Licola 3^rd July 2011

Damir Djikic (leader)	Honda CBR1000	Ben Warden (lead)	Honda CBR954
Misho Zrakic/Pina Garasi	Honda CBR1000	Jason Wilson	Kawasaki ZX9
Paul Southwell	Honda CBR1000	Marc Marais	Triumph 675
Ron Johnston (rear)	Honda CBF1000		7 bikes, 8 people

School holidays and the place is jumping – with cops. An unmarked TOG near Stud Road and a green meanie heading the other way and later booking someone near the Pakenham turnoff. Yes, a Berwick start for the ride to Licola with forecast atrocious weather. I even looked at the weather radar map before venturing out. Cold, wet, windy. Julie figured it was going to be too wet for kayaking and bailed out. I just put on a second set of waterproof pants – the plastics underneath to keep the water out and the quilted pair over the top for warmth. I put the big bag and rack on the bike to provide somewhere to put the extra gear should I want to defrock.

The entertaining Honda display indicated 20-22 km/l sitting in 3 point territory suggesting a howling tail wind. Every cloud has a silver lining.

Tony Stegmar had driven down from Belgrave to wish us well, and show off his plaster cast with a big slit in it to relieve the pressure. It looked like a carbon fibre masterpiece. Marc wasn’t riding with us as he had cunningly acquired his wife’s credit card. Cunning until she found out and wanted it back to pay for lunch…

After I gave an update on our crashed friends Cliff and Tom who are still in Latrobe Regional Hospital, and the route formalities dispensed with, we set forth. Still no rain, but ominous clouds.

I waited at the freeway turn with Jason… and no-one came. We didn’t leave till 10.21am and at 10.26am Misho, Marc and Ron came past. It turns out Pina had suggested that Tony take the credit card to Marc’s wife allowing Marc to participate in the ride. Much negotiation and phone calls ensued in those precious five minutes. Addresses were identified and the deal was done. Not sure what Misho and Pina or Ron were doing in this period but it would have been nice if they informed Jason and I, and Paul and the leader Damir stranded at the next corner, what was going on. Jason and I were about to go back to determine the cause of the delay, which would have only slowed things up even more, performing U-turns and battling traffic lights.

Freeway to Tynong, Longwarry North, over the Freeway and around through Jindivick. The roads were partly wet and threatening slippery across the hilly sweepers running into Jindivick. Not for the faint-hearted and certainly “Ride would not suit inexperienced riders”. Luckily, only the experienced and fanatical were in attendance.

I was ready for the massive bumps and dips where the road has been either compressed into bathtub sized depressions, or torn up completely by the milk tankers, servicing the Jindivick Neerim South precinct. The heavy rains and lack of maintenance haven’t helped. Alas, Jason hasn’t been along here for a while and crashed through one nasty series of holes, the result being a dinted front rim. An email the next day with a photo showed a smashed wheel bearing as well. I suggested he might want to look at the axle runout after such a heavy hit. Something for the 2011 DVD, thanks Jason.

Around through the Crossover sweepers, Old Sale Road and Old Sale Road to stop in Moe outside the Subway sandwich bar for an early lunch. Pina suggested a visit to the crash site was in order as part of her (and mine) on-going grief therapy. There are quite a few people seeking closure on this mega-crash. The diversion was only three kilometres off the prescribed route, and everyone was in favour, so the motion was carried. Furthermore, it was agreed that I would lead to the site.

Back past Old Sale Road and right turn towards Yallourn North along the undulating high speed sweepers. The road was fast drying and still no rain. Exactly four kilometres along the Tanjil East Road we stopped at The Crash Site. There is still enough debris and evidence of our visit to provide ownership of this MSR sacred site. I was interested to see exactly where Pina’s bike had ended up, and yes, the flattened grass was where her bike finally came to rest.

Checking Google Maps during the week had indicated another road just around the corner, and the Maryvale Paper Mill just through the trees. Though I had confirmed this on Friday when Tony and I had visited the lads in hospital, and checked out the sacred site, I still found it hard to believe I missed so much information on the day of the crash, despite being there for 90 minutes or more.

Grieving process further progressed, we made tracks around to Tyers for fuel. Cindy the servo-lady behind the counter recognises us now, both by the sound of our bikes (Misho/Damir noisy aftermarket exhausts) and our cheery faces and sharp, witty conversation. She noted we hadn’t been around for a while. It was her lucky day as we always make two stops for fuel, one in the morning and again in the afternoon on our return trip.

It was time to make a move. Eighteen kilometres of dangerous highway to Toongabbie and then all back roads to Lake Glen Maggie which is near full. Then around the sweepers and on to the Licola Road. It was a bit blustery across the ridges, but the Licola road was dry and in good condition. I expected more 4WDs but there was only one. I noticed the cliffs and unforgiving nature of the road more than I usually do. No room for even the smallest mistake. Best not to look.

At Licola Marc and I continued a further 14 km up the hill, the first 10 km the best condition I have seen the road in, all the loose gravel in the corners completely gone. Beautiful! The last four kays showed evidence of a recent severe wind storm with a number of trees down, and much leaf litter. Generally tough riding conditions as the corners were wet and slippery. Marc hadn’t been up here before and was impressed.

Back to Licola to catch up with the others, then homeward bound. The Licola to Glen Maggie outbound journey always feels better after a sighting lap and noting nothing too threatening to remember. Back to Tyers and Cindy for fuel, our last for the day.

A black unmarked TOG car parked under the tree outside the servo and waited. As we were leaving he did a highly illegal (for some) U-turn, crossing double white lines mid-corner, in front of Damir and me. He was on a mission from God. And God saw fit to send the rain. Cold, wet, windy. As forecast.

On to Yallourn North and the Willow Grove sweepers before rejoining the Old Sale Road and working our way back through Crossover and Jindivick to finish at Longwarry North. My odometer said 447 km since Berwick but Jason’s GPS read 418 km. It took me until half way home to realise that he didn’t do the Licola hill climb section, an additional 28 km. So the official ride length was 418 km.

Thanks to Damir for a perfectly planned and well lead ride in tough conditions. And thanks to the other fanatics who shared what turned out to be a pretty good day weather-wise, despite the forecast. I always reckon forecast showers are not really a problem. It is only when it is pouring rain when you look out the door that it is a poor omen for the rest of the day.

One last misty, drizzly 103 km stint down the freeway with a nasty marked plod-mobile parked up in the trees in the middle of the median strip. I worried for those coming behind me but haven’t heard any bad news yet. Till next time …

Ben Warden