Warragul – Short Ride                           Sunday 10th November, 2002

 

Suzuki TL1000S          Greg Hales (leader)                  Honda CBR929RR     Ben Warden        

Yamaha R1                 Dave Ward                              Yamaha R1                  Enzo Cunico

BMW R1150GS          Rob / Kirsten (rear)                  Honda CBR250R         Kate Stewart     

Ducati 750SS               Mark Easterbrook                    Yamaha YZF1000       Trevor Harris    

Kawasaki ZX12           Neil Fuller (1st ride)                  Honda CBR919R         Darren (1st ride)

Suzuki TLR1000          Darren Morcomb                     Suzuki GSF1200         Ron Johnston      

Kawasaki GPx250       Paul Coomber (1st ride)            Suzuki GSXR750         Matt Clark

Honda CBR919           Barry Jacobson (1st ride)          Suzuki GSF1200          Stuart Lens          

Suzuki SV650              Janine Gilroy-Scott (1st ride)     Suzuki TLR1000          Corey Williams (1st ride)

 

We assembled outside the Original Café at Yarra Glen to listen to Greg’s pre-ride talk. At this stage we only had 11 bikes. It was to be a short ride down to Warragul via Powelltown for lunch and then back, much the same way, to break-up at Yarra Junction. That was the plan …Just as were leaving, Darren Morcomb, a former member of our Club, informed Rob that there were three of his mates at the top servo, and could he wait.

 

We headed for Healesville via the Old Healesville Road before picking up the Woori Yallock Road to Launching Place and Yarra Junction. Somewhere along here we picked up three more of Darren’s mates, or possibly other friends in the Eastern Suburbs Tourers, making a total of 7 additional bikes. It was very confusing. None of the seven, except Darren Morcomb, had been on a Club ride before, and hence had no idea of the corner marking system we employ, nor any idea of what was expected. For instance, they didn’t know who the leader or rear rider was.  From our point of view, we just wondered where all these strange bikes were heading, wondered why they kept clumping on “our” corners, and when we would, hopefully, lose them! Darren M. was unrecognizable through his tinted visor – and I didn’t realise it was him until someone else worked out what was going on and told me.

 

On to the Powelltown Road and it was becoming clear that the new riders were not used to riding in a group and, because they were all friends, tended to stop together and light up a cigarette at every opportunity. Rob was held up on nearly every corner, waiting for them to finish their cigarettes and  put their helmets back on.  The ride became disjointed with long delays at the front.

 

Nevertheless, the roads were in reasonably good condition and the weather was fine and warm (27 deg forecast). The roads were twisty, and I was on my bike having fun. Greg was hammering along at the front.  Pondering maps earlier in the week he wanted to do the “goat track” up from Noojee to Neerim Junction. After bouncing from bump to bump while attempting to ride at his usual speed, I am not so sure he will be that keen next time.

 

Two kilometers further down the highway, we turned left at Neerim and headed on the back roads towards Neerim South. We went past our usual switchback turnoff and I began to wonder. On my map this bit was shown as dirt and Tim Walker, the other frequent proponent of this route, always turned off at the previous intersection. Sitting behind Greg now, I expected the road to turn to dirt sooner or later. It didn’t! It was quite an interesting and well made road and has already been “re-used” on Tim’s Mt Baw Baw epic ride a couple of weeks later. Greg later admitted the discovery was a total fluke.

 

Dave Ward, Greg and I sat and waited at the roundabout in Neerim South for a long time. Hearing bikes passing by we looked up to see a few of the new riders heading in convoy for Warragul. It turned out that Darren (CBR919) had such a bald rear tyre that he was avoiding any more twisty roads than necessary.  (The other theory is that while at one of their regroups, the new riders waved rear rider Rob on, thinking that we were heading directly to Warragul and they would catch us up. Of course, we never go directly anywhere!) Darren in fact later left the ride due to the condition of his tyre, taking a friend for security. Of course, we had no idea what was going on, and just pondered the meaning of life and difficult first timers, when they sailed by, oblivious to us.

 

Eventually the remaining riders turned up and we made our way to Warragul and the top service station for fuel, after approximately 125 km or so. Paul on the 250 remarked that it was the longest ride he had ever done.

 

After refueling, we headed into town proper and set about having lunch. I managed to collect all the names and work out roughly what had happened. There was a degree of frustration felt by our members, so I gathered all the new riders together and explained the corner marking system, the first aid kit, and the general philosophy of the Club. They were all quite amenable, wanting to do the right thing, greatly enjoying the ride. It was only out of ignorance that they were stuffing up. Darren accepted responsibility for not informing his mates of what was expected.

 

After soaking up the glorious sunshine and wiling away a pleasant hour or so, we headed back to Yarra Junction, this time without incident. 

 

A round trip of 205 km for the day. Thanks Greg for leading and Rob for rear riding duties.

 

 

Ben Warden  (Honda CBR929RR)