Reefton Sunday 26^nd April, 2009

Honda CBR1000	Misho Zrakic & Pina Garasi	Honda CBR600	Dennis Lindemann
Honda CBR1000	Dave Ward (rear)	Kawasaki ZRX1200	Marty Thompson
Honda CBR1000	Tim Emons (leader)		5 bikes, 6 people

With the forecast predicting rain, thunderstorms, hail and a top of 14 degrees in Melbourne, there was no question of heading out to Berwick before adding an extra layer under my leathers, impersonating Houdini getting my wet weather gear over them, and bringing my toasty winter gloves out after their Summer break. The sky was dark, but yesterday’s rain had stopped during the night and a wild wind had taken its place.

I arrived early, and was glad that I’d thrown a warm beanie in the bag today. Dennis arrived next – I think he was already shivering after not being able to locate one of his warm glove liners. An ageing big Kwaka pulled in – who else but Marty Thompson. Sure has been a while... As we were talking the talk we were joined by Misho and Pina, and Dave Ward.

I learnt later the Ben Warden and Darryl Lyons had forgotten the 9am start, and arrived at Berwick for a 10am departure, and followed us an hour or so behind. Also the start point had been changed to Berwick a couple of months earlier, but this still caught out Geoff Shugg and friend who both waited at Yarra Glen.

We departed a little late, but I figured we’d make good time given the small and experienced group. North through Harkaway, East on Boundary Road. A couple of nice sweepers here to warm things up. The tail end of the CBR gives a little wiggle as a reminder that I’ve got a new rear tyre that hasn’t been scrubbed in to the edges yet. Into Upper Beaconsfield, then North to Paternoster Road and across to Pakenham Upper. Left at the roundabout where I was briefly engaged in a game of chicken by a large group of “Big Grey Birds” that were happily sitting on the grass by the road only moments earlier.

Through Gembrook, and on towards Launching Place, exercising a gentle throttle hand on the shiny damp corners, quite a few of which were dry on the entry and wet on the exit. We bypassed Yarra Junction on a couple of back roads and rejoined the Warburton Hwy opposite the Sam Knott Hotel for the final stretch into Warburton and morning tea at the Three Sugars Cafe. The fine selection of pies were tempting, but I was saving my lunch allowance for Marysville, so just a coffee here. Much to the non-smokers disgust, they were out-numbered today 4-2, so we all endured the break at the tables outside in the icy wind.

The crackdown on motorcyclists in the Yarra ranges by the ‘force’ over the last couple of years has resulted in a nasty strain of “speedometer paranoia”, and I always find myself inflicted in this neck of the woods. You just need to make sure you look up from the speedo every now and again to check the road ahead... Once into the Reefton I relaxed a little and picked up the pace as much as the damp roads deemed sensible. We came across a lot of bark, sticks, leaf litter and the occasional whole tree to avoid, all results from the high winds the night before. Some sections of the road had been repaired after the fires, adding barely visible piles of gravel to the mix – try and dodge the bark, only to slide in the gravel! In the thick of the fire damage now, revealing the steep drop that you always knew was there, but didn’t appear so bad when it was concealed in undergrowth.

The road from Cambarville Junction still had plenty of debris, and as we climbed higher we saw what Pina first thought was ash sprinkled on the sides of the road. Further up it was obvious - not ash, but snow! First a little here and there, then we entered an eerie landscape of fresh white snow against the black, charred remains of eucalypts and tree ferns. Tyre marks in the snow on the road caused us to ease the pace and proceed gently. Down the other side of the mountain we had to squeeze under a huge tree that was blocking most of the road (that miraculously wasn’t there when Ben and Darryl came through an hour or so later).

The final downhill into Marysville reveals extensive views of the devastated township to the left, and once in the main street, there’s not much recognisable left at all. Somehow the corner bakery had survived, so we claimed a table inside for lunch. After the break, Dennis headed home to watch the footy, while the rest of us headed North via Buxton, past the now blackened Cathedral Range on the right, through Taggerty and left onto Whanregarwen Road. I’d been counting down the K’s to this stretch of road, and picked up the pace as soon as I left the Highway. The rest of the group followed suit, and made the most of the fast, open sweepers.

All too soon, we’d reached Molesworth and switched back into drone mode on the Highway to Yea for fuel, then South over Junction Hill. The road here was damp but still very grippy and, as always, an enjoyable run. We turned onto Break O Day Road and then the heavens opened up. I blasted along in the pouring rain with Misho in my mirrors, trying to pick good lines through the piles of mud and debris left behind from roadworks during the week. The downpour continued as we merged into traffic on the Melba Highway, finally easing as we approached Yarra Glen.

We took the Christmas Hills road, then Marty departed with a honk and a wave as we turned towards Warrandyte, Donvale (where once again I was attacked by angry birds – cockatoos this time), and through suburbia to Robert Langer’s house in Ashburton. On arrival we heard the news that Ben had been chasing the ride, and about Geoff waiting at the wrong start point. We hooked in to the generous feast that awaited, caught up with the many familiar faces and watched the race on TV.

No incidents, the weather wasn’t quite as bad as I’d expected, and a great social end to the ride made for an enjoyable day out. Thanks Dave for rear riding, and Robert for opening your house to us all. 340 km from Berwick to Ashburton.

Tim Emons

Email from Tim Emons 20/4: As for my mysterious issues on yesterdays ride – rear tyre lost pressure, down to around 20psi. Pumped up in Merton to high 40’s, looked for leak but couldn’t find one. Cameron noticed I was leaking coolant as well. A small puddle had formed below my radiator. I couldn’t find the source of that leak either. Temp was still ok, so I headed to Yea. Tyre hadn’t lost pressure at all, and no more coolant leaking. Continued to check both all the way home – no problems. I think there’s still one ride left in that tyre – to the shop...