Snake Valley – 8th  December 2002

 

Ben Warden,                Honda CBR929 (Leader)        John Scholes,               Yamaha XJR1300 (2nd ride)

Stuart Lens                   Suzuki GSF1200                      Mario Ibeas                  Yamaha R1

Andrew Symes Suzuki RF900                          Neville Maggs              Honda VTR 1000

Noel Fothergill  Suzuki Hayabusa (2nd ride)       Dianne Welsford           Honda CBR600

Maria Moryto               1200 Sporster (Harley) (1st ride – left at Meredith)

Christopher                  Magna 250 (not the ice-cream!) (1st ride – left at Meredith)

Mark Easterbrook        Ducati 750SS (very patient rear rider)

Martin Hastie                Honda CBR1100XX (joined at Meredith)

& Carmen de Bono     

12 bikes, 13 people                  Weather: you name it – we got it!

 

10.15 am – Westgate Servo to Meredith – 130 km

 

I haven’t been on many Club rides this year so I hopped on my bike and tried to remember where the key goes and pointed it in the general direction of the city!  I noticed the really keen kids already rocking up for Rumba at Colonial Stadium as I rode past it – wonder if the stretch limo I rode past on the way had anyone talented in it – nah, Rossi is overseas! 

 

I pulled up at Westgate and saw a group of bikes, none of which I recognised so thought another club was also meeting there.  After filling up and riding over I notice Ben with them – and discover it’s the Touring Club – is it THAT long since I’ve been on a Club ride?  What a lot of new faces!  Great to see.  After Ben retrieved a chunk of glass from my back tyre he gave the blurb on corner-marking etc and explained that Geoff couldn’t lead the ride today but had outlined the route to Ben who hoped he could do it justice. 

 

We headed off for about 20km down Geelong Road, behaving in case the weekend “photographers” were out.  Saw none.  We turned right at Werribee and had fun trying to corner-mark at a pretty busy left-hand bend, but the group was still tightly together which made life easy – everyone just sailed around it.  We then hit back roads so were able to pick up the pace a bit and headed past Anakie up to Meredith then did a big loop down to Lethbridge and back up to Meredith again. So far it had been a pleasant sunny ride – HOWEVER, while we filled up at Meredith we seemed to go from summer to winter.  I think Martin and Carmen brought it with them from Melbourne as they joined us here! 

 

It was about midday so some people had lunch here.  I don’t think anyone was in a real hurry to jump on their bikes in the rain.  I had to retrieve my helmet from being out near my bike with the visor open – I didn’t really want to wash my hair while riding the next leg!  I spoke to Neville about Canada, the Rockies, travelling etc – sigh!  Is it really 5 months since I returned?   Anyway, back to Victoria!  Before leaving Ben warned us of 2 km of “good quality” hard packed sand on the next leg – Maria and Chris decided against the gravel so left us here promising to meet us on a future ride and saying they had enjoyed it.  I offered to take them up the highway to Ballarat, but after giving it some thought Maria declined. Maybe the rain was also a deciding factor.

 

Approx. 12 pm – Meredith to Ballarat (100 km)

We finally hit the roads again, now quite wet. We were pretty lucky with the rain; it seemed to hold off for us.  It was a bit chilly though, and I noticed my right shoulder develop the feeling of a knife in it, something I unfortunately get quite a bit – so at this point I wasn’t really having a heap of fun.

 

We headed across to Rokewood, passing over the 2 km of sand without incident, true to Ben’s description it was in good condition.  I  was a little more nervous on a section of narrow twisty road with a lot of loose gravel on it.  At that point I seemed to have the whole Club behind me, so I waved them all by, so I could cruise along without pressure.  I noticed 3 bikes riding quite fast throughout the day  – Noel, Mario and  Andrew. 

 

Over to Linton and up around Snake Valley – some fantastic roads – nice sweeping corners and lovely countryside.  I don’t remember riding this area and really enjoyed doing some “new” roads for me.   The road was drying up and the group had spread out a little. The rear rider had been able to pick up his pace and everyone was having fun.  At one point I was corner-marking and saw a few bikes fly by – I recognised two as bikes that were filling up in town, but was sure some of ours were caught up with them.  Mario offered to give chase but Noel realised what had happened and did a U-ey. 

 

Approx 2 pm – Ballarat (lunch)

 

We had a late lunch in Ballarat – stopping on the outskirts at a little takeaway where there happened to be one spare table for us to sit at.  The day had changed yet again and summer was back with us. It wasn’t like the same day. Talk about Melbourne weather!  A coach pulled up right in front of us and we discussed coach versus train versus plane travel. Yes, believe it or not, we did not discuss tyres, suspension or heroics – maybe I HAD joined another Club’s ride!

 

Ballarat to Daylesford (60 km) to Diggers Rest (115 km)

 

More great winding roads from Ballarat north towards Creswick to Daylesford – unfortunately we didn’t stop there for a spa, but I guess petrol for the bikes was more crucial.  On this leg of the ride I wasn’t too impressed by an overtaking manoeuvre – I don’t believe bikes should overtake bikes that are overtaking other vehicles, so when a certain rider came over to ask who had put nails all over the road with one landing in his tyre I told him it was me getting him back for the overtaking manoeuvre.    I noticed the opposite kind of consideration though later when Mario and I both pulled out to overtake at the same time but Mario immediately dropped back and waved me ahead – thanks Mario, very considerate.

 

With all bikes topped up we headed across to Trentham, Blackwood and back down to Diggers Rest.  The countryside around Daylesford to Trentham is fantastic – sometimes the roads were a bit bumpy but they’re constantly winding around and again it’s beautiful countryside – one of my favourite areas.

 

The ride really kept tight in the afternoon.  I offered to take over rear rider duties from Ballarat but Mark mentioned it didn’t really make any difference after Meredith – everyone was riding together anyway.  

 

We finished up at Diggers Rest at close to 5pm after riding about  405 km.  It was a good ride, with no mishaps or incidents, a good steady pace by all and mostly lovely sunshine.  Thanks Ben for leading, thanks Geoff for mapping it out and thanks Mark for going rear rider.

 

Di Welsford (Honda CBR600)

 

 

Snake Valley Part II

Martin and Carmen on Bird 1 decided to do the Club ride to Ballarat without doing the Westgate Bridge and freeway. I rang Geoff Jones to confirm his first stop point and approximate time to join the ride. We left Abbotsford in sunshine at about the same time as we would normally leave to catch the ride and proceeded through the city down the back roads to Boundary Road. It rained for about 30 feet, just enough to wet the pants and make it a bit slippery.

From here we went through Werribee and out the straight boring road to Balliang. I say it was boring because there was an unmarked late model Commodore following me for most of the way. The time was ticking by and I was concerned we might not catch the ride at Meredith, so looking at the faithful Melways I tried for the shortest route through Rowsley and Glenmore. The scenery change from flat to hilly country and the twisty climb was interesting for me being the first time on what Ben later told me was the Club Hill Climb (no way I could do it in 50 seconds).

Turning off from Durdidwarrah  the rain came back and stayed to Meredith. We rolled into the BP servo to find the Club having a chat and coffees. Ben had taken over the ride as leader because Geoff’s wife was sick (hope she is feeling better). He told me that the ride had done two loops through Meredith to fill in time as we were running a little late (thanks Ben). After a short break the rain stopped and we were off again. Two riders dropped off from the ride and we joined; two off, two on, but only one bike.

Off through some flat sections into some very fast sweepers and narrow roads. I don’t know which is worse: (i) having a vehicle coming the other way moving over to let us pass but driving in the loose stones and chucking rocks at me or (ii) 4 wheel drives pulling a horse float not moving over at all and putting me in the rough stuff.

Did any one else see the LARGE eagle flying over us?

Got into Ballarat for a late lunch at the local bakery and watched the tourist bus fill the local KFC. Out of Ballarat to Daylesford for a splash of fuel then to Diggers Rest to finish off the day. Thanks again Ben for the waiting and the day. Hopefully we all enjoyed the ride.

Martin and Carmen (Honda  CBRXX1100)

p.s. Did you see the article in last week’s Drive re UK having the number plates with computer chips in them so they can track a vehicle if it is stolen? Really it means they can now track us for any reason!