Boolarra Monday 26^th April, 2010

Mark Welland	Honda CB1300	Marty Thompson	Kawasaki ZRX1200
Misho Zrakic	Honda CBR1000	Dave Hives (1/2 rear)	Kawasaki ZX10
John /Kate Stewart (1/2 rear)	Honda CBR1000	Cliff Peters	Kawasaki ZX10
Ron Johnston	Honda CBF1000	Rob Jones	Suzuki GSXR1000
Ben Warden	Honda CBR954	Mark Rigsby	Suzuki GSXR1000
Ha Du	Honda CBR600	Peter Feistl	Suzuki GSXR750
Pina Garasi	Honda CBR600	Graeme Tattersall	Yamaha R1
Ivan Radywonik	KTM 990		15 bikes, 16 people

It has been a long time since I turned a wheel... especially one in anger, so when the Rex failed to operate at Lancefield on the previous weekend, my ride itch had yet to be scratched. So, I bought a battery during the week, stuck acid in it, charged it and then on Monday the 26^th, had another go.

This time we were off to South Gippsland. Ben was leading so it was guaranteed twisty bits all day. He's forgotten more roads than I will ever know.

The Berwick meet point revealed 15 bikes and 16 riders. The forecast was for sunny conditions, albeit a little cooler in the early 20's. As it turned out, I saw 24 degrees at one point on the ambient temperature gauge and it never dipped below 20 the whole day. Perfect!

We headed off right on time and jumped onto the freeway until Garfield. Then we headed through Tynong, Drouin and down the Main South Road to Topiram and Poowong. Then across to the Ranceby and into Korumburra for morning tea at the bakery. Thus far, the Rex was running as good as ever and thankfully it has remained that way!

After morning tea, it was back up the Warrigal-Korumburra Road before turning right out towards Arawata. Not long after entering this road I discovered that Ivan on the KTM Adventure had gone down in the dirt. The bike was fine, but Ivan had been head-butting fence posts and the like and had to catch a lift to hospital with the St John's boys. Not sure yet on the outcome, although reports of a meaty knee were heard. Kate and John, Ron and Mark stayed at the crash scene to assist.

Now I can never remember where the hell we go when Ben takes us into this area. I've even ridden it by myself a few times. Sometimes I luck it and link the correct roads; other times I end up in the mountains on dirt roads!  But f….d if I can remember exactly which roads they are. But it's sort of Fairbank Rd, Grand Ridge Rd, Mt Eccles, Hallston area! :lol: (We met Graeme on other side of dirt (he hates dirt) at Leongatha, then on to Dumbalk, up and down the range back to Dumbalk over very tight and twisty roads, big sweepers to Mirboo, on to Limonite and Boolarra via the seldom used, undulating, recently bitumened road. Mirboo North for lunch. …Ed.)

On the last tight uphill section between Boolarra and Mirboo North, Ha decided to do an Allan Seal (those of my vintage will remember the whistling teeth old gardening bugger), saving the local council from doing any verge maintenance. But all was well and no bikes toppled over. It is hard to believe for a club ride that we would lose only one bike. But hey, that's what happened, although we lost Dave Hives, our rear rider, along with Rob Jones and Graeme Tattersall to the Mirboo North Pub, lunch and the liquid amber proving a far more attractive option than to continue riding.

But we regained John, Kate and Ron who had returned from the crash scene, providing us with an update. Ron had relocated the bike to a nearby farm house and Mark was accompanying Ivan to the hospital for further checks. (See Ivan’s email for all the details in Who’s News …Ed.) John and Kate volunteered the rear riding position with Dave Hives now ensconced in the pub.

After lunch we did the scenic run down to Boolarra South and back to Boolarra (no roads the same), then up the skinny, interesting eight km long Morwell River Road to regroup at the start of the dirt. Back to the highway and on to Yinnar and around the power station cooling lake to Morwell. Ben realised he had missed a turn, so we toured around the massive Loy Yang power stations (Geoff said there were eight of them) back towards Yinnar before turning right for Driffield picking up the newly sealed and widened armo-clad road to Thorpdale.

We crossed straight over at Thorpdale and climbed up to Childers looking for a back way into Yarragon, according to Ben. But there is still 10 km of dirt. We regrouped at end of the bitumen, and the same bus that threatened us with a drag race earlier in the day - in the middle of nowhere - went flying by us again, horn blaring in recognition. A nail was identified in Mark Welland’s rear tyre on his CB1300.

After completing another U turn we headed back to Thorpdale taking the always fun Thorpdale Road down into Trafalgar. It was here we stopped to fix Mark’s puncture. All hands on deck and 5 minutes later it had been repaired and re-inflated.

We were off again, this time north of the highway and heading up towards Willow Grove and then along the Old Sale Road to Buln Buln, and the magnificent Crossover sweepers to Neerim South. We turned left and took the Jindivick Road and finished the ride with a "brisk" run down the Jindivick Road into Longwarry North. Those corners marked 70 km/h are a cracking opportunity for a grunty 1200cc motor to hang out the rear. It must be a combo of touring tyres and lots of torque, but you can bang the Rex on its side, crack open the throttle and giggle as the bars opposite lock a touch exiting the turn. Good boyish fun, I reckon!

Another great day. Thanks once again for getting us well and truly lost in our own backyards Ben!

Marty Thompson