Trafalgar via Hill End August 1^st, 2004

KTM950 Rob Langer (leader) Suzuki Bandit 1200 Ron Johnston

Honda CBR929 Ben Warden Buell 1200 Nigel Hellyer

Honda CBR929 Ian Payne (rear) Suzuki GSXR750 Damian Glynn (3^rd ride)

Honda CBR954 Rob Jones Suzuki GSXR750 Matt Clark

Honda VTR1000 Bill Wee Yamaha R1 Geoff Jones

Honda CBR929 Greg Hales BMW R1150GS Andrew Bruce-Smith

Kawasaki ZX12R Paul Grosser & Kathy Mann (1^st ride)

It was busier than Bourke Street at the Yarra Glen service station complex opposite the Original Café with all the regulars rolling up with five minutes to spare. Checking the records I see that there hasn’t been 11 members on a ride since June! Of course the glorious 16 degrees, streaming sunshine and blue sky may have had something to do with it. Now congregating outside the café, the second I said “Membership Fees” I was deluged with fifty dollar bills, collecting $180 for the Club coffers. By the time I had collected the names and address of the new riders it was time for Rob to outline the day’s activities.

Ian took up the rear rider position, his neck and back giving him curry again.

The transition from three quarter empty tank to full to overflowing was immediately noticeable as I made a messy passing manoeuvre around Bill Wee on the Old Healesville Road, his bike all painted and back in action. My bike felt mushy, cold tyres and the fast oncoming car requiring a quick push of the bar, unsettling the bike.

On to Healesville where we encountered the back street markets with the front car using the middle of the road as his thinking space, blocking up all the cars and bikes behind. Onto the smooth bitumen of the Black Spur with clumps of cars and 4WDs stacked up behind slow moving snow buses. Nevertheless, once negotiated, swift progress was resumed.

At the Marysville turnoff I remembered that I had estimated that we would be near Powelltown at 10.45 am to meet a new rider, Phil James, on a red CBR1000F, coming from Jindivick. But not via this route we wouldn’t! I didn’t have Phil’s mobile number to notify him of the change of plans. Bugger.

It was only last week on Paul’s Reefton and Black Spur ride we traveled these same roads. But what a difference a week makes. Essentially the roads were dry, apart from the occasional damp patch in the permanent shade areas, both on the Black and Reefton. Today, the Reefton was in fine condition. It was cold, but the double layer of thermals kept all but the extremities nice and toasty. Heated handlebars would have been nice.

Rob came whizzing by on his new 954 as I traveled alone down the Reefton. I upped the pace a dash keeping him in sight until we caught Rob Langer, traveling in convoy for the last few kilometers, corner marking at the bottom. I was able to quiz Rob on his mates’ names who attended Dave Ward’s ride earlier in the month. Enjoying sunny Cairns at the time, and with about 8 first timers and no list of names, I needed to get it from the horse’s mouth. After providing said list, Rob noted that “Crazy” on the GSXR1100 crashed later in the day, heading down Mt Dandenong Rd, bumpy roadworks taking the front wheel from under him. Rider ok, bike amazingly rideable. Greg pulled up, declaring his absolute love of the road, grinning from ear to ear. Motorcycle Mecca. Soon enough Ian arrived.

While Ian and I headed for Warburton and morning tea we were flashed a couple of times. We didn’t see anything apart from a couple of ghosts, making for an anxious ride. I’d rather see the devil than be looking around every corner, at every car, in every bush, under every rock. Too much stress. Apparently there was a TOGgy car booking a car driver, but had vanished by the time Ian and I came through.

We regrouped at the Bakery after 110 km of “may not suit inexperienced riders” type riding and joined the slow queue for food. Given that I arrived at 11.45 and we were back on the bikes at 12.10, it was a relatively quick stop. Rob was on a mission, keeping a close eye on the clock.

I caught up with the new couple on the BM, Rob Langer having coerced them into coming for a ride a couple of days earlier. Andrew was certainly punting the BM along well, especially two-up. He was somewhat surprised at the general pace, especially comparing it to the BMW Club. It was pointed out that this was a fairly elite group, riding on their favourite roads, enjoying the best weather in weeks.

Just as we were leaving town I caught sight of a red and white CBR1000F. It had to be Phil, but no sign of him. After giving Ian a wave, I dismounted and dashed back to the bike and placed an itinerary card between the tank and seat. At least he’ll know he missed us, I figured.

I recaught the group and then it was onto the Powelltown Road, damp and dark. I followed Andrew on the his BM up the tight twisties for a while, and then pulled an embarrassing high speed pass followed by a high speed braking manoeuvre as the next tight left hander approached, back wheel waving gaily. It probably felt worse than it looked. I chastised myself thinking “that’s two dud overtaking moves” and to take it easy. The decision making process is certainly muddled after a late night of cards. Throw in a dodgy rear tyre, damp and gravelly conditions, and the odds start to mount up.

On through Noojee and the Baw Baw Road, powering up the hill, deciding to punish the back tyre in the corners, at least to get some value out of it. Then on to the Hill End road catching Ron near the end of the fun uphill section. Soon we caught Rob and followed him to the Hill End and the Trafalgar turnoff where we all corner marked and waited … and waited.

Bill Wee had crashed his VTR at the same corner as last time, 4 km east of Noojee at the start of the steep uphill section, so we were informed. Despite a delay after fishing the bike out of the bushes and collecting the bits (blinkers, mirrors) Bill was continuing on. Sure enough he arrived second to last and we made good time to Trafalgar for late lunch at the central, main street café. The sun was burning down, a glorious day. Service was slow again, though lively conversation eased the wait.

Bill didn’t have any tools, but being a Honda, my kit sufficed. We ended up loosening the forks at top and bottom triple clamps and aligning the front wheel with the handlebars as best we could. And I supplied a nylock nut to replace the one missing from his brake pivot. All of this took time and was warm work in multiple layers of thermals! Ron and I left Ian to accompany Bill.

Bill was instructed to head straight home via the Highway rather than risk another fall. He planned to head back to Warragul and Noojee to the crash site and attempt to find an expensive pair of sunglasses, lost in the fall, but forgotton about at the time. Ian was clearly suffering, not sure he was doing his body any favours by continuing, so decided to join Bill as far as Warragul, then continue on home. (It turned out Ian led Bill from Warragul to Rokeby to ensure Bill was on the right route. Talking to Bill Monday night, he failed to find his crash corner, let alone his glasses! Though he used up nearly a tank of fuel riding up and down the road, finally departing at close to 4.30 pm, about the time the rest of us were coming through.)

Geoff took up the vacant rear ridng position. It was clear that Ron and I wouldn’t have Bills twisted forks back aligned before everyone had fuelled up and headed off. So I produced a map for Rob to identify the route he would take and we would play catch up.

Ron fuelled up while I packed up. Then we made swift progress to Mirboo North, the bike taking $17.00 at 104 cents per litre, the Iraq war (occupation?) pushing oil prices to their highest in 20 years.

A bit of a jiggle then on to the Marden Road heading for Leongatha. There was almost no wind, or it was fluky. At various times I determined it was coming from either the south, or ten minutes later, from the north, and back again. Watch out for the horrendous series of potholes mid corner early on, then clear sailing all the way to the Arawata dirt section which was quite dusty. I stopped for a quick visor clean and chain lube. Then back into it. The narrow road on the other side is chopping up and has lots of gravel patches and loose stones, the back end feeling very vague.

Next the magnificent Korumburra Warragul Rd. We were hot the heels of the main group but had given them too much head start. We eventually rolled into Warragul to find only Rob and Andrew, the rest up the hill fuelling up. Rob said he had been there barely a minute.

I quaffed a couple of emergency museli bars and a swig of water and we set off again, Geoff and I catching the lights and losing touch with the main group. Five or 6 km later we were flashed again, but again saw nothing, though we did turn left at Neerin Junction, by-passing the Piedmont intersection. Paul and Damian had taken the highway option at Warragul.

Onto the Powelltown sweepers, Matt in tow, rear tyre “talking” a bit, Rob Jones swishing by. I followed for a while before wet and very slippery conditions just before the start of the tight twisties saw loss of confidence until surface dried and feel returned. I even thought I may have had a puncture. Checking the log indicates over 9,000 winter kilometers out of the new Avon Azaro, the best tyre life yet, and certainly better than the normal 3.5 to 4K during summer.

Back on track and caught up to Nigel and eventually Rob J as we wound down into Yarra Junction for the last regroup. Doing the math shows 410 km from Yarra Glen, and we were not home yet, the sun getting ever more painful. Thanks and farewells bade, Geoff , Matt and I set off in convoy for the last stint across to Yarra Glen and the Christmas Hills Road, roads dry, conditions fast, home 5.45 pm after 550 km for the day.

A snooze in front of the TV, more footy upsets, and then four hours typing before much needed sleep! I’ll change that rear with the spare tomorrow night. Or not …

Ben Warden (Honda CBR929)