i can feel the Harrow build up happening,,,

[oz555ktm]

Was having a great run with toby when the contents of my muffler parted company with the rest of the bike..had go beg and borrow a couple of tec screws from team Dewy that was the second drama as the plug poohed itself on the way to the "practise" loop and i had to do a roadside repair

then i found my lower chain roller had disappeared so thanx to team Jimbo for a skateboard wheel and team Dewy for workshop services again!
i was ready for the big day (near dead last in the starting order) so had to work my thru some pretty chewed up ground in the lachy loop even got passed by kdx geoff on a greasy hill (after i showed him the best line across the pooh patch...did he thank me?? hell no, just kept reminding me about the hill v(he was on the grass) so out for the big loop and managed to get thru the Sean Hamilton special test without outside assistance and had a pretty uneventful ride to the fuel dump. Enjoyed the drag race with kids across the paddock and had em till they cut the corner

Headed out for the Mc Clure loop and hooked up with a couple of guys on XR's and had a hoot in the sand until they stopped for something and i lost them, got thru all the bogs and creeks and off camber slippery hills and had a ball in the sandy ferny country until the run down the fenceline where hidden in there somewhere was something that put me into orbit, (was a big ball root) i rekon the overloaded bum back was the only thing that stopped me from passing the centreline and i landed back down on old faithful who was rolling along like nothing happened (husky owners know what im talking about) headed back to the fuel dump after a wobbler run thru Zoggs bog and hooked up with Steve Scooter and his mate and headed for the campground and we both nearly finished up in the nasty looking ditch just before the road section back to the camp.

fuelled tank and stomach and headed out for the second loop, track just up to the road was in a sorry mess...my diet and exercise regime leading up to Harrow was paying dividends..NOT!!
The run through the ferns was a bit wobbly and luckily the Hamilton special test had been re flagged i made the fuel stop all right and headed out on the Mc Clures loop and was passed by a fast young bloke in the sand hills, tried to keep up but that wasn't gunna happen then the maico stopped with a stick jammed in the speedo drive so i got passed him again only for him to catch me up and disappear... still he got me back on the gas for a bit....then we caught some blokes looking for a clean line through a creek and like vultures, when we spotted one we all dived on it. a little train of bikes chugged along for a while which was fun but a few fell off the back and the young fella on the maico headed off into the distance, coming around to the real greasy off camber hill, i saw him just cresting the rise and thought i will have another crack...this distracted me for a vital second or two and suddenly there was small ditch in front which i popped the front wheel over it only to realise that 1. the track went left, 2. i was going way too fast and 3. a ravine lay in front.....what to do?? PANIC, i hit the brakes and accelerated and as the bike left the bank, i lept for my life and went SPLAT ala Wiley Coyote on the far bank and slid slowly down onto the bike...bugger!
i lay about for a bit and had a few snakes then looked at the scene...shit the bike was being washed down into an even bigger hole under the fence so i had jump in and wrestle it back up. the only way it was coming out was with 3 or 4 fit blokes. None arrived. eventually a bloke showed up..."wheres your bike??" he said.. i pointed to the gully..."Christ..how we gunna get it out?" i said "go get help" fortunately he remembered to tell the sweeps and they came looking...when they arrived they all got their phones out and started snapping away 10 minutes later and half a roll of tape holding the headlight on, i was away again (thanks guys, was a great job) i passed team penrite coming into zoggs bog and got passed by a pair of pigtales...can you believe it?  :-[she was on it! Then she disappeared into a big puddle and i managed to avoid the mud shower and then struggled back to Mc  Clures for a snag and a drink... i headed out for the final section but the sweeps had closed the gates so i was back on silver...top it off, it pissed rain on me all the way back to camp. what an epic. got a few minor aches and pains, (corked arse from that flying w) and i need a new radiator shroud, headlight and tailight....i love Harrow... sorry about the novel but i have a bit of time before the news...

I think it was Greg H on a KTM that said you will need a Crane  to get you out ....

[GMC]

Thanks must go once again to Steve Baker and his many trusty sidekicks for all the physical work to set up the course, the course is only what it is due to their tireless efforts.

Do I really have to join Facebook to see photos? What’s the world coming too?

[Tex]

It was another great weekend at Harrow. I can’t believe it was already a week ago.

The weekend started for me with a great night of catching up on Friday night at the Hermitage Hotel. I wasn’t planning to ride at all on Saturday as I had a few other things to do, but decided to go for a quick spin, which was fortunate as I discovered a problem with the bike.
 
Special thanks from me to Paul Kalika and Geoff Spurway who happily gave up their time on Saturday to help get my recalcitrant XT running properly. I crossed my fingers that everything would run a bit smoother the next day.

Sunday came with unexpected but welcome sunshine, and a flat rear tyre as I rolled out of the parc ferme on my minute. Straight back to the pits to put some air in, but it wasn’t long before I was back after the shorter loop for some more fettling.

Almost on the verge of putting the bike on the trailer and grabbing a (very) early beer I figured I’d just set off on the long loop and see what happens.

The XT actually decided to come (almost) good at exactly the same time and place as Frosty’s PE400 did the exact opposite! There were quite a few comments along the lines of “that didn’t sound good” as he overshot the gate where a few riders were congregating and the engine suddenly stopped. Hope you get it sorted mate.

Later I hooked up with Alex and Jacko at the fuel dump and we stuck together for the rest of the day, enjoying the ride. There were a few adventures along the way, but I didn’t fall off or get bogged once, so after a frustrating start it turned into a great day on a sublime course with like-minded riding buds.

Thanks to everyone who made it happen. Bring on the 10th  edition next year!

Tex

[80-85 husky]

i refuse to join sookbook as well geoff it is a nice 1st world problem to have i rekon
thats where it was..(the husky) thanx again to the 3 Mr Atlas sweeps who hoiked it out with a strap and good ol muscle power

one of the catches of starting last is there is no baskets (in any numbers) to help you

the pain has gone now so its just another Harrow adventure

[Tex]

Tex

[Ekka]

I too refuse to sign up to f@#kbook was hoping for some more photos because of injury forced me away from the event this year

[oz555ktm]

Set up tuesday out on the Loop Coffee and a Sandwich




The steel bridge was a team effort see above team  just to get it pauls From .the 2 wooden was up to Duncan W and me
Rob S made the sign Ship Creek but last year this spot was a Stit of a place everyone got stuck even Me
 





this was Lockeys fram Got a bit boggy for the last rider
 







Camp check the flags that Kawasaki's one not working
 




I think this year's Harrow was the Best so far the 130 km loop was Fun to ride it had some bits to test you and it did but all was doable ..
tolk a few newbies to harrow and they Love it one when for a swim  but Just the Harrow experience ..

[Tex]

Tex

[80-85 husky]

great pics tex

[kdx Geoff]

[80-85 husky]

great pic of the bog run there geoff...

[johnmcc]

Great stick figure there Geoff , perhaps we could gave a sign at that spot next year , maybe Franks Bank , or Husky Hole ??

[GMC]

Absolute classic 

We could use this in a club promo to remind all entrants to have ambulance cover...
in case 80-85 Husky runs into them

[kdx Geoff]

Great stick figure there Geoff , perhaps we could gave a sign at that spot next year , maybe Franks Bank , or Husky Hole ??

If you hit Franks bank you'll end up in the Husky hole.

'Husky hole' could be a generic term for any deep area you're unable to ride out of 

I can't take credit for the artwork though, that's how it arrived.

[80-85 husky]

you can see the slides my knees made as i willey E coyote'd down the bank.... Any thing would be better than the dodgy danger sign that was knee high in the hole....i wasnt robinson crusoe there but others wernt travelling at my pace and managed to get back onto the track. i was reaching for the ripcord pretty much as soon as i realised i was "off course"

it should have a sign next year ...Banko de Franco sounds good...le franc banke..the spot to stop...suddenly...pull ripcord here
give me a break, ive had a few beers