Australia Day Weekend – Friday 24^th January, 2002

CBR929RR Ben Warden CBR929RR Darryl Chivers

ZX7R Tim Walker FZ1 Rob Langer

R1 Geoff Jones VTR1000 Dean von Schill

YZF1000 Renzo Cunico VFR750 Daniel Kosinski

These rides take a bit of planning, particularly accommodation wise. And this year was the biggest ever with as many as 20 people indicating they were coming. This posed a problem because the Walwa Pub only has eight rooms and really only sleeps about 11 people comfortably, and over three days of hard riding, you want to be comfortable. I sourced what I thought would be fabulous alternative accommodation at the Walwa Resort which had 16 cabins and 4 motel style rooms, most with air conditioning and very reasonably priced. Alas, this fell through at the last minute when they could not offer us accommodation for the full three days. So, Dave and Bron ended up quite happily in a Bed and Breakfast in Corryong, and Dave Moore, Neville Maggs and Darryn Webster were accommodated at the Cudgewa Hotel. Other options such as the Walwa Caravan Park and the Tintaldra pub were booked out – Australia Day Weekend. Four people dropped out at the last minute.

At 2.30 pm the above contingent met at Yarck for the trip to Walwa. It was hot and humid. I was looking forward to the mountains and the cool. I was surprised and relieved to see Danny and Renzo and glad they made the effort. We droned up the highway to Mansfield for fuel at a steady pace. Then into the twisties and the very pleasant high country on our way to Whitfield. The road is all bitumen now and saves quite a bit of time. It seemed quite narrow with lots of armco barriers. (Strangely this road seemed quite wide on the way back, having got used to the Snowy Mountains narrow twisty roads up around Cabramurra.) Now if only they would make the loop across to Myrtleford.

We did the hard yards up to Moyu, Oxley, Milawa and Myrtleford for more fuel. I had a play at replacing my tail-light. Alas, it is not the usual bayonet type but rather the modern giant instrument all glass push in type. Rob Langer also nipped down to the local bike shop to source a helmet visor screw at no charge. He was mightily impressed.

Down to Ovens and across the Happy Valley road to Dederang, putting a smiles on a few dials, a taste of things to come. Across to the Gundowring road for the 60 km stretch to Tallangatta, picking up the serious road works and the water truck making life very slippery. A couple of us threw out a foot to catch the front end. I took the high path which eventually became blocked by signage. Tim followed. We both were forced to ride dirt track style over the “edge”, Tim apparently providing an entertaining moment. (Note: Pete and Liz came the same way that night and had no trouble at all. Yet on the way home on Monday, same road, had a great deal of excitement! Go figure.)

At Tallangatta we fueled up again for the final 90 km to Walwa across the Granya Gap and around the Murray River Road. Awesome, spectacular, sensational. Light perfect, the sun behind us, a cool drink in front of us, tyres in pristine condition, riders fresh and keen. Magic.

Tea consisted of the usual country massive meals. Wayne Grant (ZX900) arrived safely later in the evening with his bike on the trailer. I waited up for Pete Weyermayr (CBR929RR) and Liz Oliver (CBR919RR) to arrive, having ridden up after work. They now have a better appreciation of why it is not ideal riding at night. The wombat made sure of that!

Dave Ward (996 SPS) and Bronwyn Manifold (Monster 750) did their stuff, bikes in the van, arriving late. Dave Moore (R6) and Darryn Webster (TL1000R) trailered their bikes up to Cudgewa as did Neville Maggs (VTR1000SP). The deal was all to meet at Tintaldra, Saturday morning, 9.30 am. Top day.

Ben Warden (Honda CBR929RR)