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

Ben Warden	Honda CBR954	Damian Jones	Yamaha R1
Pina Garasi	Honda CBR600RR	Pierre Ong	Ducati 1098
Ha Du	Honda CBR600	Cliff Peters (Lead)	Kawasaki ZX10R
Jon Willis (1/2 rear)	Honda XL1000	Jason Wilson (1/2 rear)	Kawasaki ZX9R
Ron Johnston	Honda CBF1000	Ken Goederee	Suzuki BKing
Mirko Strasser	Honda CBR929	Ivan Radywonik	KTM 990
Geoff Shugg	Suzuki DL650	Tony Raditsis	Aprilia RSV1000
Chris Pointon	Suzuki GSXR1000	Paul Sorenson	Suzuki SV650

I left nice and early this morning. I’d been up since 5am, had my morning walk to see in the dawn, and noted with some relief the clear blue skies. With any luck the rain might hold off. The forecast was 30% chance of less than 1mm of rain, so the odds were promising.

Ten minutes out from home I realised I’d left my plastic pants behind. I figured I had just enough time to retrieve them without being late but I was feeling lucky, so I pressed on. And with time to spare I could take a less direct route via Hurstbridge. Cherry Tree and Alma Roads are excellent little detours.

I arrived early at the servo across the road from the Yarra Glen meeting point and noticed only a few bikes, Cliff’s green Kwaka being one of them. The bikes continued to roll in as I fuelled up the twin tanks of the Adventure.

This was my first ride since the bike’s return from the repairers after my spill in the dirt near Leongatha. The job wasn’t quite finished but they offered to put it all back together so I could ride while we waited for the new panels to ship out (still waiting three weeks later!). I’d also haggled a free replacement front tyre. Now I have the all-terrain version that this bike is best suited to – not quite as positive on bitumen but brilliant in the dirt.

By the time Cliff addressed the troops we had 16 bikes and riders. We set out north and then east along the old Healesville Road, up through Chum Creek toward Toolangi, then back down Myers Creek Road into Healesville and on to the Black Spur. We’d been warned about possible activity by the boys in blue. None were seen but they’re camouflaged these days, right?

The roads were wet in places and there was clearly localised shower activity above the hills around us, but we were managing to weave our way through without getting wet. We soon arrived in Marysville for morning tea, before the midday peak, so the bakery wasn’t nearly as busy as on previous rides.

From Marysville we headed north to Buxton and Taggerty. Near Thornton Cliff made a right turn, which must have been a wrong turn because we then all did a U turn! The group of cyclists we passed for a second time may well have wondered what these mad bikers were up to.

Just before Eildon we made the right turn onto the Torbreck River Road which was twisty and wet with patches of gravel and debris strewn about earlier by wild weather. Still, the riding was good although Ha was having carbie trouble, stopping to sort it out. We regrouped at Torbreck River where Ben took group photos. (See front cover ...Ed.) With a reminder that this road has claimed numerous Club riders over the years, we headed back to Eildon for lunch.

After ‘bottle feeding’ the chain (as Pina reckons), I went in to one of the cafes where this lovely old dear fastidiously made one of the best focacias I’ve ever had, followed by a delicious jaffa mud slice J

After lunch we rode along the Skyline Road to Alexandra before heading south to Acheron. On the Whanregarwen road we wound through some of the flattest, fastest roads I’ve ever been on. At the start I was on Cliff’s tail – but not for long.

From Yarck we headed to Gobur, then doubled back to Highlands via Caveat and then into Yea. By this time I felt I’d done a full day’s ride. We fuelled and worked out who would leave the ride as we headed back to Kinglake. For the first time that day, we encountered just a sprinkling of rain.

Thanks to Cliff for leading a great ride.

Ivan Radywonik