Walhalla MK II           Sunday 20th March, 2011

 

Misho Zrakic

Honda CBR1000

Ern Reeders (1/2 rear)

Honda CBR954

Damir Djikic

Honda CBR1000

Pina Garasi (1/2 rear)

Honda CBR600

Tim Emons

Honda CBR1000

Kurn Bridgeman

Honda CBR600

Paul Southwell

Honda CBR1000

Jason Wilson

Kawasaki ZX9

Jean Eldridge

Honda CBR1000

Marc Marais

Triumph 675

Tony Stegmar

Honda CBR1000

Rob Langer

KTM 950R

Ben Warden (leader)

Honda CBR954

 

13 bikes, 13 people

 

I wasn’t planning on attending this ride. After the Tassie trip I thought I should take some time out and relax, but when I awoke Sunday morning and looked outside at the clear blue sky, I thought there’s no way I’m missing this opportunity. The rear tyre was in need of replacement after Tassie and I hadn’t gotten round to changing  it but there was still a hair’s width of tread above the wear marker so no problem.

Some slight drizzle overnight left the roads a bit wet but they dried in no time. I made my way to Yarra Glen and met up with the crew. We headed to Healesville, then to Noojee with those awesome sweepers after Powelltown - always a good ride. From Noojee we continued up the Icy Creek road – also a great road, although I prefer riding back the other way (which we did at the end of the day).

Believe or not, in the three and a half years in Melbourne I haven’t visited Thomson Dam. I was really impressed: a great set of twisties up to Erica and absorbing the scenery at the dam made me happy, once again, that I’d decided at the last minute to join the ride.

From Thompson Dam we worked our way around to Walhalla where we had lunch. I hadn’t been up here before either and enjoyed the tight and twisty road too.

Somewhere along here Misho had lost his camera; it fell out of his tank bag. Amazingly, someone had handed it in at the Moe police station. There were pictures on the camera with Pina’s rego so they could identify a potential owner and left a message on Pina’s mobile. Fortunately, there was nothing incriminating on the camera ;). After the ride finished Misho and Pina went back to Moe to retrieve the camera. What an amazing bit of luck!

The ride passed through Tyers on the way home where I somehow missed the (apparently) blatantly obvious camera car in the 60 km/h zone. Ten days later I received a present in the mail: three points for 71 km/h in a 60 zone. A lapse of concentration; I only have myself to blame.

The ride ended at the servo at Longwarry North where we finished off the day with ice-creams. I must say, MSR riders are extremely fond of ice-cream. No wonder many need suspension upgrades ;) Just kidding - I had one too! Having said that, Steve Mudford will be doing my suspension next week, once parts arrive! I’m looking forward to it, though my bank account won’t be!

 

Marc Marais