It’s time. Finally, the sun is shining and the wind has dropped. Warm enough for a 30-mile ride to our favourite café called the Ruffy General Store. Ruffy is a town… well, no, it can't be as it only has this restaurant (that used to be a shop), a fire station, and a primary school. That’s all. Nothing else. I detached the trickle battery charger, started the Subaru engine as easily as pie (no choke fitted, so I pumped the throttle six times), and allowed it to idle high with my throttle lock. Checked the airbag pressure on the rear swing arms. Opened the garage door, reverse it out and wait for my wife and Rosy to come out.... small dog….yep, she comes too.
Allow the engine to idle, and we secure Rosy in her homemade capsule. Deb takes up the passenger seat. It's a little harder to get into the seat due to the roof, but once you're there, it's pretty comfortable. I sit in the rider's seat, and the Subaru engine is rumbling away perfectly…and so it should after the money thrown at it to recondition all of the driveline. We hit the country roads. There is a winding, narrow road not far from our town of Strath bogie, with 200 population, and there are always animals crossing in front of us…today was no exception as a mid-size grey kangaroo hopped in front about 10 yards away – our mini Foxy went crazy, barking madly. But we are experienced, and whenever you see one kangaroo, there usually are others as they travel in groups.
Yep- there is a second roo, but as we have slowed to around 10mph, we are safe. A mile further, a wombat crosses and this sparks Rosy up again. Both roos and wombats make a mess of most cars if you collide with them. Rosy, however, is loving this action. Then we enjoy the curves, the big, wide 295/50R15 tires on the rear grip like no tomorrow, and the 600-16 Hot Rod tire up front does the same. I’m enjoying the run. I’d recently adjusted the auto trans to kick down just when you need it to. The VW automatic transmission is ancient but reliable and basic, offering less stress and lower costs. So one corner in particular, one I always look forward to approaching, comes up quickly…brake…brake more, full throttle… kicks down to 2nd gear and out go the rear tires ever so slightly for a predictable mini slide. A whack on the helmet from my wife is just as expected, haha.
We order a “plowman's plate”, a serving full of various slices of meat, antichokes, olives, and pickled onions, freshly baked bread accompanied by a small bowl of olive oil for dipping…yum. Rosy enjoys the salami. She also likes the froth from our cappuccino coffee. Diners leave their seats to browse around the trike, and hundreds of questions come. I like answering many sensible questions, but the ones like “how does it go” or “is it a VW” or “how much does it cost” can become draining. I don’t think they should know the cost- that’s private. One guy asked, and I noticed he smoked cigarettes, so my answer was- “7 years of cigars.”
Returning, we ride through our larger local town, Euroa. Rain begins to fall. On goes the single-windscreen wiper meant for a boat. Over the years, scratches have appeared on the acrylic screen. Eventually, polycarbonate material will replace it. We approach a hill just outside town on our way home. We slow down to observe an Echidna, a small anteater, very common in our part of the world. Rosy loves them and won't stop barking. The Echidna isn’t worried; it doesn’t have any predators, and even the Wedge-tailed eagle stands clear of this little fella.
We arrive home. Park the trike in the shed, connect the trickle charger, and the trike is put to sleep. I’ve had my fix for a while. Love it. Then my wife chastises me..... I forgot to allow her to ride it...next time, haha.
Allow the engine to idle, and we secure Rosy in her homemade capsule. Deb takes up the passenger seat. It's a little harder to get into the seat due to the roof, but once you're there, it's pretty comfortable. I sit in the rider's seat, and the Subaru engine is rumbling away perfectly…and so it should after the money thrown at it to recondition all of the driveline. We hit the country roads. There is a winding, narrow road not far from our town of Strath bogie, with 200 population, and there are always animals crossing in front of us…today was no exception as a mid-size grey kangaroo hopped in front about 10 yards away – our mini Foxy went crazy, barking madly. But we are experienced, and whenever you see one kangaroo, there usually are others as they travel in groups.
Yep- there is a second roo, but as we have slowed to around 10mph, we are safe. A mile further, a wombat crosses and this sparks Rosy up again. Both roos and wombats make a mess of most cars if you collide with them. Rosy, however, is loving this action. Then we enjoy the curves, the big, wide 295/50R15 tires on the rear grip like no tomorrow, and the 600-16 Hot Rod tire up front does the same. I’m enjoying the run. I’d recently adjusted the auto trans to kick down just when you need it to. The VW automatic transmission is ancient but reliable and basic, offering less stress and lower costs. So one corner in particular, one I always look forward to approaching, comes up quickly…brake…brake more, full throttle… kicks down to 2nd gear and out go the rear tires ever so slightly for a predictable mini slide. A whack on the helmet from my wife is just as expected, haha.
We order a “plowman's plate”, a serving full of various slices of meat, antichokes, olives, and pickled onions, freshly baked bread accompanied by a small bowl of olive oil for dipping…yum. Rosy enjoys the salami. She also likes the froth from our cappuccino coffee. Diners leave their seats to browse around the trike, and hundreds of questions come. I like answering many sensible questions, but the ones like “how does it go” or “is it a VW” or “how much does it cost” can become draining. I don’t think they should know the cost- that’s private. One guy asked, and I noticed he smoked cigarettes, so my answer was- “7 years of cigars.”
Returning, we ride through our larger local town, Euroa. Rain begins to fall. On goes the single-windscreen wiper meant for a boat. Over the years, scratches have appeared on the acrylic screen. Eventually, polycarbonate material will replace it. We approach a hill just outside town on our way home. We slow down to observe an Echidna, a small anteater, very common in our part of the world. Rosy loves them and won't stop barking. The Echidna isn’t worried; it doesn’t have any predators, and even the Wedge-tailed eagle stands clear of this little fella.
We arrive home. Park the trike in the shed, connect the trickle charger, and the trike is put to sleep. I’ve had my fix for a while. Love it. Then my wife chastises me..... I forgot to allow her to ride it...next time, haha.
