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the 99 Hog National

  • I can admit it now, I was a Hog member for 15 years, not that there is anything wrong with HOG, I met some great people through the institution. But like all things it changes to suit its needs. Things changed a bit too much for me, and some peeps took it all a little too serious. 

    The Australia national HOG rally was poised to start down in Canberra on some weekend back in 99. Clarity of the month now escapes me. However i recall I didn't make it down till the saturday morning...Canberra our nations capital was about a 5 hour run down the guts of my home state...My little fella was amped and bouncing off the walls, as I had said he could go too. He was 10 yrs old.

    We left home on a crisp morning about 8am...and headed up our equivilent version of deals gap...which is about 15 km west of my place. Pete my son dressed similar to me even down to his associate badge on his cut..having been on the bike since he was little urchin had made him into a great pillion, so much so that when he got tired he would wedge himself between the sissy bar and my back and nod off. Which he did on long trips..regularly. We pulled into the outskirts of Canberra about 4 and half hours later. Rolled into the Car a tel the site for the rally. There were kids everywhere....and my son dissappeared into the throng as fast as he could. The beauty of HOG is that once you are there you don't have to do anything...and worrying about kids is a burden not many institutions can boast on. Your kids are totally safe within the enviroment. As everyone looks after everyone else. Especially the kids. a big plus was that all kids entertainment was free. My mates were already there and I had my room...and unloaded between numerous beers...Pete came back about 2 hours later and proceeded to tear up the room...much too the delight of my mates. At which point I had to take him in a headlock and settle him down...After a 10 minute time out...another mate took pity on him and took Pete for a stroll around the compound educating Pete as to what was what...Pete came back wide eyed and promised not to run amuck..so i let him scarper away with a few kids his own age...

    The Thunderun was scheduled for the next day...so i settled in to a steady afternoon of drinking and renewing old acquaintences from around the country. Meeting new people and generally doing what the old hoggies did..partying.

Comments

3 comments
  • alwayspms Well..... Did your boy ever squeal on you for partying?
  • Bitchy Dew who has been riding with Wooly from birth,2 weeks of age, now very illegal in our parts. Does that sleep thing also. Kids!!! (shaking my head at the thought of them)
  • Jonesy1340 I'm not finished i ran outa time today...