Eildon via Torbreck River (not) Sunday May 19^th, 2002

May in Melbourne, the month before winter, so the calendar says. But today is not looking like autumn at all with gales, rain, low temperatures and even snow putting in an appearance. Yarra Glen pick-up and the new look Greg (blondes have more fun no longer applies) waits on the faithful to gather. Ten-fifteen gone and only one taker who agrees that home looks the good option. Two Blades appear out of the gloom and now the ride is on, that NZ enthusiasm too strong to resist. When Derek rolls in demanding the rear rider role, it’s off to the first break at Marysville.

Riders and mounts: Greg Hales, Suzuki TL1000S, leader. Liz Oliver, Honda CBR918RR, Pete Wayermayr, Honda CBR929RR, Geoff Jones, Yamaha YZR1000R1, Derek Atkinson, Yamaha FZR 1000, rear rider.

On to the old road to Healesville, turning onto the Chum Creek road to Toolangi where the previous day’s storms have done some pruning of the overhanging trees and coated the road with leaves, sticks of all sizes, long slippery bits of bark and other mystery bits all waiting to steal what little bit of traction there was. Not only the normal wet road shiny patches to dodge but all this other debris as well. Reach the top and do it all again down the Myers Creek road to the Black Spur side of Healesville.

Although the roads were generally wet, the rain was only light and patchy, allowing some sections of road to dry. This allowed some application of torque as supplied by all the bikes’ near one litre engines, high gears doing the work, avoiding wheel spin as much as possible. Up the Spur to find the road clear; must be the density of four-wheel traffic sweeping the rubbish off. Not many bikes about this day. Then through to Narbethong, Saint Fillians, Marysville and the Bakery. Long morning tea is taken.

It’s very nice to sit inside on a day like this, chatting the chat, sipping the coffee and ignoring the weather. Greg does the leader thing and modifies the ride route to suit the conditions. Instead of the Torbreck River road we will tackle the Reefton Spur, go on to Warburton and finish at Yarra Glen. No objections heard.

Apart from a brace of R1's coming the other way there was nil traffic on the Reefton. As the rain had eased, Greg decided a run up Donna Buang might be fun. The higher we went, the wetter it got. At the top we were snowed on! A quick remount and back down to Warburton, fuel up and through Launching Place to Healesville and the new road to Yarra Glen.

Just under two hundred kilometres, no "incidents", despite the conditions. But I had a mother-of-a-headache as I droned home to Melton on the Ring Road; tensed up dreading the slides that never came, I guess. Must try to relax more.

Thanks Greg. We will do the Torbreck Road one day I'm sure. Rear riding done good, thanks Derek. And fancy having the Club Captain and Vice Captain to keep us in line. I love a bit of discipline in the morning.

Geoff Jones  (Yamaha R1)