Mt Donna Buang and WSB BBQ Sunday 27^th March 2011

On the ride:
Misho Zrakic/Pina Garasi	Honda CBR1000	Rick Van	Yamaha YZF600
John Rousseaux (rear)	Honda CBR1000	Raman Biaroza	Kawasaki GPX250
Ben Warden (leader)	Honda CBR954	Marc Marais	Triumph 675
			6 bikes, 7 people
At the BBQ:
Ron Johnston	Ian Payne	Kate Stewart	Dennis Lindemann
Rob Langer	Paul Southwell	John Willis	13 people

It rained all night and was still drizzling next morning. Julie headed off to go kayaking on the Maribyrnong at 8.30 am which might have been a better option. At least you plan to get wet when you go kayaking! I figured I had better fit the rack and big bag if I was going to take a change of clothes – socks and jeans at least, to change into at the BBQ, and still have enough room for Cliff’s stuff from last week, given to me while he dinked Damir home to Deer Park. In the end I didn’t take his stuff as I rightly concluded it would be too wet, even for Cliff – given a choice.

Pina texted that she and Misho were on their way and John had intimated he would attend the ride also – so that was at least four people. No turning back now, especially as I am the leader!

It rained all the way to Berwick, more a light drizzle every now and again. Not too cold, but soaking all the same.

Misho and Pina were unusually late, having got mixed up with three motorcycle police and two unmarked cars, heading to Phillip Island to assist with “traffic management”. So Misho didn’t make his usual rapid progress through the 60 and 80 km/h zones.

Just as we were about to leave Rick pulled in. He was particularly agitated about the last Google posting of which most of us were unaware. It looks like it has been handled appropriately by the moderator. Let’s try and play nicely in future.

Six bikes and seven people left the Berwick servo around 10.20 am, Ben leading and John in his customary and preferred rear riding position, his rear tyre bordering on illegal, and his front tyre blue after not having ridden on it since the Jindabyne weekend over three weeks ago. It would be a long, slippery day for John.

We made slow progress through Harkaway, Cockatoo, Upper Pakenham, Gembrook, Yarra Junction and Old Warburton Road to halt at Warburton for morning tea after 84 km. The roads were wet all the way and the sky was 100% overcast. We rode in and out of fog and low lying cloud as we travelled up and down the hills. Grip was pretty good as the roads were washed clean, though Bill’s corner on the Old Warburton Road still has a pile of gravel leading up to it. Misho and Marc corner marked every corner.

Rick was waiting for us in Warburton having left the ride to get fuel with a view to catching up. No chance, given the convoluted route we took. He did lots of dirt!

Raman opted to head home as the conditions were not pleasant and didn’t look like improving, particularly as were heading up to Mt Donna Buang and into the clouds.

It is only 18 km to the summit and the road surface was pretty good, though the 35 km/h at the end of a long straight arrived quicker than expected. Hard on the brakes ready for a lockup. Nothing.

A couple of older guys on dirt bikes noted the presence of lyre birds on their way up which reminded me of the one I had seen scrabbling up an embankment on the Old Warburton Road. I also saw two large kangaroos in shoulder high grass near Harkaway. All this rain and resulting lush growth must be good for the general animal populations I’m guessing.

After checking out the clouds wafting from the top of the tower we returned to the bikes and rode back down the mountain for a regroup at the bottom. John took a long time, his poor tyres spooking him as they slipped and slithered, the front trying to tuck under every now and again. What was that Google conversation about Risk Mitigation?

At Wesburn we ducked off the highway rejoining again at Yarra Junction before picking up the Gembrook Road. On to Cockatoo and up to Belgrave, in amongst the cars and generally difficult riding conditions. By this time we were hungry, probably with wet hands, some with wet feet, visors always partly open to assist with visibility. John assumed the lead for the last 8 km as agreed and we arrived at Flower St Ferntree Gully all intact and happy – happy that the cooking had started and not finished, as another seven MSR members had arrived independently, all in cars except John Willis. He would have ridden with us but the BAS Statement was due and government bureaucracy waits for no man.

The first Superbike race was at 12 noon – taped for our viewing pleasure, and the next was at 3.30 pm, 45 minutes away, allowing just the right amount of time to enjoy the perfectly cooked steaks and homemade salads, thanks to Kate and John. Kate had already tried to do a day’s work at the farm but it was even too wet to work the horses. She had made it home just as Ian drove up.

After the main race, with the top six places filled with six different manufacturers’, we watched the previously recorded SuperSport 600s, another good race. Around 5.30 pm we set off for home after a challenging ride and very social get together. Thanks to all who participated.

The ride length was 193 km according to my odometer and I managed to get home just as the reserve light came on at 241 km, unusually high, but an indication of the riding conditions and the steady throttle hand required to keep the shiny side up.

Ben Warden