Lavers Hill via GOR 16^th September 2001

Ray Walker, GSXR 600 (leader)	Greg Hales, TL1000S
Craig Morley, CBR929RR	Ron Johnston, Bandit 1200
Lee O’Mahoney, GPZ500S	Stuart Lens, Bandit 1200
Bradley Cain, TL1000S	Michael James, TL1000S (2^ndride)
Paul Russell, TL1000R (1^st ride)	Matt Binns, CBR250 RR (1^stride)
Andrew Symes, RF900	Chris Landmans, FZ750 (1^stride)
Dean Von Schill, VTR 1000 (2^ndride)	Dianne Welsford CBR 600 (Rear Rider)

What a glorious day! I thought there would be a big turn out, but when I arrived at the West Gate Servo, only Ray was there. But there were about 20 or more Ulysses club riders. I was filling up my bike and Ray came out of the Servo building and asked, “Was I going with the Ulysses Club? I said “No I wasn’t and that I was going with the Touring Club because I hadn’t been out for a decent ride for weeks”. We waited for a while and a few more turned up, but not many. Paul Russell was waiting for some of his friends who didn’t turn up. Ray gave the usual spiel about corner marking for those who were new on the ride. Dianne volunteered rear riding duties and me for the write up.

We headed of over the West Gate Bridge and down the Princes Freeway to Little River, past the You Yangs to Lara, Corio, and Moorabool where we turned left into the Dogs Rocks Estate (interesting name) – a large outcrop of rocks on the hill. In the meantime, Craig had picked up two of his friends, Matt on the CBR 250 RR and Dean on the VTR 1000. I think young Matt has been hanging around Craig too long because his 250 didn’t get much wear on his front tyre either. From there, we carried on to Moriac, passed Lake Modewarre and Wurdiboluc Reservoir and then on to the Cape Otway Road (grouse road). Then we did a left turn onto the Winchelsea-Deans Marsh Road through Bambra and Deans Marsh where there was a detour on a dirt road (must have been replacing a bridge on the main road). We carried on to Lorne where we had our first stop. Fuel for bikes, food and drinks for people. I believe we did about 160 kms to here.

After our rest, Dianne wanted someone else to go rear rider to give her a break. I put my hand up so she could go and have a bit of a ride up there with the rest of them. We regrouped after Apollo Bay where it started to rain. It wasn’t too bad but enough to be annoying and it was blowing as well which made it worse. I had a slow ride to Lavers Hill. I had even got down to 50 kms an hour at one stage to let some of the others get ahead, but I caught them up quick enough. Lavers Hill finally arrived. It’s cold and it’s wet and I am glad to get off the bike and get something warm inside. Whilst having lunch the man who owns Balls Tuning arrived with a friend. A couple of our guys spoke to him. Dianne decided she would like to go rear rider again as she had a scare passing a bus (the back wheel broke loose on the wet road) so she decided it would be safer at the back.

Back to Apollo Bay for fuel. Then we turned left at Skenes Creek. Through to Forrest and on to Deans Marsh where we stopped and regrouped. Craig was a bit disappointed that I didn’t give chase back a bit on a long straight. I said I couldn’t be bothered and besides the wind was blowing a fair bit. Dianne found a bottle. A wheel lock had fallen off Lee’s bike rack but she couldn’t find the ockey strap so someone lent her one so she could put the lock back on the rack.

We headed off back through Bambra, Moriac, Moorabool and Corio to Lara where we stopped for fuel and something to eat and drink. From here we decided to go Altona and find our own way home from there. I headed home on the Western Ring Road followed by Bradley. W came across Dianne and Lee about half way along. Bradley kept going and I rode with Dianne and Lee until she turned at Greensborough. Got home tired. I think I had done nearly 500 kms for the day.

I would like to thank Ray for the day’s ride as it seems to get harder to find alternative roads to use to get to our destinations. I hope everybody enjoyed themselves. There were no incidents, just wind and rain. The roads were really good. Ron Johnston (Suzuki Bandit 1200)