Mt Baw Baw Sunday 21^st January, 2007

Cameron Stevens (Leader)	Yamaha FZ6	Paul Southwell	Honda CBR1000
Lyn Duncan	Suzuki GSXR1000	Ian Payne (Rear Rider)	Honda CBR1000
Dave Ward	Suzuki GSXR600	Ben Warden	Honda CBR954

The weather at our Berwick pickup looked very overcast. I noted that Cameron was on a loaner bike which he also had on the Friday Night Ride. He was also doing a Netrider ride on Saturday, so he will have clicked up quite an unusual amount of kilometers by the time it gets back to the shop.

Ian had a great route planned to get us through Gembrook to Gladysdale. I offered to rear ride since I’m obviously going to be the slowest. Yep, it was a really nice way he took us but I don’t know the roads. Cameron is planning on a repeat of this part of the ride when he leads his first ride next week.

Powelltown was a bit of a bummer; a suicidal dog ran under Ian’s front wheel, giving Ian’s wrists, neck and the rest a bad jolt, covering the radiator, fairing and his boots in shit. Children and parents came out of the house. Ben asked the boy if it was his dog. He said no, turned to his sister and said ‘Your dog’s dead’ in a Bart Simpson kinda way.

We continued on to Noojee for morning tea, passing the local 4WD police in the town limit, nice and quietly. (Nice and quietly? Paul and I figured he must have had his gun switched off …Ed.) Quite a few dirt bikers were fueling up.

I was definitely expecting the next section up Mt. Baw Baw to be wet from the rain we had the day before. It was only wet and really slippery on the odd, narrow runoff corner – mid-corner of course. Still enough to catch you out. Thankfully the 5 tonnes of leaf litter on the road was over anticipated.

Ian set the perfect pace for me. I had a wonderful ride up, thanks. We were amongst the clouds up the top which were moving enough to take in the spectacular view to the south. Finally, the jokes and one liners about the dog started flowing, providing everyone with a good laugh. Now for our descent back to Noojee for lunch and fuel.

A communication glitch after lunch saw us going straight down the highway through Neerim instead of the alternate side track through Neerim East. At Neerim South we turned right for Jindivick to break up at the Princess Freeway. A great fun day. Thanks Ian and everyone else.

Lyn Duncan