Mirboo North                        Sunday 20th November, 2005

 

Honda CBR929

Ben Warden (leader)        

Trumph 955 Sprint

Ern Reeders

MV Augusta 750 Brutale                        

Dave Ward

Kawasaki ZX6R

Darryn Webster

Kawasaki ZX7R

Tim Walker

Kawasaki ZX12R

Paul Grosser

Honda CBR929

Ian Payne

Suzuki GSXR1000

Lyn Duncan

 

Heaps of TL’s and a couple of Hayabussa’s arrive at our pick up point in Berwick as we are readying ourselves for Ben’s very informative pre-ride talk.

 

The TL’s are off to the Spurs. We head off through Bunyip, Longwarry and Drouin and then work our way across to my favourite Warragul-Korumburra Road via Ellinbank. Down to Ranceby turning right to  Poowong and Nyora and then back into Loch for our first break. There has been no other traffic on the road though a few bike riders are taking advantage of the Loch café, making it quite a lengthy break for us. Dave heads home for work, Darryn following. Paul, who has been away overseas, departs also. At least they had a chance to have some fun. And I got a bit of a look at Darryn’s new bike.

 

Ian pulls up with a leg sticking out of the fairing belly-pan, with other remains on the blinker, mudguard and fairing. I was surprised that there was anything left, but a bird body was removed and respectfully put to rest.

 

The remaining five, Ern, Ben, Ian, Tim and I head north to Poowong, then right to Ranceby, Arawata and the now familiar 4 km of dirt. Right, then left onto Mardan road for 4 quick kms. Then another right for 4km up the hill and then left to Dumbalk, Dumbalk North and Mirboo. All pretty good stuff till suddenly road works gravel with no warning, a stretch where the grader had pulled all the red clay across the road while clearing the gutters. Just add a bit of moisture! On to Limonite, Boolara South and Boolarra. From Boolarra to Mirboo North is a gorgeous bit of road. We arrived for lunch very happy.

 

The general consensus was that Gippsland roads have greatly improved this year. But today has been slightly different with poorly signed road works and gravel strewn about.

 

After lunch we head out on the Mardan road onto the big sweepers. More road works gravel and Tim crashes. He sustains superficial wounds to his knuckles, elbow and knee, shredding his summer gloves and synthetic jacket. He looked somewhat pale, his first ever crash on a Club ride. The bike ground away the left hand fairing, axle nut and handlebar and came to rest in the middle of the road. Front wheel lockup due to gravel. The engine was unable to be started, electrics missing, so we pushed the bike up a steep driveway and left it at a farm house. Ben was steering, Ian and me at the back, which left me gasping for breath. Ian credits his fitness to his pushbike riding; Ben probably wasn’t even pushing. (Cripes, it felt like I was pushing the bike AND pulling you two along! …Ed.)

 

Tim, slightly grazed, visor completely grazed, is pillioned home by Ben. Then Ben drives them both back in Tim’s WRX with trailer and German Shepherd pup. Ben home by 9 pm after a 770 km day.

 

Meanwhile Ben has handed me a map and I thought that put me in charge. Ern, Ian and I are soon on our way back to Mirboo North, Thorpedale and Trafalgar. We refuel and Ian heads back home through Ellinbank and Lardener.  Now it’s down to Ern and me. On through Willow Grove and beautiful Hill End. As we roll through Noojee there are about 15 bikes congregated outside the takeaway.

 

Ern and I are enjoying ourselves, that’s for sure. We have a break and chat in Yarra Junction (by the way that place suck for stopping now). The bikes that we saw in Noojee came through. It was the Hangmore Club, one of the riders stopping to have a chat while the rest filter through.

 

Ern and I head in the same direction: Healesville, Yarra Glen, Christmas Hills and Diamond Creek. I wave goodbye on the Ring road. Thanks fellas.

                                                                                                                                                    Lyn Duncan