TÉNÉRÉ TRAGICS TRAIL MAIL:

TRAGIC PETER REPORTS IN

Hi all: I arrived home Wednesday evening after spending an extra day at Arkaroola and sight-seeing up the Murray River (looks great full of water) on the way home. Chatting with Doug in the workshop at Arkaroola on Sunday he again mentioned what a great group we were to have at the resort. So I think Clubby, Tania and all the rest of you Tragics are to be congratulated on the impression we left there.

Thanks again to all those who made the ride possible and helped me and the other Tragics who had mishaps or were new to adventure touring. It is good to see that our 'Fireies' are on the ball. Who took the pic and did not notice the remains of the after-burner? (sorry Morgan).

Thanks again to all of you Tragics for making it a memorable few days. I hope to do it all again next year.

And I need to pay a special thanks to whoever left the new fuel container on the back of my bike!

-- Peter Erickson, Ténéré Tragic # 51

Now, Pete, I can't help but feel you have glossed over a few salient facts in your report ... like the couple of hundred 'bonus' kilometres you got to do out of Hawker on Friday morning on a mission south to get a new rear tyre fitted to your bike? And then what about your little 'incident' late on Friday arvo on the gravel road across to Arkaroola when you smacked a rock at high speed, copped a front flat and then speared off the side of the road, through a drainage ditch and across the mulga for 100 metres ... all without hitting anything or laying it down? Amazing! It was a pleasure to then watch you swap out the front tube, before we finally cruised on to Arkaroola and made it there just before dark. And then, of course, the molten jerry can incident late on Saturday was another absolute pearler! How the bike didn't go up in flames will forever remain a mystery for the ages. Clearly the Ténéré gods were watching over us! Thanks for coming along and we'll catch you next year.

-- Clubby, Ténéré Tragic #1

TÉNÉRÉ TRAGICS TRAIL MAIL:

TÉNÉRÉ FIRST-TIMER MORGAN REPORTS IN

Hi Tania & Clubby: I just wanted to say a big thank-you to both of you for the huge effort you put into organising the Run to the Rocks. I'm 42 years of age and the old Ténéré that I rode is the first bike I've ever owned and only purchased it in December, just so that I could go on the ride with you guys. The only other 'big' ride that I had done before was a ride to Wyangala Dam on a borrowed bike.

I got so much out of the Tragics ride and enjoyed the company of everyone who attended and can now say that I am indeed an addict.

I am also grateful to have the likes of Steve Smith as a kind of 'mentor' when it comes to riding. I realise that being the age I am I will never have the skills of Clubby (!) or Steve (!), but I will certainly be watching them closely whenever I get the opportunity and sucking their brains for as much information as possible.

I realise that being the last person to register, you both had every opportunity to turn me away, but didn't and for that I can't thank-you enough.

Once again, thank-you for your efforts in organising the ride and I am happy to say that this is the start of a beautiful love affair. All the best and I will see you again soon no doubt.

-- Morgan, Ténéré Tragic # 52.

Unreal story, Morgan, just unreal!We always tear-up at a love story, and you just about had us reaching for the tissues ... at which point I looked down proudly at my Moto Cement T-shirt from AdventureMoto.com.au and decided it was time to HTFU! (That's Morgan in the right of this photo, with Big Pete the AdventureMoto.com.au support vehicle driver.) Thanks for coming along on the ride and we're absolutely rapt to know you pushed the edge and got through it all, especially the final few kilometres back into Arkaroola on Saturday, when your bike started playing up and you had to push it a couple of kays to the next downhill to get it to bump-start. That was another ripper yarn from the ride! We look forward to seeing you on next year's Tragics ride.

-- Clubby, Ténéré Tragic #1

TÉNÉRÉ TRAGICS TRAIL MAIL:

DUBBO DEALER DAVE IS HOME SAFE & SOUND

Hi Clubby & Tania: Well done guys, and thanks to all the sponsors and the Tragics themselves who were enthusiastic enough to get their entries in early. I'm used to riding heaps of kays on FJR1300s; now I have headed for the dirt and it still feels great. I'm extremely happy with the new Super T, it only needs a couple of mods to make it Supreme. Unlike some unlucky ones, I only have a couple of scrapes on my bashplate but a stronger one is coming.

Col and I returned via the dirt to Condobolin via Menindee, all up 3000km. Surprise, my Kendas are still road legal!

We have hundreds of photos of a lifetime adventure, so it was hard to choose only a few! To all the riders who participated and made it such a 'fun' ride, thanks for making it such. Time permitting I'll be there on the next one.

We have put a display in the shop of our two bikes 'as travelled' for a couple of weeks with credits to TRAIL ZONE and our sponsors. The local press are doing an article as well!

-- Dave Readford, Ténéré Tragic #21, Dubbo, NSW

Was great having you along on the Tragics ride, Dave. And as a Yamaha dealer, congrats on standing by the product you sell and putting it to good use out there in the real world. And while we're at it, we tip our Ténéré Tragics cap to Dave Wilson from Lithgow Bike Stop and Craig Hartley from Dalby Moto, as Yamaha dealers who also joined in on the Ténéré Tragics run. Both Dave and Craig also score bonus points for offering mechanical help when needed to a few fellow Tragics when we hit the rocks of the Flinders Ranges (and I do mean HIT the rocks!). Great to know you and Colin have your bikes on display in the shop -- if anyone is passing through Dubbo in the next couple of weeks, drop in at Readford Motorcycles and check out the 660 and 120 Ténérés sitting their contentedly waiting for their next big adventure ... bring it on!

-- Clubby, Ténéré Tragic #1

TÉNÉRÉ TRAGICS TRAIL MAIL:

NO MORE LEAKS FOR 'LUCKY GRAEME' ON THE WAY HOME

I just got home and want to say thanks again, Tania and Clubby, the Ténéré Tragics event was a credit to both of you and how you did it. I have never had such a great time with such a wonderful bunch of people.

And Clubby, my sump is still not leaking, thanks to Theo's putty and Dave's help -- thanks guys!

I will be keen to see where the next Ténéré Tragics ride is.

-- Graeme Bensley, Ténéré Tragic #10

You know, Graeme, I have to admit that the very moment you rolled up behind me as we regrouped at the tar road at Parachilna after rolling down the hills from Glass Gorge, I knew exactly what had happened when I saw that pool of oil under your sump. And I knew it would only end in one of two ways: someone would either MacGyver it and get you out of trouble, or you'd be stuck with a very expensive transport bill to get your 1200 back to somewhere that it could be worked on! So how good was it that Theo's metal putty and Dave's mechanical skills came through? That was awesome! And to think you've banged on another couple of thousand kays on the bike since the fix was made. A great advert for metal putty, for sure! And what about Lithgow Dave himself then holing the sump on his 1200 the next day, and then Crag Hartley punched a hole in his 1200's sump another day later on the way home. Some of you 1200 riders made quite a habit of it, huh? And hey, don't forget those other two Tragics who found your wallet on the side of the trail on the way into Arkaroola -- you are one lucky Tragic, for sure! Anyway, great to read you, too, enjoyed the Tragics ride. We'll see you at next year's event!

-- Clubby, Ténéré Tragic #1

TÉNÉRÉ TRAGICS TRAIL MAIL:

TRAGIC TUCKER REPORTS IN!

Hi Tania & Clubby: Thank-you for a wonderful weekend away in the spectacular Flinders Ranges. As a 'local' travelling up from Adelaide I take my hat off to all the other Tragics who covered huge distances to get there, I definitely felt as if I had had a decent ride arriving home Sunday evening and was thinking about all the lads who were still on the road.

I was chuffed to win the Best Presented First Generation 600/660 Tenere Award, and it really made the last six months spent in the shed every night seem all worth it. With only getting my bike back together two days before we left and only a 20km shakedown ride, I was hoping that the Tenere legend would smile upon me and be reliable -- it did and I had an incident-free weekend, with no get-offs, no mechanicals, no flats, nothing!

One of the best things about the weekend I would have to say was meeting all the other Tragics. I never realised how many of us were out there.

And the rock garden (or Road of Bones as it was affectionately called) ... what a section! Three kilometres x ten of FUN!

I am already planning next years trip !!

-- Michael Tucker aka Tux, Ténéré Tragic #3

Congratulations again on your award, Tux -- it was thoroughly deserved. And thanks a bundle for the photos: your bike looks every bit as good on camera as it did in the flesh. Great work and well done on a most impressive resto. We look forward to seeing you at next year's Ténéré Tragics ride ... and don't worry, it'll be good!

-- Clubby, Ténéré Tragic #1

TÉNÉRÉ TRAGICS TRAIL MAIL:

TRAGIC THEO REPORTS IN

Hi Clubby: Just wanted to say a really big THANK-YOU to you and Tania, as well as Steve (Wolfman) Smith and Big Pete from AdventureMoto.com.au and Sean from Yamaha and all the other sponsors of the Tenere Tragics ride 2011. You put together a really fantastic and unforgettable event!

Having never done any riding like this (multi-day, long kilometres), I was a bit apprehensive to begin with, but you made it seem all very possible and not difficult. There were a lot of fellow Tragics who also gave reassurance and a few words of support. It really did feel like a club, or more to the point, a brotherhood of like souls.

It's been a huge learning curve that has left a taste for adventure in my mind and heart that I think will be a part of me now forever.

I got home without much incident as I took the easy way (mostly bitumen) home. My rear tyre was near to smooth and I kinda started thinking of all the bad things that could happen, especially after watching a tyre change at Arkaroola performed by Dave from Lithgow Bike Stop on Steve's 660. Two of them trying to break the bead on a rear tyre with the LONG tyre irons and it was still tough! Whew, imagine me on my own? With my tyre changing expertise? No way!

I have attached a few photos of some of the things that happened on the ride and wanted to share them with fellow Tragics that may not have been there, or for those that were, they're a chance to remember and maybe add to the whole experience.

I can't wait to find out where next year's Tragics ride is going to be? But I know you won't say where that will be yet, so until next time, happy trails!

-- Theo Katotikidis, Ténéré Tragic #28

Great words, Theo, and thanks for your appreciation. You were the first Tragic I teamed up with, at Goulburn on the Getting There ride to the official Getting There Ride as we made our way across to Hillston with Sean from Yamaha last Tuesday. Right from the get-go you made it clear you were pretty green and new to the big wide world of adventure bike riding, but you definitely had the right attitude and were keen to dive in at the deep-end, so good on you! Now look at you a week later: all keen to get out there and practise your tyre changes and then fire up again for the next Tragics Run! Thanks a bundle for sharing your photos: we love the home-made rego plate in the final pic! Thanks again for joining in and we'll see you next year!

-- Clubby, Ténéré Tragic #1

TÉNÉRÉ TRAGICS TRAIL MAIL:

TRAGIC TROY REPORTS IN

Dear Clubby and Tania: Firstly, thanks so very much for the Run to the Rocks 2011 ride. Had a fantastic time, meeting lots of fellow Tragics, and the Flinders Ranges were spectacular. I had a good run home from Arkaroola, getting home about 6am Monday morning all safe and well.

I have sent through some pics that to me are all things Tenere!! You (Clubby) with Dave's 83 at the ruins north of Yunta. The first big dry crossing that caused a bit of carnage. Friday's lunch break at Chambers Gorge. Tenere's old and new at Arkaroola and finally me and my '09.

It was great to see so many people on the ride from all over the country, all united by a motorbike and your idea to hold this event.

I learnt a lot about the bike and the countryside of western NSW and the Flinders Ranges and now can't wait to get back up that way and maybe even Cameron Corner or Birdsville and maybe even a desert run one day.

Looking forward to finding out what could possibly next for the Tragics in 2012!

Once again, thanks to you and Tania and the TRAIL ZONE team.

-- Troy Mattson, Ténéré Tragic #31

Thanks for the email and your photos, Troy. I just love that pic in the centre ... "Tragic down! Tragic down!" I heard there was a little carnage back in the dry creek bed as we carved our way from Yunta to Holowilena, but it adds a whole new dimension to actually see photos of it. Look at all those pannier cases littering the ground -- awesome! I'm just stoked that all the boys at the back of the pack chewed down some Moto Cement and carried on, that's the Ténéré Spirit. See you next year mate, for sure.

-- Clubby, Ténéré Tragic #1