Some time ago cannot remember the date there was a run organised for the group I ride with to a place out in the wheatbelt called Ardath.
We had been out there before its like in the middle of nowhere past Bilbarin which is about 25Klm's from Corrigin the next biggest town.
There used to be a siding and shop at Bilbarin and my Uncle lived on a farm there now all is gone including my Uncle (Dec)
Anyhow there were 2 cyclones forming up north a rather unusual event and I queried the run timetable and was assured by my mate the rain was not going to hit till late Sunday night.
At which point we would all be home dry by lunchtime Sunday, okay I said we are in and so booked the room and got ready the Friday night to move off Sat morn.
The reason I queried the weather is my wife has only been riding for about 2 years and has never ridden in heavy rain or rain at all really.
Its about 300-320 klms to Ardath from our place, Saturday was a blast wide open roads clear paddocks virtually no traffic my V4S Ducati got some leg stretching.
Had a ball at the Ardath pub new owners great atmosphere the local cricket team pulled in Sat night so the pub was fairly rocking we snuck off at about 10:30.
We heard a bit later "Come on Darren & Dale it is 1:00am we have to close the bar" yep the usual 2 up to hi jinks all good fun.
Well we got up at 06:30 and it was p*ssing down badly so my wife and I skipped breakfast geared up and headed off into what I say is the worst weather I have ever ridden in.
And after 47 years on the two wheeled machines that is saying something I was most worried for my wife and kept a close contact with her.
I lost my front end for a fraction coming off the centre hump into a flooded truck tyre channel which made the front end start to slide out but I caught it quickly enough.
But that was a bit of a heart starter, it rained so hard we lost our Sena's which is our radio comm's to each other this heightened my concern.
As I lead my wife and warn her of oncoming cars/trucks and road conditions that way she can rest easy and not get caught out by say a gravelly corner.
At one point we were down to 60 klm/hr in a 110 zone it was like being in a swimming pool we stopped at Narrogin catching another rider there who was drenched like we were, he was from our group left before us.
Stopped at Williams for fuel my wife wanted to have a break to which I replied no to as we would seize up and be reluctant to get back on the bikes.
After 3 3/4 hours we made it home, I had a leather jacket on so was was wet through it rained so hard my wet weather pants inside protective layer was destroyed.
My wife's Dri-Rider gear was soaked and that's what I also have but left it home due to my mate saying naah you'll be fine don't think it would have helped anyway.
We were so drenched we stripped off in the patio to our grundies and went inside leaving our gear outside whilst we showered and thawed out.
I should say we were both suffering from hypothermia my hands I doubted in the end if I'd been able to apply the front brake at all they were that frozen, my wife the same.
Got about 300ml of water out of each of my boots, it took the seat on my wifes Ducati 6 weeks to dry out enough so she could ride it.
If I'd have known my Ducati would have stayed home and the 1100XX Super blackbird would have come along and my Dri rider gear for what it would have been worth.
I no longer trust my mates weather forecasting abilities.
Pic of us prepping to leave Ardath my wife in the background thinking the same as me WTF!
