Ranges Hotel                   Sunday 12th October, 2003

 

Honda CBR929            Ben Warden (lead)             Honda CBR954                      Liz Oliver

Honda CBR929            Pete Weyermayr             Honda CBR929                      Gregory Hales

Honda CBR600            Kate Stewart                        Honda CBR600                      Pete Pondeljak        

KTM 950                    Rob Langer             Aprilia RSV1000                     Ken Wright and Louise (rear)

Honda VFR800            Bruce Saville             Honda CBR600                      Di Welsford

 

I arrived at Hallam a few minutes before the departure time of 10:15am to find only Ben present.  I guess he had to be there because he was filling in the lead for Ian who had family commitments. Ken and Louise arrived on that beautiful Aprilia, then Pete and Liz on her new 954, Rob rolled up at 10:20. We were about to leave when Ben received a phone call from Kate at 10:25.  Apparently Kate and Pete where running late and would miss the start, so the plan was to meet us outside the Packenham Race course.

 

We headed off down the Highway, probably the most boring part of any Club ride that I regularly attend.  At Packenham there was no sign of Kate and Pete so the ride continued. In fact I didn’t even notice where we were supposed to meet them (probably napping due to the monotony of the previous 50,60,70,80 kilometres.)

 

The roads that run parallel to the Highway through Nar Nar Goon, Garfield and Longwarry are just as boring, but finally we headed north to Labertouche, crossing the Princes Highway watching out for cars doing 100km/h or more, a right left jiggle over the old Princes Highway.

 

Ben, at an intersection hesitated, got off his bike, looked at the sign then decided to head left at the fork.  We did about 10 kms to Labertouche North to find the road turned to gravel.  We turned around and rode back to the fork and headed on to Jindivick.

 

I love it when I see the signs warning that you are in a “Motorcycle High Incident” area; this means there are some good roads ahead. Sure enough the road was nice and swervy, wide, tree lined with a few blind crests, the ones you hold your breath and watch the bike in front of you carefully to see which way it goes.

 

On to Neerim South, and around 15 km loop through Neerim East and back to Neerim. Then on to Noojee for our much needed toilet and morning tea break (I shouldn’t have had that coffee in the morning before I left home), 116 km so far.

 

After the break, we went off to Powelltown, probably one of my favorite roads.  It’s got the fast sweepers then the tight twisties as you head down the hill. Just before the twisty bits Liz motioned Pete to pass, so I to took the opportunity and spent the next 10 minutes chasing Pete and Ben down the hill, the three 929 Blades having a ball.

 

As we slowed down to enter Powelltown I noticed two yellow bikes on the side of the road It was Kate and Pete who had obviously traveled half way around Victoria looking to meet up with us.

 

We then did the quick bit down to Yarra Junction, then through Woori Yallock, Cockatoo to Gembrook, where we arrived at exactly 1:00pm, the advertised arrival time. This last 80km stint gave us a total of 196 km for the day.

 

Di was sitting out the front after just arriving herself.  She had had a sleep-in but thought she would join us for lunch. Later Bruce joined us as well.

 

The pub was quite full, and when we went to nab a table the waitress asked if we had a booking and told us that the table we were about to score was “reserved”.  Kindly though they lead us into what appeared to be a private dining room and set up a table to accommodate all of us in privacy.  I don’t know whether this was to keep the “nasty bikers” away from the rest of the patrons, but it was very pleasant having our own room so we could spread all of our riding gear around.

 

After lunch I was faced with my usual problem, that is, I had no idea where I was and therefore no idea how to get home.  I decided home must be north, so I simply rode north and when the roads took me what I thought was the wrong way I would turn north.  This was interesting because I discovered there are some great roads up in the Dandenongs, and I have to say, the trip home was a lot of fun as well.  Eventually I saw a sign that said “Lilydale” and headed in that direction.

 

The ride was relatively short. The boring part at the start was soon forgotten due to some very exiting roads and pleasant dining company.

 

Thanks to Ben for taking over the lead and Ken for rear riding.

 

For those of you who were fooled by the poor weather forecast (that I missed) or lured by the thought of Bathurst, you missed a fun day.

 

Gregory Hales Honda CBR929 (previously Suzuki TLS1000 R.I.P.)

 

P.S. I now love my Blade