Meredith Sunday 29^th August, 2004

Yamaha R1	Geoff Jones (Leader)	Harley Buell	Nigel Hellyer,
Honda CBR954	Paul Southwell	Honda VFR800	James Melford (2^nd)
Suzuki Bandit 1200	Ron Johnston	Suzuki GSXR 1000	Clifford Peters
Honda CBR 929	Ben Warden	Suzuki GSXR 750	Mathew Clarke
BMW R1150GS	Rob Langer	Suzuki Hayabusa	Wayne & Joanne Nimmo (Rear )

The big question this morning was, “What was the weather going to do? To rain or not?” All of Geoff’s rides that have Brisbane Ranges in the route, mean it’s going to pour. So Cliff and I decided on Dri-Rider gear instead of leathers; better to be dry than wet. Before we headed off to Shell Westgate, we did tyre pressure checks on both bikes.

On arrival I saw a lot of bikes and thought what a great turn out. But the thought was short lived because a group of Kawasaki owners were doing there own thing. Our group consisted of Nigel, Wayne and Joanne Nimmo - who I haven’t seen on a Club ride for a long time, Paul and good to see new rider, James on a VFR 800, on his second ride. Rob arrived on a new BMW1150GS with a 30 litre fuel tank. It’s a 2004 model and it had 600 km on it when he bought it.

Ben and Matthew turned up at the last minute. Matthew said that Mick Bosworth left at 6 am to go down the Great Ocean Road this morning, by himself. He had to be back at lunch time.

Geoff gathered everybody around, like some one who is going to feed some chooks, and told us where we are going and what to look out for (forces of the law).

As usual, I was last to leave as we head off over the Westgate and along the Princes Freeway. We turned at Kororoit Creek Road and went through the back of Melton. Somewhere along here there were some unusual looking buildings, well spaced, in a big paddock. Geoff later explained that the Defence Dept used the buildings to store ammunition. The buildings are bunker-like inside and evenly spaced apart, in case of an explosion, which would go up, not out. Geoff reckons the buildings have been there since WW1. They are slowly being demolished.

On to Exford where there was a large Motorsport Complex on our right. Rowsley, Yaloak Vale, and then our favourite piece of road, Mt Wallace. I think not. The road is getting worse, (bloody awful) but it was good to travel through some countryside that I haven’t been through for a long time. It’s great that Geoff takes us where others fear to ride.

At Durdidwarrah we passed by the Upper Stony Creek Reservoir as we rode through the Brisbane Ranges to Anakie Junction. Near Maude we passed these poor people driving near-new Porsches. There were three Cayenes, one a Turbo - they look like Daihatsu Sirions on steroids. There was a Carrera Coupe and five convertibles, and they weren’t going to the vicars for tea and scones.

On to Steiglitz and Meredith for the first stop. There was a bit of a hold up. Matthew holed his radiator back down the road, but was able to ride to Meredith, where many hands make light work. Ben was mixing this lumpy brown stuff up in a polystyrene cup, (didn’t look very appetising) but I didn’t think the radiator would mind. The mixture was put in the radiator and the engine was run. Sure enough there were no holes for the coolant to run out of, luckily for Matthew.

A few of us tucked into those Mrs Macs pies and washed them down with coffees or cold drinks. As for the weather, well you guessed it, it started to rain, a light shower. After 10 minutes, decision time. Would we continue or pull the pin? We soldiered as the clear skies were clear in the direction we were heading.

We rode around the Durdidwarrah twisties, then the long straights to Ballan, including past Fiskville where the CFA have a place to train firemen. From Greendale to Blackwood the road is rough in places and getting worse. You just have to take your time going through some of the corners. On to Trentham and Spring Hill via the Upper Coliban Reservoir, noting an ambulance coming the other way, bells and whistles clanging. We continued on to Kyneton where we had our second stop, at the Bakery, opposite the Council Chambers.

It was a welcome rest, everyone glad to be able to get something warm inside their tummies. We still hadn’t had any rain to speak of, but it was cool all the same. I mentioned to Geoff that for once there was no rain associated with his ride.

About 45 mins later we left for Lancefield, going past Nigel’s place of work. We travelled down Three Chain Road, which was a hoot, arriving at Lancefield to find Paul’s 954 had also sprung a leak in the radiator. The same chemical stuff was used to stop the leak.

Change of plan: we are going to Lancefield, Pyalong, Glenaroua, and Broadford, rather than heading directly back to Whittlesea. Not far out of Broadford we had passed a bike rider parked on the side of the road. I like the Broadford to Strath Creek road; you can go flat out. It’s a top road.

On to Strath Creek, Flowerdale and Kinglake West and no Geoff. A few quick words and Ben reckons he has gone to Whittlesea, so off we all go again. Geoff was waiting at Whittlesea. After a while Mick Hanlon pulled up. He had missed the start of the ride and ridden around all day trying to catch us. He did, but at the wrong end of the day, but it was good to see him.

I was having trouble changing gears throughout the day. The clutch master cylinder or maybe the slave cylinder has died. I will have to sort it out during the week.

Thanks, Geoff, for leading the ride. The weather was okay and there were no incidents, apart from two radiators with holes in them. I am not too sure how many kilometres the ride was, but Cliff and I did 450 km door to door.

Ron Johnston (Suzuki Bandit 1200)