Strathbogie Sunday 14^th May, 2006 (Mothers Day)

Ron Johnston (leader)	Suzuki Bandit 1200	Ben Warden	Honda CBR929
Lyn Duncan	Suzuki GSXR1000	Paul Southwell	Honda CBR1000
Marty Thompson	Honda Hornet 900	Trevor Harris (rear rider)	Yamaha FJ1200

Leg 1: Whittlesea, Kinglake West, Flowerdale, Yea. 60 km

When I arrived through the drizzle at the Whittlesea meet point, Ben, Lyn, and Paul were already assembled, all trying to take shelter under the station’s awning. It was a pleasant 10 degrees as I passed the digital display on the Tulla so it couldn’t have been any more than that at Whittlesea. Brrrr. I had got away a little later than I had planned, and arrived, luckily, a minute or so after 10. Thankfully the weather had dictated a decided lack of excitement or enthusiasm to depart too quickly. Soon after Ron arrived and then Trevor on the venerable FJ1200 with almost as many kilometers on it as Ben’s CBR! Blimey!!

After a riders’ briefing and the usual formalities we departed at 10.15am for our morning tea stop being Yea. We turned right from the service station and rode towards the hill up to Kinglake West. It was raining consistently by this stage, and this, added with the clouds and fog, made for slow going. No one was in a desperate hurry to go too quickly at this point, everyone settling back into the chills of Kinglake West as we crested the rise.

Straight through Kinglake West and on towards Flowerdale and Junction Hill, which was all still saturated. A few of the more confident members had a little dip through the turns over Junction Hill, which was only damp rather than covered in water. There was a fair amount of mud on some of the turns which made for slippery going around the Hazeldene area, but apart from this, it was a clear run. From Junction Hill into Yea the road surface dried considerably allowing a little fun in some of the open sweepers, before the cool down run into Yea for morning tea.

During morning tea, it was time to do the usual things that the club is almost famous for. Tell lies, bench race, and hang shit on each other. Nothing has changed much in ten years! During morning tea, group consensus was that Ron’s new front Metzler Rennsport had no grooves left. But as those who know these tyres will tell you, they don’t have much from new. But boy do they grip, and Ron certainly demonstrated that for the remainder of the day, with the front hoop being tipped over a considerably looooong way in the wet at certain points without any issues.

Trevor’s venerable FJ1200, according to sources close to Trevor, is due to be retired from club runs, and apparently this was to be its last. Certainly Trevor demonstrated some interesting techniques while trying to keep the front and back wheels under control through some of the bumps and turns. At times it looked like he was attempting to wrestle a bag of eels! But the source suggests all it needs is an afternoon’s suspension reconditioning in the workshop and it will be like new again? I think Trevor has the right idea.

Leg 2: Yea, Highlands, Caveat, Gobur, Merton, Polly McQuinns Bridge, Euroa. 120 km

A short run out of Yea towards Seymour, and we turned right to Highlands. This road is a cracker, and one I can’t remember going on until Lyn took me on it a few rides back. I really enjoyed it. Although in the damp and drizzly conditions it was err...interesting at times.

It was along here that Ron’s bike started playing up in the mist, up over Highlands, the first time being where Murphy’s Law came into play. Those who know the road will know the corner. The road crests a hill, then drops away to reveal a long left tightening radius sweeper. All good except this is where the first symptoms of Ron’s ailing Bandit surfaced…A sticky throttle! Not only did it choose a tightening radius turn to stick, but also one with gravel strewn across almost it’s entirety! I am not sure how Ron managed it, but he gathered it all together and got back on with it straight away. A little gardening perhaps, but still upright, well done Ron. It was one tough turn to have that happen in!

From there we headed around to Polly McQuinns Bridge via Caveat, Gobur and Merton, or should I say what’s left of it! Ron took us up for a look anyway, just to see what they were doing to cause the bridge to be out, and what we found was interesting. The bridge has been totally demolished. Gone! Not a trace! They have commenced building a new one, but the bikes with fairings may have had a little trouble negotiating the fjord over the rocks below! I went down for a look on the Hornet MX bike, and mountain bikers were walking their bikes through about 6-8 inches of icy cold running water, approximately 4 meters in width. The rocks, however, were slippery and rather than risk drowning a bike, we U-turned and took an alternative route to Euroa for lunch.

We pulled into the Caltex Service station in Euroa to refuel, with instructions from Ron to head back to a café down the road once fuelled up. Ben, however, had a different idea, and was in ordering food before you could blink. It proved to be a wise decision, with the food delivered being some of the freshest and best value food I have had for ages. I was expecting the usual crappy servo food. What we got was super fresh and huge in portions.

Leg 3: Euroa, Merton, Molesworth, Alexandra, Acheron, Taggerty, Buxton, Marysville. 120 km

After lunch we headed back towards Merton. The roads were a little drier. The Molesworth road had a light covering of drizzle but was, as usual, very grippy. It was here that Paul disappeared from the radar into the distance! Man, I can’t wait till Honda decides to make a naked like mine with that motor!

From Alexandra on, the drizzle started and continued on pretty much unabated for the remainder of the journey. We stopped at Marysville for Paul and I to grab another coffee card and hollow leg filler for the trip back to Melbourne.

Leg 4: Marysville, Black Spur, Healesville. 30 km

After a quick coffee and a cake we rode on towards Narbethong and the Black Spur. It was raining lightly by this stage. We got a little lucky with traffic and made reasonably good time to Healesville. The whole of the Spur was covered in mist and fog, and the roads were saturated, with loads of spray coming off the tyres while leant over through the turns. Ron had to keep his bike cranked over constantly to ensure he used the bits of tyre with tread grooves!

Leg 5: Healesville, Yarra Glen, Christmas Hills, Kangaroo Ground, Diamond Creek … Home

The ride officially broke up in Healesville. However, Ben and I took the usual route home. A few kilometers along the road we caught up with Trevor and soon after Lynn. We then travelled together until Diamond Creek, where I, not being satisfied with enough wet twisty roads, took err… a more interesting route home. Arrived home at 4.40 pm just in time to see the start of the Moto GP from China!

Thanks to all for a great day’s ride despite the conditions. Thanks to Ron for doing such an outstanding job of leading, and proving to us all once again the value of doing a pre-ride. Thanks to Trevor for bringing it up the rear too.

About 350 kilometers official ride length or 500 door to door.

Marty Thompson