Eildon via Torbreck River Road Sunday 11^th July, 2010

Ben Warden	Honda CBR954	Ken Goederee	Suzuki B King
Pina Garasi	Honda CBR600RR	Chris Pointon	Suzuki GSXR1000
Ha Du	Honda CBR600	Geoff Shugg	Suzuki DL 650
Jon Willis (1/2 Rear)	Honda Varadero	Paul Sorenson	Suzuki SV 650
Ron Johnston	Honda CBF 1000	Cliff Peters (Lead)	Kawasaki ZX10R
Mirko Strasser	Honda CBR 929	Jason Wilson (1/2 Rear)	Kawasaki ZX9R
Damian Jones	Yamaha R1	Ivan Radywonik	KTM 990
Pierre Ong	Ducati 1098	Tony Raditsis	Aprilia RSV 1000
		377 kilometres	16 bikes/16 riders

Leg 1: It’s 10.15am and still people are arriving at the Yarra Glen start point. We have a long way to ride so I had better get on with it. I do the spiel and then we’re off. North up the Melba Highway where we turn right towards Healesville, then left onto Chum Creek Road. A little rain yesterday and strong wind has left leaf, stick and twig litter on the road. I manoeuvre around the bigger bits arriving at the top and wait for the corner markers to arrive. Then head off down Myers Creek Road where there is lots of lovely shiny black bitumen, mainly on the corners. Watch out because it is extremely slippery when wet.

I wait at the bottom at Healesville and here comes Ben (again) - in passing mode today. He must like corner marking, eh? I wish I had his confidence in the wet.

We head out of Healesville and onto the Black Spur. There is not much traffic, which is good. I ride past where the un-marked was sitting last time we came this way. I pass the odd car and keep the speed down, not wanting the fine if sprung. I came up behind three cars, a new Commodore in front. It looks suss so I sat there for a bit. The driver kept slowing down on the straights, as if trying to encourage us to pass. It might be a cop, I thought. Na. But then again it could be. Na. There goes Ben round the outside of everything. No little demons in his head saying “pass, don’t pass, pass, don’t pass”. J No blue and red lights come on, so around I go too. Thanks Ben.

We arrive in Marysville for morning tea and stand about talking, checking out new bits of bling. Paul Sorenson’s new chain is very slack. Instead of talking about it, Ben says “Just fix it now”.

Leg 2: We head out of town and turn left towards Buxton and I see an oncoming four wheel drive so I ease off a little. Ronny was behind me. The sun was out and a bit glary. Getting closer I thought I could see something blue on top. Oh dear, the blue thing starts flashing (expletives inside helmet). Check my mirror. He isn’t turning around, so we keep on going. Phew! I heard at lunch time that most of us got the lights and excited hand-shaking from the policeman.

Buxton, Taggerty and on towards Thornton. Watch out for the pushbikes: two, three, four or five wide, over the centre line in one spot. I gave them a “gunna have ya” blast on the horn as I go past. Turn towards Rubicon. Whoops! Sorry guys; wrong road. U-turn and continue on towards Thornton and take the right right turn onto the Torbreck River Road.

This is a good stretch of road. Wet, but good grip with some bark, leaves and gravel to contend with. Some of the corners have had the banks cut back on an angle giving riders a much better view through the corners. But you have to watch out for four wheel drives coming out of the bush.

I saw one guy doing circle work on a grassy verge. I had a smile on my face because I used to do the same on the farm back home near Portland. I had a short wheelbase land rover which my friends and I used for spotlighting foxes, rabbits and other pests. I had slotted a Holden 253 (4.2 litre) four barrel carbie V8 in and fitted a second fuel tank to cover the extra fuel consumption. She used to fly when you stepped on the go pedal. No roof or seat belts and the windscreen folded down onto the bonnet for paddock use and out of the way of gun barrels. Stag hounds in the back, charging across paddocks at up to 80 clicks, needing all the power and then some to get within gun range of some of the crafty foxes. It might seem cruel but if you have seen what they can do to sheep and lambs, you wouldn’t think so. The best price I ever got was fifty five bucks for a really good fox skin. They normally fetch only 25 to 30 dollars. Skin and peg them out onto a big sheet of chip board to dry. A good night was six foxes which mostly paid for the fuel and ammo.

Okay back to the ride. We all make it to the bridge at the end of the bitumen except Ha and rear rider Jon. Ha’s bike is having carbie icing problems, like early Kawasakis. Ben takes a photo or two of the group. After about ten minutes we head back.

About 5 km down the road we meet Ha and Jon, Ha’s bike going again. We leave them to do a U-turn and follow.

Heading around a left hand corner, an oncoming police four wheel drive glides past. Almost straight away I can smell diesel. Most right-handers have diesel on them, and I was a passenger on one of them, the bike not taking my intended line. I was very careful thereafter, I can tell you. Ben reckoned it was the police vehicle that dumped the fuel; it most probably was too.

Everyone makes it back to the highway okay and we head into Eildon for lunch and fuel.

Leg 3: We needed a new rear rider, as Jon wished to head home midway through this leg. Jason put his hand up. Well boys, we now have a Kawasaki sandwich – front and rear, eh? J

Next it was over Sky Line on a dry road. Awesome! Into Alexandra, out the back way and around to the Maroondah Highway for a short stretch before turning onto the Wangarren Road, or Molesworth Road, as most call it. Love this bit; stretch the legs through here. No orange Kawasaki (Dave) getting in the way today J (Miss ya mate, when ya comin home?) Hey Paul, do you remember that gravel patch on that right hand sweeper awhile back? Mad, eh? But you have to love it. What was that saying Dave had? (Fully sick mate!) Or was it Ben? Yeah, love it.

Right turn and up to Yarck and then left towards Gobur, up the twisty hill section and back around through Caveat and Highlands to Yea for fuel and a short break. Then out of Yea and over Junction Hill. I can see Ronny and Damian having some fun, closing at a rapid rate.

Left to Glenburn and then right up the Melba for 3 kms. Two police 4WD vehicles are parked at the Kinglake turn. Into Kinglake for break up.

Thanks all. A good day was had, as per normal. No incidents apart from two slight bike faults: Ha’s carbies icing up and Ben’s headlight (crying ENOUGH), possibly a relay problem.

Thanks Jon Willis and Jason Wilson for your rear riding duties. As I was the one to stuff up with a wrong turn, the write-up was left to me. As nobody volunteered at the spiel time, it was decided first one to stuff-up does the write-up J.

Cheers and see you next ride.

Cliffy Peters (639.6km door to door)