XT595 Les Leahy (leader) CBR929RR Ben Warden

XL250 Degree Mick Barnes XJ900 Ian and Sherry Handforth

TL1000S Michael James (1^st ride) ZZR250 Ric Brabin

CBR919RR Ian Payne R1150GS Jack Youdan (rear)

The weather forecast was a shocker - cold, wet, windy. Luckily it was only cold and windy for the day. Alas other potential ridsers were not to know that and hence expected numbers were down a little. Nevertheless I was determined to get out on a ride, having missed the l;ast three rides while travelling around the centre of Australia, as far as Alice Springs with Julie in the Hyundai.

It was cold and bleak at Whittlesea. Les outlined the day's activities, Jack was appointed rear rider and we were away. Heading south back towards the City surprised me but we soon turned right onto Grants Road and headed west to Epping Rd. Heading north we turned left at the minor, one before our normal Wallan turnoff, and soon found ourselves in Beveridge. A couple of kilometres up the Hume Freeway saw us taking the Wallan exit. On to Darraweit Guim and Romsey we made our first stop at the bakery/coffee shop. If you thought it was cold at Whittlesea, it was absolutely freezing at Romsey, though the sun was struggling to break through the solid greyness.

After a soothing pie and sauce Les distributed a list of instructions including 11 questions and a 1:100 000 high resolution map of the area with 11 locations highlighted in orange pen to everyone. The idea was to form two teams, and then set about visiting each of the locations to answer the question. The instructions and questions and answers are as follows:

Team Memmbers to depart Romsey in a single direction. Team members to arrive back at Romsey together from a single direction. Answers to be presented on a single questionaire sheet.

1. For what is Dromkeen Homestead in Riddell's Creek reknowned for? It houses the Dromkeen Children's Literature Collection.
2. Pyalong's Church of England is named Church of the ….. Transfiguration
3. Mt Macedon's Memorial Cross has a 'Top of the Range' tea rooms and gallery. What hours are they open on Sunday's? 10am till 5 pm Saturday and Sunday
4. The home of which infamous early Australian is located in Beveridge? Ned Kelly
5. Who were the Mollisons? Pioneers.
6. What building material was used to construct the original class-room of the Darraweit Guim primary school? Bluestone.
7. What refuge 'category' does the Weekaway Holiday Camp indicate at its front gate? Fire.
8. The Heskett Primary School is registered by what number? 1004
9. How many platforms are there at the Clarkefield railway station? Two.
10. What is the only vehicle allowed to park outside the Willowmavin primary school?Book Mobile
11. How much does it cost for an adult and two children to vist the Barringo Wildlife Reserve? Adults $7, Children $4, total $15

Les picked the teams with Ian, Ric, Mick and Ben in one team and rest in the other, 4 persons per team. Each team was to develop their own strategy of finding the answers. Our team split up, each member assigned a few clues to get, and then return to the service station, before entering from one direction together. This proved a successful strategy. Leaving at about 11.45 am Ric was first back at 12.50 pm, Ben 12.55 pm, Mick 13.05 pm and Ian 13.20 pm. Ian had trouble finding the Mollisons Memorial, overshooting it on a number of occasions and doing an extra 20 km. But the effort paid off as the other team failed to find it at all. So, we were all back within half an hour of each other, having done in the vicinity of 75 km. Our total elapsed time was 107 minutes.

We each had stories to tell of the dramas we had encountered. I had volunteered for the Mt Macedon clue. It was foggy and windy and threatening snow with wet roads. I also found the Dromkeen Homestead, the Barringo Wildlife Reserve and Clarkefield Railway station. The Barringo Wildlife Reserve is nestled into the back of Mt Macedon and looked really good value for money if you have kids.

We sat down and had a leisurely lunch and awaited the arrival of the other team.

Given we had four bikes and the other team three bikes, it seemed as if they were being treated unfairly. So Les decided to increase their time in the ratio of 4/3. A week later I can't understand my scribblings but at the time they came in within 30 seconds of what we estimated was a fair time. It was as good as a draw. Alas, they failed to complete all questions. They couldn't find the Barringo Wildlife Reserve or Mollisons Memorial. Congratulations to the winners.

From Romsey we headed home. Thanks to Les for providing an entertaining day's ride. He certainly had put a lot of preparation into the trial and it paid off with everyone enjoying themselves. It was a shame that more people didn't take a risk with the weather and come on the ride. I certainly got more out of it than I expected and it has given me food for thought for future rides and/or family entertainment. And I went on two roads I have not been on before! It was also pleasant to use all these years of road riding experience for the benefit of the team, as well as offering a personal challenge to find the clues, widely separated, slightly obscure, in the fastest time possible. And we all love a race, even if it is with ourselves.