Lavers Hill via Great Ocean Road Sunday 21^st March, 2009

Tony Raditsis	Aprilia RSV1000	Cliff Peters (leader)/Pina Garasi	Kawasaki ZX10
Dennis Lindemann	Honda CBR600	Jason Wilson	Kawasaki ZX9
Mark Copeland	Honda VTR1000	Dave Ward/Bronwyn Manifold	Kawasaki Z1000
Kurn Bridgeman	Honda CBR600	Damir Djikic (3^rd ride)	Kawasaki Z750
Ben Warden	Honda CBR954	Sherief Wissa (2^nd ride)	Suzuki GSXR600
Ivan Radywonik	KTM 990	Mitar Marescuk	Husqvarna 610
Rick Cinotta (1^st ride)	Ducati 1098		14 people, 13 bikes

“480 km servo to servo, 22 deg, strong west wind all day, some rain in morning”

I thought I was going to be late when I left home in Lysterfield, having to cross from one side of Melbourne to the other, but once I left the driveway, I didn't stop until I reached the Todd Road Shell Servo. Twenty five minutes total travel time. What a run!

There was a small gathering of bikes which grew slightly with the addition of Sherief on the Suzuki and Rick on the Ducati. Ben with Pina pillion lead us down the Geelong Freeway to the Little River exit. (Misho on call, Pina’s bike being repaired. Hopefully a regulator/rectifier replacement will cure the electrical problem once and for all …Ed.) With a tight knit group, corner marking was almost unnecessary.

The run through Lara was a little different to what I remembered but in no time we reached Moriac where our leader Cliff was waiting. Mitar on his Husky fitted with sticky tyres also joined us. Ben was checking the route with Cliff and calculating how much fuel he needed until the next proposed fuel stop in Apollo Bay. Not one to carry unnecessary load he glumly fuelled up.

Scooting out of Moriac, Cliff leading with Pina on board. Ben's signature overtaking manoeuvres had an oncoming car flashing his headlights at the poor buggers following (something to be repeated along the GOR out of Apollo Bay with a bloke in a Falcon XR6 spitting the F word at the followers). (I also was flashed. It had nothing to do with the way we were riding…Ed.)

At Deans Marsh we copped a heavy shower so when I stopped to corner mark at the next turn, I quickly slipped on the wet weather gear. As usual, this meant it didn’t rain again for the rest of the ride. Even so, Rick decided to high tail it back to Melbourne.

I saw the first police car just before Forrest but as the roads where damp, we were travelling only slightly above the speed limit.

Right turn onto Turtons Track saw a slow run along a damp, narrow road with loose gravel; not somewhere you want to grab too much brake. Fortunately, there were few tourists. So not too many surprises around blind corners. I came up on a few cars towards the end of the tight stuff but managed to pass with little drama as the road improved. I picked up the pace with Jason following in the mirrors as we made our way to the lunch stop at Lavers Hill.

It was here we lost Sherief on the Suzuki 600 as he apparently continued on past the general store (having already passed the leader at the start of Turtons Track …Ed.). We figured he may get as far as Port Campbell before he realised he was on his own. The numbers were increased when we were joined by Kurn and Mark who had been camping up the coast.

After a leisurely lunch, we headed back to Apollo Bay including a run over my favourite section through Horden Vale (fast sweepers with good vision). We got fuel at Apollo Bay. An inspection of Dennis's rear tyre revealed a staple which Ben removed with no air leak apparent. Meanwhile, a white Suzuki pulled into the servo. At first we thought Sherief had caught up but quickly realised he either had had a sex change and got better looking or it was actually a female rider. Many favourable comments about girls on bikes.

After Ben's warning about expecting a high police presence on the GOR after 6 deaths this year (all bikes) we cautiously continued towards Lorne. Some poor bugger on an R1 travelling towards us flashed his lights, the boys in blue right on his tail! Travelling the GOR has become a real drag in recent times with speeds well down and less risky overtaking. Ivan, our rear rider, was feeling very cautious as he sat behind a bloke on a Triumph for miles. The fact he wouldn't overtake anything should have given him a clue that he wasn't part of our group!

Fortunately, the traffic was fairly light due to the poor weather. This lack of traffic continued up towards Deans Marsh and all the way to our next stop back at Moriac. Our group had shrunk a little by this time so with everyone sticking close together, the ride back to the Todd Road Shell servo for the break up meant no corner marking was needed, Ben back leading again with Pina pillion.

Onto the Geelong Freeway where Cliff left us. With a steady stream of traffic, I upped the pace to about $1.20 with Dave and Bronwyn following. Just before the first turn-off to Werribee I glanced in the mirrors in horror to see a police car closing really fast. I figured he had clocked me and so prepared for an unwelcome chat. I indicated to Dave to slow as he was coming up to pass and we both sat there on 99 km/h as he drew along side. We kept looking straight ahead! Seems he was keen to get home as he decided to keep going. Phew!

We kept him in sight up ahead and, as he reached the Westgate Bridge, he got stuck in the right lane which ended due to bridge works. We all kept to the left lane which allowed us to filter through the heavy traffic without worrying about him too much. We slipped into the Shell servo to finish the ride after a long day. Thanks Cliff and Ben for an enjoyable and safe ride.

Tony Raditsis