Lock Up Your Grandmas

3 minute read
Daniel Williams

There’s about a dozen motorcycles parked by the side of the road, but it’s not menace that has ridden into Bulahdelah, 100 km north of Newcastle. These bikers have no interest in the liquids on offer in the bright-yellow Plough Inn. Rather, they sip tea and coffee in a sun-drenched park behind the library. And the color of some of the men’s hair: that isn’t blond or platinum, it’s gray. None of these blokes is younger than 45; a couple are over 70.

This group isn’t called anything. It does have a leader, 61-year-old Warren Bramble, who’s ignored calls to come up with a name. Once a group is called something, Bramble explains, people start talking about rules and fees. “That’s not what we’re about,” he says. “All we want to do is enjoy a common interest while touring our part of the country.”

They ride every Thursday around the area known as the Great Lakes, between six and 30 of them, on rides of up to 400 km. Today’s starters met at 9 a.m. in Taree. They’ve cruised south along the Pacific Highway to Bulahdelah; soon they’ll do an about-turn and ride to Forster to lunch at member John “Sparky” Rumley’s place, then disperse for the trip home.

Bramble’s theme is inclusiveness. Women are welcome, as are younger riders. So are those who may be embarrassed about the power or quality of their bike. “We don’t care what someone’s riding,” says Bramble, “whether it’s a 250-cc or a motor scooter.” Bramble happens to have a fine set of wheels—a Honda ST 1300—but there’s not a trace of pride about him. He taught himself to ride when he was 13 and spent most of his 25 years in the police force on motorcycle patrol in Sydney and the Hunter Valley. Riding’s in his blood: “It’s just being on the road.” The group leaves the highway sometimes to ride some bends and take in some scenery. “Some of us like to have a bit of a fang occasionally,” but they stop soon enough and wait for the stragglers.

Bramble fetches Mark Williams, at 45 the group’s young ‘un. A while ago, Williams’ employer let him go with a good payout, and he decided to live modestly and not work again. Separated from his wife and children, he lives alone in Cundle Flat—an hour’s ride west of Taree. For Williams, the rides with Bramble’s group these past two years have been a weekly highlight. It’s the camaraderie, he says, and the joy of riding, in his case atop a BMW 1200 GS. Williams has loaded a digital music player with the bands he loved as a teenager—Thin Lizzy, The Thunderbirds—and drinks in their sounds as he goes. “There hasn’t been a ride that hasn’t been fantastic.” Riding life’s highway toward the sunset, Bramble’s group is looking straight ahead.

More Must-Reads from TIME

Contact us at letters@time.com