Wonthaggi Sunday 31^st May 2009

John Rousseaux (leader)	Honda CBR1000	Tony Stegmar	Suzuki GSXR1300
Paul Southwell	Honda CBR1000	Stephane Bouchard (3^rd ride)	Suzuki GSXR750
Ian Payne (rear rider)	Honda CBR1000	Geoff Shugg	Suzuki DL650
Misho Zrakic	Honda CBR1000	Cliff Peters	Kawasaki ZX10
Dave Ward	Honda CBR1000	Marty Thompson	Kawasaki ZRX1200
Ron Johnston	Honda VFR800	Geoff Jones	Yamaha R1
Rob (1^st ride)	Honda VFR750	Pina Garasi	Yamaha R6
Dave Williams (3^rd ride)	Honda CBR600	Ray Croft (1^st ride)	KTM 950
Ha Du	Honda CBR600	Ken Goederee	Ducati Multistrada 1000
Jared Wade	Triumph 955i		19 bikes, 19 people

Leading: Not as Easy as it Looks

This was to be my first time leading a pack of crazy bike riders across the Gippsland Badlands, a role I succumbed to upon request of the Club, to do my bit. Sunday morning saw a fog descend upon the land to only lift into a glorious day for motorcycling. Nineteen riders turned up in the hope of the forecast holding true. I should have made some notes for the morning introduction and explanations of the ride, but winged it, leaving out a couple of crucial bits of information and requests, like, “Who’s going to do the write-up?” So I’m stuck with creating a spiel.

Tanks full, we kicked off the run, warming our engines down the freeway to Drouin via Tynong, where the riding really began. The first stretch was from Drouin to Loch through Poowong, a great little run before morning tea at Loch. I knew I had to keep a good pace because the roads travel well and of the 19 bikes that rocked up, I saw the faces associated with them and just knew a good pace would be on the cards. The coffee at Loch was good. So far everything is good.

The second stretch was from Loch to Inverloch, via Wonthaggi. Very nice roads, and with the weather bright, the views were picture perfect. Before we hit the Bass Highway, we turned left to ride past Archies Creek. Just after the turn I gassed up the CBR up the hill. Over the crest is a wandering right hand bend which had tightened up due to the Blade “getting away from me”. Man, that bike has some serious power. Luckily it handles well because I was all puckered up on the brakes trying to get it turned in. All good and Kate does the washing.

Wonthaggi has the turn off to Cape Patterson, and I missed it! Blast! Lucky for me the Club veterans realised it and pretty much saved the ride by marking the corner. Thanks guys. I returned moments later with some riders in tow and we continued down to the coastal road. Great corners, great views, glad we were all together to enjoy it and band together at Inverloch for lunch; Fish’n’Chips the order of the day.

Once lunch was done, we fuelled as a group before heading off to Korumburra. Ian, the Club President, needed to head off at this point relegating Ron on his gorgeous VFR800, to be the rear-rider.

The run out of Inverloch was nice and easy, finishing up with some high speed sweepers. Perfect to have lunch settle and warm-up the tyres for the Korumburra-Wonthaggi road. The first stretch to Korumburra was fast, exciting and dry. I’m sure everyone fanged it along here. The countryside was once again very picturesque, with bright green grasslands and the bluest sky. Great stuff.

A dog leg through Korumburra has us back on the gas through a notorious section of road with all the “High Risk” motorcycle signs. The road hadn’t quite dried, and under the shade of trees was still quite damp, and hard to differentiate with a tinted visor. I couldn’t keep up any sort of pace by this stage; I was all puckered out, and full of excuses. I’m sure at least half the ride passed me, full of beans and fists full of throttle. I had explained at the beginning of the ride that passing me was fine, but please wait at the next corner, and they did, all rolling along on the last sweeper just before the round-about into Warragul, where I re-took the lead and took them for a fine little loop back into Drouin.

We made good time, and we were in Drouin before 3 pm, so stopped for coffee and a chat. The conversation was all about bikes, naturally, with just a dash of chest beating. I withered into a corner with a nice hot coffee. We had a few new-comers on the ride and it was nice to hear them all itching to sign-up.

Leading a ride had all the elements I thought it would. I now know it requires a certain practice, road knowledge, and consistency. It’s harder than it appears. So I would like to take the opportunity to thank all club-ride leaders. You know who you are. Thanks. I hope everyone enjoyed the day. No incidents to report, other than a missed corner, and that the weather was just dandy.

John Rousseaux