Lake Mountain Night Ride – Friday January 13th, 2006

 

Yamaha R1

Geoff Jones (Leader)

Honda CBR929

Simon Trubiano

Yamaha YZF1000R

Trevor Harris (Rear)

Suzuki GSX-R1000

Danny Hasnat

5 Bikes

5 People

Suzuki GSF1200

Ron Johnson

 

Yarra Glen start said the itinerary: 6:30pm to eat, 8:00pm to ride.  I arrived a few minutes to 8:00, wandered into the pub and found ten people finishing off their meal.  Ben can list who was there on my behalf.  Only three of them were coming up the mountain, so it was going to be one less bike than last year.  Around 8:15 we get mobile, with me volunteering to go rear rider.  Geoff proclaimed himself a little rusty and that we were welcome to pass him up the Black Spur if desired.

 

We took the usual route out to Healesville, with no Chum Creek / Myers Creek detour due to the time of day, just the Old Healesville Road and straight through town.  Geoff obviously was at the front, with Ron following.  Simon and I brought up the rear.  As we headed through the Spur I was thinking that it seemed lighter than last years ride, with a fair amount of late summer sunset to lighten the way.  Not too much traffic to contend with as Ron and Geoff took off, the road being nice and clear/clean. 

 

Lake Mountain turnoff, so it’s turn right and head up the Hill, still not fully dark.  We passed through a quiet Marysville with not many signs of life.  Even the bakery was deserted (not unexpected on a Friday night, I’ll admit).  Right at the roundabout and up the hill.  I’m happy following Simon on the CBR, and once again Geoff and Ron get ahead of us.  Reflective markers are good, and help us to keep up a good pace.  Left at the Lake Mountain turnoff, and we all stay relatively close for the next ten or so kilometres to the top.

 

Get to the top, park, chat.  Ron tells us about the latest Bandit adventures (fixed this, changed that, bloody thing, …).  The relative merits of our headlights were discussed, with me being the happiest.  Last year I replaced the standard 35/35 bulbs for a pair of 65/65 and that really made a Big Difference, especially on high beam. It’s darker up here than it was last year, as they don’t have the outside lights turned on at the two large buildings.  About five minutes later we hear another bike approaching.  I turn on my lights to show where we’ve parked, and Danny joins us.  It seems he got to the Yarra Glen pub about five minutes after we left, and has been trying to catch up – which he did.  An unexpected but pleasant result of his arrival was the bagful of homemade chocolate chip biscuits – which didn’t last too long.

 

Enough talk, it was time to head back down.  Ron and I were last away, but we managed to catch up to Simon a few k’s out of Marysville.  Danny follows me on the Marysville-Narbethong stretch, and later comments at the pace at which I was taking the sweepers – I had been holding back and waiting for him to pass me as the rear rider should be at the rear!  Back along the Spur, and break-up at Healesville.  Again there was almost no traffic.  One ‘advantage’ of riding this road at night is that the oncoming traffic can be considered to give advance notice of their presence due to being able to see their headlights or the light as they approach the corners.  More talk, and off home after a short ride for an early night.

 

I’m glad to report no wildlife was encountered; even the bugs seemed to be having the night off, leaving our visors relatively clean.  Thanks to Geoff for leading the night ride for another year.  More of you should show up and see what you’re missing!

 

 

Trevor Harris

 

 

Pub only: Julie Johnston, Ben and Julie Warden, Breht Emmerson and Libby O’Neil, Ian Payne, and Jacinta Thomas.