This long weekend can only be described as an epic ride. A huge crash day 1 resulting in the air ambulance being employed to lift Ken to the Alfred Hospital where he was diagnosed with 3 broken vertebrae and a broken leg. His bike was comprehensively written off. I remember seeing a branch 8 foot up in the air swinging wildly back and forth at the end of a 400 metre straight. Then he must have fallen five or six metres down a very steep embankment. He was out of hospital five days later and into rehab. Enough of the gore.

The distances were of epic proportions: 560 km first day, 540 km the second, 700 km the third, and an easy 530 km on the last day making a total of 2300 km. But the distances were irrelevant (except for tyre wear) because we traveled fast and easily on some of the best roads in the world. It was a skilled group who appreciated riding sports bikes (Geoff’s BM was deemed an honourable sports bike for the duration) in their intended environment.

There were bikes everywhere. Wherever we stopped a bunch would ride by – and mainly older riders. It showed that we all had a long future in bikes because they were still out there doing it. It was a good feeling seeing so many other riders enjoying them selves.

The majority of mechanical woes we were able to fix or ride around: Rhys holed his radiator, fixed (probably) permanently with a bottle of Whynn’s Radiator Repair, almost a worthy addition to the first aid kit. Geoff’s BM injector linkage had lost a nut and stripped the thread. Ben had a spare nut and Rhys the mechanical aptitude. Peter and Trevor sorted out their tyre problems. Ben’s ZXR Ohlin’s rear shock lost oil after the dirt section near Tolme, the muffler cracked and his helmet visor screwed came out. All fixed, or ignored.

Thanks to everyone who came and made the trip the sensational ride it was. An epic.