Highlands Sunday 28^th March, 2009

Mark Welland	Honda CB1300	Cliff Peters	Kawasaki ZX10
Misho Zrakic	Honda CBR1000	Dave Ward	Kawasaki Z1000
Craig Morley	Honda VTR1000 SP	Damir Djikic (4^th ride)	Kawasaki Z750
Els Timmerman (2^nd ride)	Honda VTR1000	Damian Jones	Yamaha R1
Jeff Murdoch (1^st ride)	Honda CBR954	Geoff Jones (leader)	Yamaha R1
Ben Warden	Honda CBR954	Gary Buckland (2^nd ride)	Yamaha MT01
Pina Garasi (rear)	Honda CBR600	Raj Malhotfa (1^st ride)	Yamaha FZ1
Rod Merrett	BMW HP2 Sport	Ivan Radywonik	KTM 990
Dave Chisma	BMW F800ST	Jody Stalenberg (1^st ride)	Suzuki GSXR1000
Brien Armstrong	Suzuki GSXR750		19 people, 19 bikes

Quite a turn up with an interesting bike mix.

Ben did Corner Marking talk to the newer riders and then we set off through Whittlesea back streets to the Eden Park twisties and on to Wallan to pick up the Romsey road. This road dips and climbs with a flowing sort of corner experience. It is being widened in parts but has narrow sections with no centre line so oncoming cars have to move onto the gravel. Hopefully.

Cross the main road at Romsey and on towards Hesket watching for oncoming vehicles of interest. Past Hanging Rock on the right. Then turn north for a whoop-de-do road from Newham to the Three Chain Road for a “spirited” run into Lancefield for first break after 88 km.

I had mentioned fuel at Lancefield but I failed to fill up, a "senior moment" maybe. Craig departed here having recently been under the surgeon's knife and feeling a bit sore. (Appendicitis operation …Ed.) Some filled up and then we continued north to Pyalong, the road climbing most of the way through some interesting rock formations - if you had the time to look. On to the Pyalong Seymour road and some lights-in-my-mirror type running did not help my fuel consumption much at all. Through Glenaroua and into Seymour.

Waiting on corner markers at the Seymour garages I did think maybe it would be wise to fill up but not wanting to delay things, continued on. Some confusion on my part as to where the Highlands Road started resulted in a U turn and a helpful direction from Ben. Then onto the longest and most corner prone section of the ride. Highlands came and went as did Caveat. Out of the hills and nearly to Terip Terip when the R1 coughs and stops. Deja vu for me. I have run out leading, rear riding and just being in the ride. No more Honda CBR type fuel use.

The ride comes to a grinding halt and I do the beg thing with my siphon tube in hand. Dave offers his water bottle, Brien allows 6 x 660ml to be poured into the thirsty R1 and Raj also needs some fuel in his FZ1, supplied from Cliff's frugal ZX10 using Ben’s siphon and then we set off again. Some more fuel is taken at Yarck by some. I count down the kays to Alexandra where more fuel is taken. I replace Brien's fuel, Dave's water and then we move on to the Rotunda for lunch.

Some action on the new bike front from Pina who had had enough of the Yamaha R6 love/hate thing and has done the sensible thing: brand new Honda CBR600RR in black. May have been a frustrating day for Pina as I hit on her to do the rear riding thinking that new bikes require running in; another "seniors" concept maybe?

Also back from featuring on the March magazine cover was Rod with a rather tasty HP2 BMW. Worth a long lustful look if you get a chance. Very tasty.

A couple of people left after lunch. The remaining bunch took the back road along the river to Acheron. Then a bit of highway to the Molesworth road - now in top condition after recent works. But I held up the flying HP2 through here. Others less encumbered I guess.

Highway drone through Yea down to the Murrindindi turn off. Then more road-by-the river action to Glenburn on the Melba before picking up the winding West Bridge Road that runs into Kinglake Central and ride end.

Thanks to Pina for rear rider stuff. Sorry about the fuel issue. More fill ups from here on for the R1.

Hope all on the ride had some good times. The weather was not bad at all - only some signs of wet patches here and there. No other ride issues to report. Home in time to watch the F1 GP.

Geoff Jones (R1 - a work in progress)