I met up with Russ at Samford for the start, then over Mt Glorious (which was lovely and damp and slippery) and out to Fernvale to meet the rest of the crew.
We caught up with Glen and Todd in Fernvale and got a pleasant surprise to see Ian had rocked up also.
From Fernvale we followed Glen down to Forest Hill on some fantastic roads that tell me even more how urgent it is to get my own Kat! The pace was good but is pretty much top speed for the wee 450 and she didn't like it at all... after being held there for a while she decided she'd had enough and started losing power... I thought I'd lost a cylinder (no surprise) until I saw the tacho still working and the little bit of smoky haze exiting stage left over the headers
Backed her off and she seemed better, seems like my head gasket weep turned into a bit more, but only if I get up it... pulled over to be sure and while there was oil all over the shop it wasn't dripping anywhere and it seemed good to continue on to Forest Hill where I could let it sit for a while then check it.
Anyway, on to Forest Hill for some late brekky and a chin wag, and Ian had to disappear early from there and Russ was going to head back as he had other things on as well.
Quick check of the dipstick to see I'd lost bugger all oil and away we went, although we skipped the fun steep uphill run via Clifton to Toowoomba to ensure the head gasket didn't let go altogether.
Had a brief fuel stop in Toowoomba...
Then a run through Hampton and down to Esk for a snack and chat before the run home. I forgot to get any more photos...
We headed off from Esk up towards Somerset Dam, with Todd going straight towards Kilcoy and home, and Glen and I turning right for a (restrained) run through Splityard Creek and on to the bottom of Mt Glorious where I turned off for home and Glen kept going towards home.
While I'm disappointed to have missed some fun stuff from Clifton to Toowoomba, it was still a great day with good company and spot on weather and some new great roads I'd never seen before
I ordered a head gasket and some other bits today... I know what I'll be doing this coming long weekend
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