facebook as you take that Explorer to all corners of Australia!

seen any aboriginies?

Well guys, if any of you can organise yourselves to get over here and hire bikes or ship yours over (not cheap), I'd love to show you some of the best rides the east coast of Aus has to offer.

From my place it's an hour and a half to Aussie's beaches, two hours to Sydney, an hour to our high country rides, I think you'd enjoy it ha ha

Accommodation is cheap too. Not extravagant by any stretch but all ya need is a room with a bed etc. So, after a good day's ride we stop at a town which all have pubs (the same as Bars, Saloons or taverns). Upstairs an average basic room is $40 and which generally includes a basic breakfast.

So we park our bikes out back, book in, wash up and then go downstairs for beer and quality bistro food. It's a brilliant means of travel, believe me.

Actually, just thinking about it, I'm getting itchy feet already so I'll be off again very soon.

Sweet lookin ride there Stacka. But I think you may be over-compensating with your rear arial.