Ian and Jono's trip to the World Superbike Races at Phillip Island, Victoria

The road trip was planned, booked and paid for in October. You need to pay ahead to make things happen.

The opening round of the World Superbikes coincided with Jono having two weeks leave to move house from Kingaroy to Roma. Fortunately Narelle is a capable woman who didn't need him for that. He arrived on his new bike, ZX 1400, Wednesday evening, we packed my bike and headed off not so early on Thursday morning.

1100km mostly avoiding the highways, through Oberon to Goulburn, transport stage down the Hume to Gundagai, then through Tumut into the Snowy Mountains to Cooma. Bum fatigue was relieved by bike swapping on the ride from Cooma to Cann River in Victoria. The last 30km into Cann River is a joy of smooth 60kph sweepers, the best form of fatigue relief known to bikers.

We finished the day in transport mode to Sale where we had the only accommodation prebooked for the trip. Friday morning we hooked up with Jonos mate Rosie and his travelling companions for the run into Phillip Island. By lunchtime tents were up and bed rolls unrolled?, then we headed out to trackside for the first days practice sessions. The bikes racing were world superbikes, world supersports, Aust superbike and supersport, superstock and historical. Missed a class or two there. Friday night a cold front with very cold and strong winds drove the whole campsite to bed about 8.30pm. Saturday were more practice sessions for all classes and superpole for the superbikes.

To be continued.

Here is a slideshow of the trip:

Fraser George Colquhoun

Faser George Colquhoun, born 9.09pm on 9/10/08, grandson of Ian, son to Jono and Narelle. Weighed in at 8lb 7oz and 52cm after 6 hours of labour. Fraser arrived home in Kingaroy on Monday 13/10/08 with Mum and Dad and Grandma Sarah. On Wednesday I flew to tag team with Sarah who went back to work in Brisbane(reluctantly). Fraser went straight onto a management programme of feeding, pooing and sleeping. He has been sleeping 4 hours regularly since. He hasn't yet got the bit where he eats and poos in 30 minutes but Mum and Dad are working on it. The ultimate complimate, I got to have Fraser to myself on Friday morning while Jona and Narelle attended to messages. I had to leave them to cope alone this morning 19/10/08 to fly home, confident they will do better than manage.
I rang on Tuesday, the anxious Grandad, of course they are doing well, Fraser is sleeping 5 hours night and morning, Mum and Dad are healthy and happy at having tamed, for now, the beast.

Jono's visit

The boys are away at the Motorbike Grand Prix. Jamie, Ishbel and I collected Jono from the airport on Wednesday morning. We spent the afternoon at Roey and Pete's having a long lunch before heading home and dinner with Karen and Dan.

Robbie didn't come with us to the airport because he was starting his first job. He's got casual work for Eagle Boys Pizza (great job for him - pizza is Robbie's favourite!). He only did a couple of hours (we worried he'd been fired already when he called to get a lift home) but was quite happy. His uniform is a treat - bright pink! Will post photo as soon as I can get someone to help me nail him down to have it taken!

The fellas left for Victoria at 4 on Thursday morning. Ishbel and I didn't get up to see them off!!