Ride to Ricks Cafe

Paul Johnson - 2005 Suzuki GSX1400

PALMWOODS - 7TH JUNE 2020

IT WAS A CRISP START IN THE MORNING BY QUEENSLAND STANDARDS FOR OUR 9:00AM RENDEZVOUS AT RICKS CAFÉ, WHICH WAS ORIGINALLY GARAGE IN BY GONE DAYS AND IS NOW A TRENDY LICENCED BAR & CAFÉ THAT CATERS FOR BIKE AND CAR GROUPS AS WELL AS THE GENERAL PUBLIC.

This was the first weekend that Ricks had reopened since the Covid-19 lockdown and they were allowed up to 20 people per area with 5 areas available. Eighteen of us turned up and enjoyed a yarn, a coffee and some food for the hungry ones until we departed for a ride at about 10:30am. The original intention was to do a short 26 Kilometre route through the lovely windy roads in the hinterland as some of us had already completed a run up to Kin Kin and the Cootharaba area on the previous Wednesday. However most wanted to do a longer ride so we rode up Razorback Road to Montville and then south along the Range to Maleny, a distance of 23 Kilometres. Maleny was very busy after the reduction of the travel restrictions and after a crawl through town we rode a further 40 Kilometres north to Kenilworth where we stopped to regroup and for a couple of us to refuel. Kenilworth was also very busy and we decided it would take too long to get refreshments due to the amount of people allowed into the cafés etc. so we headed north again for another 31 Kilometres past Imbil and then east to a Café in Carters Ridge that is in a rural area that few people know about. After some food and refreshments we departed for home with most heading off in their relevant directions. In all I did about 170 Kilometres, with some no doubt doing a fair few more. It was a really pleasant sunny day of about 21 degrees, no rain and all of the bikes performing well with no breakdowns. I wish to thank all who attended for contributing to what was an excellent day.