Armidale Rally Report 24-30 Mar 2025

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 Armidale Rally Report 

Day 1 

Sunday 23 March 2025

Departing 9am from 7Eleven Berowra there were 11 bikes. We took the old Hwy to arrive at Jerry’s for morning tea and meet up with another rider from the Central Coast. Now we had 12 bikes and 1 pillion. It rained all the way to Jerry’s. We were looking forward to a coffee, but we found Jerry’s closed. After a disappointing stop at Jerry’s, we rode straight through to Maccas Singleton for a light lunch then it was onto East Gresford, Dungog to the Bucketts Way Motel Gloucester. On arrival at the Bucketts Way Motel we caught up with more people joining our group. The Bucketts Way Motel is currently charging $120 single & $140 double. We all met up at the Roundabout Inn for drinks and dinner. We booked the function room for 20. Nothing stays the same. The menu for dinner and the food was good, better than the last time I was there on an overnighter with the Thursday Riders. 

 

Day 2 

Monday 24 March 

Breakfast at the Roadies Cafe Gloucester was an excellent choice. After breakfast we had 15 bikes, and two cars make our way up Thunderbolts Way to the Walcha Royal Café. We did stop at the Pioneer Lookout but there was nothing to see for the heavy fog over the valley. About midday we continued along the Thunderbolts Way and the New England Hwy to Armidale Showground to check into the weeklong Ulysses Rally. We collected our registration cards and then proceeded to the merchandise desk to pick up our merchandise that we purchased online when registering for the Rally such as shirts, patches, caps etc. Most Hills Branch members stayed at the Servies Motel next door to the Armidale Servies Club where our Saturday night dinner function would be held. The Servies motel accommodation was $180 per night or $1080 for 6 nights. The motel is 3 years old and very convenient to the Servies Club next door with an undercover walkway where you can have breakfast, lunch and dinner.

 

Day 3 Tuesday 25 March 

Still raining it was a day of rest and a look around town a visit to the Armidale Tourist Park to socialise with the Hills Branch Caravan and Mobile Home mob, lunch at the Showground with your choice of food vans. Dinner was again at the Servies Club where many Ulysses people from different branches congregated.

 

Day 4 Wednesday 26 March 

With perhaps a few showers we had 14 bikes and 2 cars leave Armidale for a ride to Inverell going via Bundara Road and Thunderbolts Way to Bundara for a rest stop. The ride continued onto the Historic Transport Museum in Inverell. The museum is one of the best I’ve seen. Lunch was at various cafes around town including one I’ve been to many times, Freckles Cafe. After lunch we stopped on the Copeton Dam Wall for our ride leader Noel Taylor to take a group photo then it was back to Armidale via Bundara. For most people it was back to the Servies Club for drinks and dinner.

 

Day 5 Thursday 27 March

We had time to visit the Showground Rally site to enjoy breakfast, coffee and check out the Traders stands and bump into some familiar faces. One interesting Stand was the National Motorcycle Insurance stand one that I didn’t know of before, but the rep said they have been around for 20 years, so it may be worth getting a quote if your bike is due for comprehensive motorcycle insurance. It was back to the Servies Club carpark for The Hills Branch Presidents ride to the Royal Hotel Guyra for lunch. The Hills Branch President Greg Wilson rode his Indian Springfield in difficult riding conditions, rain and muddy roadworks but managed to muster 57 members that arrived on bikes and in cars. The Royal Hotel in Guyra did an amazing job catering for so many people in a short space of time. The people of Guyra must have thought we were crazy riding motorbikes as the rain pelted down, but then Guyra locals are more than likely oblivious to rain, blizzards and snow. The plan was to arrive back in Armidale for the show and shine in the Armidale Mall but was moved to indoors at the Showground which I think was an afterthought that not many were aware of.  Later, we were informed of the inevitable that the annual rally Saturday morning Grand Parade was cancelled due to the weather.

 

Day 6 Friday 28 March 

It would be suffice to say that the Armidale Rally was a wash out. The Armidale Branch organised rides for each day of the rally however due to heavy rain most people were satisfied to spend the day inside or do a guided bus tour of Armidale that left morning and afternoon from the Visitors Centre.

 

Day 7 Saturday 29 March 

Because of the persistent rain and the Grand Parade being cancelled everyone had plenty of time on their hands. The AGM was held at the Armidale City Bowling Club. The doors open at 12.00pm and closed at 1.00pm when the meeting commenced. There were 930 Registrations for the Rally, and 352 members attend the AGM including the Hills Branch scrutineering team. The official Rally dinner was held at the Armidale Servies Club. 500 members attended the official dinner, and a live band entertained the party goers to late in the night.

 

Day 8 Sunday 30 March 

The Rally officially finished on Sunday and people made their way home, some leaving earlier during the week because of the prevailing wet weather. It was extremely disappointing particularly for the Armidale Branch hosting this special event. It takes years to organise only to be marred by an extreme weather event working its way down from North Queensland, evidently the worst floods in a half a century. Despite the bad weather I think most of us had a great time. The Rally’s for me and Armidale this year was not just about riding, it was the socialising, the entertainment and the great restaurants that Armidale has to offer.

 

For further information on the Rally see the Minutes of the AGM when circulated. However, I can report that the 2026 Rally will be held in Nambour, Queensland and the 2027 Rally will be held in Bathurst, Mount Panorama. Whoopee!

 

Happy days

Dave Sipple

#53178

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