We are the Politicians: a group of motorcyclists who ride BMW motorcycles and who have - mainly - a shared interest in politics as well. We bring passion to both topics! Our group tends to be slanted conservative, but some of the group display other leanings. The debate is often robust; but the cut and thrust is directed at issues, not the person propounding the proposition; and thoroughly leavened with humour.
Saturday mornings over the years has usually found us gathered for coffee and conversation at a pavement cafe in Albert Park, often with maps out as the ideas for rides are discussed. The coronavirus lockdown of 2020 has been an enormous irritation. More recent Saturdays have seen us sitting in our homes in front of a screen as we log onto Zoom at 10.00am for a couple of hours. It worked remarkably well, but it is not the same. You cannot ride your motorcycle to a Zoom meeting.
Worse than that, the lock downs completely frustrated our attempts to organise a group ride for those of us who ride GS adventure bikes. The first trip, planned to take in Kangaroo Valley in NSW, had to be changed to exclude NSW due to the closure of the border; but even that ride came to naught as Melbourne was hit with a hard lock-down.
Now that we have been advised that Melburnians may once again travel to the regions, we have resuscitated the trip and revised the route (thanks David H1 and Greg) and on Monday 16 November, we initiate our Great Escape to Gippsland! We plan to hit the road for five days and four nights. Accommodation has been booked in Omeo and Marlo. We will be travelling in mainly forested, montane regions with as much gravel road as our organisers can find.
We welcome you along for the ride! Please feel free to comment on the blog.
But first, my fellow riders have been instructed to introduce themselves:
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GREG
Hi, my name is Greg.
I'm a retired Arborist, I've been riding bikes since my teens, starting on dirt bikes moving to road bikes and now find myself on Adventure bikes (the best of both worlds). I enjoy riding with this like minded group, (even though I'm the token Left wing "Greenie").
Current Bikes BMW F800GS, R1200GS.
(Greg is our mentor in all things related to gnarly off-road riding; and footy. He is as interested in our politics as we are in his footy. The universe is in equilibrium!)
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David H1
Happily married to my beautiful wife LiLi I am a not-so-long-ago refugee from the corporate space. My chief responsibilities these days revolve around school pickups, being the best dad I can to my 8 year old son Alexander and planning my next ride. My two adult children Matthew and Emma are off both navigating their own lives complete with challenges and opportunities.
My love of motorcycling (which started when I was 11years old on a Honda 90 farm bike) has morphed into Adventure riding with a focus on finding those still to be discovered dirt roads at the end of the blacktop.
My current steed is a BMW R1250GS with my Fat Boy (black of course) sitting at home collecting dust and spiderwebs.
(David is our most vociferous politician, and can be relied to WhatsApp pertinent news stories at all hours of the day. At night, strangely, he sleeps.)
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Saturday mornings over the years has usually found us gathered for coffee and conversation at a pavement cafe in Albert Park, often with maps out as the ideas for rides are discussed. The coronavirus lockdown of 2020 has been an enormous irritation. More recent Saturdays have seen us sitting in our homes in front of a screen as we log onto Zoom at 10.00am for a couple of hours. It worked remarkably well, but it is not the same. You cannot ride your motorcycle to a Zoom meeting.
Worse than that, the lock downs completely frustrated our attempts to organise a group ride for those of us who ride GS adventure bikes. The first trip, planned to take in Kangaroo Valley in NSW, had to be changed to exclude NSW due to the closure of the border; but even that ride came to naught as Melbourne was hit with a hard lock-down.
Now that we have been advised that Melburnians may once again travel to the regions, we have resuscitated the trip and revised the route (thanks David H1 and Greg) and on Monday 16 November, we initiate our Great Escape to Gippsland! We plan to hit the road for five days and four nights. Accommodation has been booked in Omeo and Marlo. We will be travelling in mainly forested, montane regions with as much gravel road as our organisers can find.
We welcome you along for the ride! Please feel free to comment on the blog.
But first, my fellow riders have been instructed to introduce themselves:
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
GREG
Hi, my name is Greg.
I'm a retired Arborist, I've been riding bikes since my teens, starting on dirt bikes moving to road bikes and now find myself on Adventure bikes (the best of both worlds). I enjoy riding with this like minded group, (even though I'm the token Left wing "Greenie").
Current Bikes BMW F800GS, R1200GS.
(Greg is our mentor in all things related to gnarly off-road riding; and footy. He is as interested in our politics as we are in his footy. The universe is in equilibrium!)
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
David H1
Happily married to my beautiful wife LiLi I am a not-so-long-ago refugee from the corporate space. My chief responsibilities these days revolve around school pickups, being the best dad I can to my 8 year old son Alexander and planning my next ride. My two adult children Matthew and Emma are off both navigating their own lives complete with challenges and opportunities.
My love of motorcycling (which started when I was 11years old on a Honda 90 farm bike) has morphed into Adventure riding with a focus on finding those still to be discovered dirt roads at the end of the blacktop.
My current steed is a BMW R1250GS with my Fat Boy (black of course) sitting at home collecting dust and spiderwebs.
(David is our most vociferous politician, and can be relied to WhatsApp pertinent news stories at all hours of the day. At night, strangely, he sleeps.)
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David H2 (Harro)
David is a retired consulting mechanical engineer who was in the building, Oil and Gas, Renewable Energy and Pharmaceutical manufacturing industries. He has worked around Australia and also on Sakhalin Island in Russia!
He is married to Rosemary and they have three children and seven grand children.
Like Duncan, he has also spent some time in the Army.
He became interested in motorcycling in his early teenage years. He recalls these as some of the happiest years of his life although academic results suffered as a result. He has owned many bikes but in the last fifteen years or so he has been a BMW aficionado. He currently rides an HP2.
(Harro has had so many significant rides on his BMW’s he really should start his own blog!)
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David is a retired consulting mechanical engineer who was in the building, Oil and Gas, Renewable Energy and Pharmaceutical manufacturing industries. He has worked around Australia and also on Sakhalin Island in Russia!
He is married to Rosemary and they have three children and seven grand children.
Like Duncan, he has also spent some time in the Army.
He became interested in motorcycling in his early teenage years. He recalls these as some of the happiest years of his life although academic results suffered as a result. He has owned many bikes but in the last fifteen years or so he has been a BMW aficionado. He currently rides an HP2.
(Harro has had so many significant rides on his BMW’s he really should start his own blog!)
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Steve
Steve have promised to write a few words....... But we know he is excited because he has fitted new tyres!
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Steve have promised to write a few words....... But we know he is excited because he has fitted new tyres!
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Alexandra, better known as Deb(orah)
Deborah is an aging Kiwi at the fag end of an uninspiring job in hospitality. Her work skills involved the ability to stand on concrete for 10 hours a day and soothe toddlers/surgeons. She is practicing for an interesting retirement wherein she will learn to fix her motorcycle properly and will no longer drop the little spanner thingies down inside the bike.
(Deb is really a very experienced anaesthetist. Far from putting us to sleep, she keeps us awake and laughing with her - often self-deprecating - wit and pithy observations on life.)
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Deborah is an aging Kiwi at the fag end of an uninspiring job in hospitality. Her work skills involved the ability to stand on concrete for 10 hours a day and soothe toddlers/surgeons. She is practicing for an interesting retirement wherein she will learn to fix her motorcycle properly and will no longer drop the little spanner thingies down inside the bike.
(Deb is really a very experienced anaesthetist. Far from putting us to sleep, she keeps us awake and laughing with her - often self-deprecating - wit and pithy observations on life.)
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Duncan
Duncan started riding when he was twelve. If he cleaned his older brother's Honda 50cc, he got to ride it to the gate and back. That bike got cleaned nearly every single day!
He has lost count of the number of bikes that have passed through his possession, but a life ambition was fulfilled when he purchased his first BMW in 1998. This led to a ride around the USA and then South Eastern Australia. Now that he is trying to retire, there should be time and opportunities for more riding. Regrettably, Liz is not as keen on long trips on motorcycles - actually, it turns out she never was - so leave-passes are carefully negotiated when required.
When not riding motorcycles, Duncan is a meek and mild retired banker with interests in tennis, hockey, bridge, wine, a few grandchildren and some volunteering. He is especially renowned for being remarkably accommodating of political opinions that differ from his own.
He currently owns a BMW F850GSA.
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Duncan started riding when he was twelve. If he cleaned his older brother's Honda 50cc, he got to ride it to the gate and back. That bike got cleaned nearly every single day!
He has lost count of the number of bikes that have passed through his possession, but a life ambition was fulfilled when he purchased his first BMW in 1998. This led to a ride around the USA and then South Eastern Australia. Now that he is trying to retire, there should be time and opportunities for more riding. Regrettably, Liz is not as keen on long trips on motorcycles - actually, it turns out she never was - so leave-passes are carefully negotiated when required.
When not riding motorcycles, Duncan is a meek and mild retired banker with interests in tennis, hockey, bridge, wine, a few grandchildren and some volunteering. He is especially renowned for being remarkably accommodating of political opinions that differ from his own.
He currently owns a BMW F850GSA.
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