Highlands via Lancefield Sunday 21^st November 2010

A sunny Sunday at last and what a turn up for Paul’s ride: 24 bikes and 25 people. Ben has sent this neat table so I will use it to save typing effort.

Willem Vandeveld	Honda ST1300	Cliff Peters/Pina Garasi	Kawasaki ZX12R
Paul Southwell (lead)	Honda CBR1000	Greg Jeffery (2^nd ride)	Kawasaki ZX12R
Chris Tran	Honda CBR1000	Andre Smith (2^nd ride)	Kawasaki ZX10
Damir Djikic	Honda CBR1000	Chris Pointon	Suzuki GSXR1000
John Willis	Honda XL1000	Cindy Lee	Suzuki GSXR750
Craig Morley	Honda VTR SPII	Geoff Jones	Yamaha R1
Ron Johnston	Honda CB1000F	Damien Jones	Yamaha R1
Ben Warden	Honda CBR954	Raj Malhotra	Yamaha FZ1000
Mirko Strasser	Honda CBR929	Rick Van (1^st ride)	Yamaha YZF600
Dennis Lindemann	Honda CBR600	David Huynh (1^st ride)	Yamaha R6
Bill Nguyen (2^nd ride)	Honda CBR600	Rob Langer	BMW R1150GS
Steve Mudford	Aprilia 550 SM	Dave Chisma	BMW F800

Most were ready for a 10am departure at Whittlesea but the size of the group precluded an on-time off. The main group left at 10.15 but Ben led Chris Tran, David Huynh and Bill Nguyen to Lancefield as they arrived just after the ride departure.

What a change in grip level with no wet spots to contend with. Ride pace was soon at traditional Club drought levels as we proceeded up the sweepers and through Kinglake West where John Willis joined the ride.

On through Hazeldene and Flowerdale where much rebuilding is on the go. Plenty of lush green along the roadside, the fire ravaged trees also sprouting, and all the creeks well and truly running.

First corner mark at Flowerdale and so on to the Strath Creek road with its views of the ride snaking through the countryside. Fuel and rubber use higher than recent weather conditions have allowed, I would think. Speaking of rubber, some interesting talk at the breaks about shipping tyres from the US at very good rates given the strength of the Aussie dollar. Speak to Ben for more details.

Left at Strath Creek, then up the tight section for the run into Broadford where an elderly Falcon GT, complete with white ribbons, kept Paul at bay with a spirited run past the Motorcycle complex. I recall a similar incident following a Holden HD ute in the opposite direction, a local in a highly modified vehicle enjoying the road.

At Broadford Rob and I corner mark, so I am able to hear tales of his recent USA epic. He particularly enjoyed the Alaska part of the trip.

On to more open country through Glenaroua to Pyalong and the blast down to Lancefield for first break after 120 spirited k’s. Fuel and food and Ben’s smaller group joined the throng. Interesting to catch up with Cindy on the GSXR750 that I had last seen for sale in Melton. It seems the costs to achieve roadworthy were higher than Cindy would have liked; no such thing as a true bargain maybe.

Burke and Wills Track calls so we head north through Baynton to Emu Flat and Pyalong to do a reverse run through Glenaroua to the hamburger place at Seymour for lunch after another 80k. Signs of the impending locust plague around this part of the ride with swarms on the move and mess on the visors as we consume varied types of burger in what by now is a very warm Sunday. Questions of how long this burger place has been operating had me recalling visits here as a much younger person. I guess I would have first visited around 50 years ago.

Lunch taken and much talk the talk done so into the warm gear. Through Seymour and on to the Highlands road for the tighter stuff up to the Yea Caveat Road intersection where we regroup to remove locusts from radiators and visors. Then down the range to the outskirts of Yea and the “take no prisoners” blast over Junction Hill, through Break of Day, Flowerdale and back to Kinglake West where the ride finished after another 100 km. Photo done and a run down to Whittlesea for fuel. Then a run home along Donnybrook Road past two camera cars but plenty of oncoming flashes to enable adequate time to roll past below the limit.

Pina’s bike not quite repaired, and, with Misho on a work callout day, Ben picked her up, ferried her to the start point where Cliff did the honours for the rest of the ride. Ben then returned her home. I asked why she had not used Misho’s Blade but it seems she is not ready for the extra oomph just yet. You can never have enough power, Pina.

Thanks to Paul for leading, Willem for rear riding and to the population of a small town who turned up. Honda the dominant brand but some other stuff as well, even an interesting Aprilia to view.

My rear tyre completely gone but what a blast to have good grip.

Geoff Jones