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2009 Calendar
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2008 Calendar
Whittlesea = Caltex Service Station, Yea Road, Whittlesea, Melways 246G8 Yarra Glen = Corner of Bell and King Streets, Yarra Glen, Melways 274K2 or: outside 'Original Cafe' Berwick = Safeway Fuel+, (next to McDonalds) Clyde Road Berwick, Melways Reference 111 C10 West Gate Shell = West Gate Shell Service Station, Todd Road Exit, heading for Geelong, Melways Reference 42H12
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January
December
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January 2009Sunday 4th January Lake Mountain Peter Jones leading 10 am Yarra Glen Proposed route: Myers and Chum Creek Roads, Black Spur, Lake Mountain, Reefton Spur, Warburton, Mt Donna Buang. 20 bikes, 20 people, 32 deg., 180 km
First stop Loch for morning tea, then south towards Wonthaggi before making our way across to Korumburra for lunch. Then up the Korumburra - Warragul Road and on to Crossover, Neerim South and back to Jindivick. If the ride is going well, we may divert at the Old Sale Road and head through Hill End and back into Noojee with the option of heading home via Powelltown or back to the highway via Jindivick. Expect around 320 km for the day.
26 bikes (9! CBR1000s), 27 people, 330 km, 24 deg.
Route is Yarra Glen to Toolangi, Healesville and Woori Yallock. Then to Monbulk Johns Hill, Emerald, Cockatoo and lunch at the Ranges Hotel. After lunch we'll head for Pakenham Upper, Mt. Burnett, Beaconsfield Upper and Harkaway to finish at Narre Warren North. Approx 200km. 11 bikes, 14 people, 200 km, 23 deg.
Leaving Yarra Glen it's the direct route to Healesville and then up Mt Donna Buang and on down Don Valley (some dirt). At Yarra Junction we'll turn right to Powelltown to regroup at Noojee (fuel usually available). Then on to Moe for fuel and the lunch stop - bakeries, SubWay, etc. Next Tyers, turning left to head along some great sweeping roads to Walhalla. Depending on the weather conditions and fatigue levels, we'll head out to the Thompson Dam to check on the state of Melbourne's primary water storage. Either way, it's back to Moe for fuel, then via the Old Sale Road to Jindivick and Longwarry North where we'll break up near the Princes Freeway. Around 350 km. 19 bikes, 19 people, 26 deg., 465 km Incidents: Leader inadvertently went to Whittlesea rather than Yarra Glen - recovered; CBR600 flat tyre (plugged and sent rider home with balding tyre); R6 mixture issues - reprogrammed form dash on the fly; new member John (CBR1000) lost at Walhalla (failed to leave with main group, never caught up).
The Committee has booked accommodation at the NSW Sport and Recreation Centre in Jindabyne. This is lodge style accommodation with 2 beds per room (6 rooms) with communal bathroom facilities, and a large kitchen/living area with a big screen TV. We stayed twice before and are so impressed with the cost, quality and food, we thought we had better come back! The Australia Day holiday falls on Monday 26th of January. Given the distances involved (700 km on the first day and last days), a four day weekend allows us to take full advantage of the great location. The plan is to ride up on Saturday, ride around the Snowy Mountains Sunday and Monday, and return to Melbourne on Tuesday. This means three nights accommodation. You'll need to take annual leave for the Tuesday. Typically temperatures are in the 40's at this time of year, but at this altitude the temperatures will be at least 10 degrees cooler making for ideal riding conditions. As usual, this special event is offered on a strictly first come, first served basis. Preference will be given to members. A $100 deposit is required. The deposit buys three nights accommodation. Meals are being offered foor the first night. The ub $10 steak night (self cook) should do one night. All you need is your toothbrush, a change of clothes and
near new tyres. Street legal, race replica tyres will not last much
more than two days so regular road tyres are a more sensible option,
unless you are prepared to change them.
16 bikes, 1 car, 18 people, 2400 km Berwick to Mansfield or 2650 home
to home
Route will include Myers and Chum Creek
Roads, the Black Spur, Marysville (morning tea), Taggerty, Torbreck,
Eildon (lunch), Fraser National Park over Skyline Road to Alexandra
and Molesworth to Yea. Finish at Kinglake West. Expect 330 km for the
day.
February 2009Sunday 1st February Thorpdale Ben Warden leading 10 am Berwick A million kilometres in the making, suit sports bike, is how I would describe this ride. First stop Loch if you are chasing the ride. Then on to Arawata (3 km of dirt) and Leongatha along endless twisty roads looking for the perfect sweeper, touching on the Grand Ridge Road with spectacular views of rugged mountains and glimpses of the sea. Mirboo North bakery for lunch. Then we'll do a loop down to Hallston and back to Mirboo North, if you're looking for a short interlude, before pressing on to the Thorpdale corner sequence and Trafalgar for fuel. Last hop back to either Powelltown on all the back roads or Longwarry North depending on the time, riding conditions and participants' desire. Expect around 410 km for the day. Good tyres essential! Due to fire activity in Boolara and Mirboo North area and heavy police presence preventing sightseers, an alternative route has been devised. Expect to see more of the sea than otherwise planned. 330 km ride length 21 bikes, 22 people, 340 km Berwick to Powelltown, 34 deg.
The Committee has booked the "free" private meeting room, conditional on us eating there. Special meal price, main plus pot $15. (Specifically: Parma & pot/soft drink; pasta plus drink, roast plus drink, fish plus drink - all $15 ea). Otherwise pizza $10 through to steaks at $29. So, save your Club money and come and have a meal followed by a quick formal meeting. Collect your magazine, see photos of highlights of the Xmas Camp, catch up with the gossip, see your mates. 22 people; motion passed to move the financial end of year date from April 30 to June 30. Hence AGM will occur in July.
March 2009***********Note: from this point onwards, please be advised that the proposed ride routes are subject to change due to the fire situation. The start points are locked in.*****************
Proposed route: The classic Mirboo North ride with loops within loops. We may catch glimpses of the fire damaged areas around Boolara South and the Grand Ridge Road. First stop Korumburra if you are chasing the ride, then lunch at Mirboo North. The Hallston loop offers the chance to skip 60 km of twisties and have a breather for 35 minutes or so before rejoining the main group. Three kilometres of dirt around Arawata. Ride not for the inexperienced but manageable with breaks. Expect around 410 km for the day.
Proposed route: This will be our first venture into potentially fire ravaged areas north of the Princes Highway. The route will include nearly all back roads with first stop at Tyers for fuel. If you fill here you won't need to refill until returning to Tyers after 200 km or so. We'll continue straight through Licola and another further 16 km steep climb into the hills offering spectacular mountain views. Expect around 450 km of brilliant roads for the day. Not for the inexperienced rider as the roads are technically difficult and very unforgiving. Do not bring a friend or first time rider. 19 bikes, 19 people, 460 km, 26 deg.
Email from Robert Langer:
It is with great sadness that I inform members of the untimely death
of Kirsten Anderson .
Kirsten , life will never be the same without you. Rest in Peace
April 2009
May 2009Saturday 2nd May Lancefield Pub Lunch Ron Johnston leading 10 am Whittlesea Short ride to Flowerdale and Broadford for a break, then on to Pyalong and Lancefield for counter lunch. Expect to arrive around 1 pm for any people meeting us. Ride length 160 km 5 bikes, 11 people, 125 km, fine 17 deg.
Simple route if you say it fast: Tyers, Yarram, Tyers, Longwarry North. No highway and lots of rarely travelled roads around Traralgon South and Balook. The return route will be exactly the same as the outgoing route, so will be 30% quicker! A challenging ride but worth it for the views alone. Expect around 355 km for the day. 14 bikes, 14 people, 370 km, 17 deg.
Interrupting Geoff's prime viewing time of the MotoGP replay on
Foxtel, he rapidly spurts out a string of place names. Luckily I can
write fast and recognise them all. The plan is to head out through
Eden Park (8 consecutive corners in a continuous ess) to Wallan,
Romsey, Woodend and around the back way to Trentham for morning tea.
Then on to Spring Hill, Glenlyon, Daylesford, Blampied, Creswick and
Ballarat servo and Subway for lunch and fuel. Expect it to be very cold. Wear
your full wet weathers just to keep the wind chill at bay. Then on to
Snake Valley and Linton through the gold rush diggings before turning
east and heading for home picking up Mt Mercer, Meredith and the
Brisbane Ranges to break up on the outskirts of Werribee. Great, hand
picked roads. Expect an easy 370 km for the day. No sun glare today
as we'll have the sun at our backs for most of the day.
A well worn Club route will see us work our way through the fire ravaged
Kinglake and Flowerdale, then across to Strath Creek and Broadford before
hitting kangaroo country around Pyalong and Lancefield for late
morning tea, early lunch. Then we'll head north up the Burke and Wills
Track, across to Emu Flat and back to Pyalong repeating the good
road to Seymour for lunch. Then up into the eerie foglands around
Highlands and back to Yea to finish at Kinglake West after 280 km.
Great roads. Be there.
Standard route parallel to the highway to Drouin, then down the Warragul
- Korumburra Road and around to Loch for morning tea. Then we'll continue
south to Wonthaggi and around the Cape Patterson spectacular coast
road to Inverloch for fish and chips. After a leisurely lunch we'll
head north to Kongwak and Korumburra, back up the brilliant, but
statistically very dangerous Korumburra-Warragul road and around to
Drouin for a regroup and possible farewells. Highway or back home via
Noojee and Powelltown are the options, depending on time, weather and
inclination of the participants. Expect around 340 km for the day.
June 2009Thursday 4th June 7 pm Mark's Place, corner Grattan and Swanston Streets, Carlton Collect your magazine and save the Club postage charges. Catch up
with your mates and all the gossip. No issues with parking. Share a
cheap meal and still be home by 10 pm. Expect 16-20 happy faces.
Black Spur, Marysville, Buxton, Thornton, Eildon for early
lunch. Then explore all the nearby tourist sights such as Mt Pinninger
(major photo
opportunity), Jerusalem Creek (check out the distance between the end
of the boat ramp and the water),
cross the Dam Wall (is the old wall visible?), out to the boat
harbour (and see how the recession is biting the millionaire houseboat
owners), up Skyline Road to the
lookout (another photo shoot), down into Fraser National Park and around to the picnic area,
then back on to Skyline and into Alexandra for food and fuel.
Next the brilliant Molesworth Road to Yea and finish at Kinglake West (through
the sombre
fire ravaged areas). A lazy 290 km
of every conceivable road type, from tight twisties to fast sweepers.
Camera a must.
This ride will suit pillion passengers and is focussed on the destination with a bit of beautiful scenery along the route thrown in. The ride will take a direct route from Drouin down the Main South Road to Loch for morning tea, though I know Paul wants to press on directly to the pub but with pillions, cold weather and nature, it will be very unkind not to stop at the 110 km mark at Loch. Next, up the hill continuing south on the Loch Wonthaggi Road, admire the views and then into the pub for warmth, good cheer and good tucker.
A slightly different way back to Drouin picking up the Korumburra Warragul
Road is planned. Expect around 220 leisurely kilometres for the day.
Lots of good roads around Beaconsfield Upper, Cockatoo, Pakenham Upper
and Belgrave en-route to Launching Place, Powelltown and Noojee
morning tea. Then on through Hill End and down to Moe for lunch and
fuel. After topping up the energy levels, we'll continue south in to
Gippsland and on to Mirboo North, making our way around to
Leongatha to pick up the Warragul road to break up at Drouin. 3 km of
good, uphill, hard packed (80 km/h) dirt around Arawata. 310 km for the day.
Marvel at the rapid tree regrowth post bushfires as we head through Flowerdale and Yea en-route to
Molesworth and Alexandra for the first break. Ater morning tea we'll
continue north chasing the sun, up to Gobur, Caveat and
Highlands, now working our way west to Seymour for lunch. The ride
will finish at Wallan
picking up Lancefield, Romsey and the Darraweit Guim deep valleys along the
way. An easy 300 km for the day with a great variety of
off-the-beaten-track roads, exactly what the Club is famous for.
From Berwick we'll make our way through Gembrook and Powelltown to Noojee for morning tea, then on to Moe for fuel before heading up to Thompson Dam to check Melbourne's water stocks before heading back across to Walhalla for lunch. Then down through Tyres, along the Old Sale Road, through Crossover and Jindivick to break up at Longwarry North.
Depending on time, weather and
inclination of the group, we might work our way back through the
Neerims and Yallook to finish at Powelltown instead. Approx 350 km of
hard riding for the day. Hence:
It is a very challenging ride - the distance, technical
difficulty, and the chance of meeting the unexpected combined with certain cold
and probable wet condtions increase the risks dramatically.
July 2009Thursday 2nd July Annual General Meeting and Social Sip combined 6.30 pm Tower Hotel, 686 Burwood Road, Hawthorn East (corner of Burwood Road, Camberwell Road and Albert Street)
The Committee has booked the "free" private meeting
room, conditional on us eating there.
So, save your Club money
and come and have a meal followed by a quick formal
meeting including the election of office bearers for
another year. Collect your magazine, catch up with the gossip,
see your mates.
12 bikes, 14 people, 330 km, 16 deg. sunny, fine, no wind! August 2009Sunday 2nd August Mt Macedon Ian Payne leading 10 am West Gate Shell Servo 16 bikes, 19 people, 300 km, cold 16 degrees and strong north west wind all day
From Yarra Glen we'll head directly to Healesville and across the
Black Spur to Marysville pressing on to Buxton and Taggerty taking the
back way in to Eildon for morning tea after 105 km. After a break
we'll pass through Alexandra, Yarck, Gobur, Merton, and Strathbogie to reach
Euroa for lunch at the main street bakery. Then we'll head south
through Creighton's Creek to Caveat and Highlands, breaking up at
Kinglake West. Expect around 340 km of very varied and seldom ridden
roads for the day.
According to Dennis, "This is going to be a proper workout for rider and tyres with hardly any straight bits. First stop is Warburton via Gembrook to prepare for the mountains. Mount Donna Buang next - up and down - then on to the Reefton Spur for more twisties. Before stopping for lunch in Marysville, we'll head up to Lake Mountain for a possible group photo and more twisties! Last bit will be through the Black Spur and heading up to Toolangi and down Chum Creek Road before breaking up in Healesville. A leisurely 250km for the day." Fair chance there will be snow, tourists and tolls. Cross that bridge ... 12 bikes, 13 people, 220 km, cold, 100% wet roads, rain, fog, very windy,
17 deg in Melb., much less up Donna or across Reefton
Birds migrate north in the winter, heading for warmer climes; so shall we. Hopefully the windy season will have abated. First stop Lancefield General Store after 135 km via Flowerdale, Strath Creek, Trawool, Tallarook and Pyalong. Then up the Burke and Wills Track to Mia Mia: twisties followed by a long straight bumpy section. Maybe we'll stop at the memorial propeller. On to Redesdale and Lake Eppalock which almost does not exist anymore, now just used as a holding reservoir for Bendigo, water pumped from elsewhere. We'll pass through strange place names such as Axedale and Knowsley heading along back roads to Mia Mia again and on to Heathcote after a further 125 km for late lunch. Then a fairly direct route home through Tooborak, Pyalong, Broadford and Wandong to finish at Whitlesea coffee shop in the main street. Expect an easy 340 km for the day.
22 bikes, 22 people, 370 km, 19 deg., strong north wind
13 bikes, 13 people, 406 km, cold and very windy 14 deg., mainly dry roads Incident: Cliff's battery on GSXR1000 failed after six years; left bike and pillioned with Ron Incident #2: Dave Ward (Z1000) ran out of petrol (no fuel at Loch); siphoned fuel and caught ride at breakup point September 2009
According to Trevor, "From Whittlesea it's north to Kinglake West, Flowerdale, Strath
Creek and almost into Broadford before swinging south to Wallan.
Our first break will be at the bakery at the northern end of
town.
Saturday 12th September
This is an easy ride suitable for pillion passengers, first time riders, and P-platers. It might be a bit far for Learners. Having said that, it is most likely that only regular MSR members will attend, with the odd partner or two. The ride is intended to be gentle and tolerable for our better halves. The route is Whittlesea, Flowerdale, Broadford first stop after 70 km through the fire ravaged countryside. Then Glenaroua, Seymour, Mitchellstown and Chateau Tahbilk for lunch. Keep your eye out for kangaroos. Home via a more direct route early afternoon. Marvellous setting over looking the river, excellent food, reasonably priced. Long hard packed dirt driveway meanders through the vineyard to the Chateau. 9 bikes, 3 cars, 20 people, 250 km, 30 deg humid
All the usual sensational high risk roads through Gippsland.
Continuous brilliant scenery, endless corners, top notch
company, regular stops with excellent food and service. Route
suits Japanese sports bikes - just what your bike was designed
for. Use it while you still can. Home exhilarated and exhausted
after epic 380 km, two days to recover, can't wait till next
time. First stop Korumburra if you are chasing the ride. Three
km of dirt through Arawata.
13 bikes, 13 people, 385 km, 17 deg.
Short ride through the Black Spur, Marysville, Reefton Spur, Gembrook, and Cockatoo to finish in Packenham. Then head for Black Rock BBQ. RSVP Ha by emailing to [email protected] or ringing 0411-113-172 by 16 September for catering purposes and to advise of any special dietary requirements. Invitation is limited to Club members only. Please do not ask new riders along to the BBQ.
Ride: 8 bikes, 10 people, 225 km, 19 deg.
Harkaway, Upper Beaconsfield, Cockatoo, Upper Packenham, Gembrook,
Warburton for first break. Brilliant sounding names, exceptional
riding roads with more to follow. Then across Reefton and up Lake
Mountain, though if this weather keeps up and the snow keeps falling,
we might miss out on Lake Mountain as the gate will be tolled. Maybe a
squirt up Donna Buang instead. Marysville for lunch and then back
across the Black Spur to break up at Healesville after 230 km.
24 bikes, 24 people, 195 km (route modified), 19 deg.
Lancefield for morning tea via Broadford and Pyalong. Then up the Burke and Wills Track to Redesdale and across to Sutton Grange working our way west to the heritage town of Maldon. Fuel up at the Y junction and then wander the town in search of bakeries and pastries. Home via the gold digging country towns including Castlemaine, Chewton, Fryerstown, Mt Franklin (of the mineral water fame), Hepburn Springs, Spring Hill, Tylden, Trentham East, Woodend, Cameron's Corner, Bolinda, and Wild Dog Road to finish under Tullarmarine flight path at Bulla, 15 minutes from the city. Huge variety of interesting roads and scenery. Around 320 easy km. 9 bikes, 9 people, 405 km, 12 deg., strong west, south west wind all day (av 40-50 km/h peaking at 55km/h according to BOM); occassional light shower, roads 75% dry Incident: police road block - power lines down. Phew! October 2009Thursday 1st October General Meeting - Guest Speaker 6.30 pm Tower Hotel, 686 Burwood Road, Hawthorn East (corner of Burwood, Camberwell Road and Albert Street) 8 pm presentation Collect your magazine and save the Club some postage charges. Catch up with your fanatical motorcycling enthusiast mates, share a cheap meal and still be home by 10.30 pm. Guest speaker for tonight is Geoff Taylor who recently travelled around India with his son on motorcycles. Geoff is a Professor in Physics at the University of Melbourne. Here is the synopsis in his words: Getting High in Kashmir on an Enfield Bullet, presented by Geoffrey Taylor A year or so ago my son and I thought we would like to buy a couple of Royal Enfields and ride through India, Pakistan, China, through the "-stans" and onto Europe. Na�ve about the difficulties of such a trip and unable to carry out that precise itinerary we decided to hire a couple of bikes anyway and go up into the high mountains of Kashmir and Ladack. Second choice turned out to be a winner. This presentation will give a little of the flavour of our ride which was, for me, one of the highlights of my life.
The route will include Healesville, Black Spur, and Marysville for morning tea. Then on to Taggerty and the very exciting Jamieson Road stopping at the Torbreck River bridge, just before the dirt begins. Thirty seven kilometres of twisty roads in and another 37 back out. Eildon for lunch. Then up to Mt Pinninger for a sensational views of the dam and Fraser National Park before heading across Skyline to Alexandra, followed by the brilliant high speed sweepers on the Molesworth Road to regroup at Yea. We may head around through Murrindindi and take the back way to break up at Kinglake. Expect around 270 km for the day. Ride will not suit inexperienced riders; not recommended for first time Club riders.
19 bikes, 20 people, 360 km, 14 deg., mainly wet roads,
occassional drizzle.
East West ride, first stop Broadford after 100 km. Look out for some unusual roads on this leg. Then across to Lancefield, up to Redesdale and around to Castlemaine for lunch. Another option is through Metcalfe. Homeward bound we'll head down through Vaughan, Drummond and Spring Hill to Woodend, our afternoon tea break. Then Mt Macedon, Straws Lane, and Bolinda to finish at Bulla under the Tullarmarine Airport flight path. Expect around 310 km for the day through all manner of rarely travelled roads and countryside. Be there.
17 bikes, 19 people, 310 km, 17 degrees and windy
John Rousseaux has kindly come to the rescue by offering his home as the place to finish the short ride and watch the Phillip Island MotoGP on TV while enjoying a home cooked BBQ. If intending to participate, then please advise John on mobile number 0412-880-537 for catering purposes. Paul will lead the short ride along his favourite well worn route: up Chum Creek Road, down Myers Creek Road, across to Yarra Junction, out to Powelltown, across the twisties to Noojee and up to Neerim South for first stop after 120 km. Then around through Jindivick and back along the Freeway to Melbourne. Around 140 km of good roads. Route nothing like described. 14 bikes, 15 people, 150 km, 19 deg. Another 5 people at BBQ.
"Serendipity Lavender Farm in Nar Nar Goon North is known for its lavender scones, ice cream, and anything else lavender. Serendipity Lavender Farm ain't gonna happen I'm afraid. I attempted to do the second half of the ride yesterday and encountered 12, rather than 1 km of dirt road, and coming from the other direction is just boring highway. So, if anyone's still interested, the new destination is Domaine Chandone winery in Yarra Glen. Really, who wants to ride 150 km to see acres of lavender when it's probably growing in your own backyard anyway. I guarantee the winery will be much more breathtaking - check it out: http://www.domainechandon.com.au/ and the ride's not too shabby either. Still leaving from Whittlesea at 10am. The route is only slightly different, better, in fact with more road variations: we'll bypass the Warburton Highway and tight twist our little hearts out along 10 km of back road to Warburton. After a break at the bakery, we'll head down to Pakenham Upper, back up through Yellingbo to end at Domaine Chandon on the Maroondah Highway. Depending on which direction you live, the ride home should provide just enough to keep you going until Sunday's ride :) Can't wait! Feel free to call if you have any questions: 0411 1131 72. 2 bikes, 3 people, 170km?, fine, dry 20 deg.
Note early start for this long 550 km ride. Initial usual route via Lara to Moriac for morning tea and second pickup point. Then on to Forrest taking the Mt Sabine Road to Lavers Hill (unreliable fuel). On to Port Campbell (170 km) for fuel and lunch. It is another 18 km to Peterborough and the Bay of Islands, the most spectacular sight along the coast. The return trip picks up the Twelve Apostles, Lavers Hill, Apollo Bay and Lorne (168 km) for fuel and afternoon tea. Back through Deans Marsh to regroup at Moriac (90 km) and then finish at Lara.
Cliff home in 5 minutes. The rest of us will drone
up the highway to Melbourne.
13 bikes, 14 people, 555km to Lara, 15 deg., cold 25-35 km/h southerly all day
16 bikes, 16 people, 2310 km to finish at Longwarry North Weather: about 4 heavy downpours across Day 1 and Day 2 with one hail storm; mainly hot and very humid near coast or lower areas, perfect conditions elsewhere. Some cool conditions and wet roads across from Falls Creek to Omeo. Gail force winds Bruthen to Tyers including dust storm coming in to Cowarr. Incidents: Bronwyn (Z1000) punture on Dargo Road - plugged and continued to Bruthen for air; Misho (CBR1000) puncture at Adaminaby - plugged and continued; Ha (CBR600) snapped throttle cable at Sue City on the Elliot Way - replaced with equivalent sourced form mower shop in Tumbarumba. Massive bug swarming around coastal areas - flying ants or termites; police breathalyser near Lake Glenmaggie (back back-road) at time of Melbourne Cup running No crashes, running out of petrol, police, accommodation or other issues. Brilliant weekend. November 2009
From Yarra Glen we'll head across to Healesville and down to Launching Place, Gembrook, Cockatoo, and Upper Beaconsfield to have morning tea at Garfield. Then we'll run parrallel to the Highway to Longwarry North and work our way around through Jindivick, Neerim South, Nayook, Powelltown and Yarra Junction to lunch at Warburton. Then around the Reefton Spur and maybe up and down Lake Mountian, depending on the weather, to regroup at Marysville. Then across the Black Spur to breakup in Healesville at the Beechworth Bakery. Expect around 280 of tight, twisty roads for the day. 5 bikes, 5 people, 30 deg.280 km Leader passed unmarked K1200 on Black Spur (while it was passing a car). Walking for a month.
After 2300 km the previous long weekend followed by a few days of work, the survivors will be looking for another serious challenge and an adrenalin fix. Where better than lost in the Gippsland; never far from home, but never quite knowing where you are or what is around the next corner. Loch for morning tea after 110 km via Drouin and the Korumburra Warragul road. Then we'll continue south 16 km before peeling off towards Anderson, Almurta and loops within loops, the risk of the ride lead intersecting with the group ever present, chaos the likely result. Glimpses of the sea will appear occasionally and totally in the wrong place. Woolamai, the triple K, (Kernot, Kilcunda, Kongwak) and finally (K4) Korumburra Bakery for lunch. After a leisurely break and a few reminisces, its back up the
Korumburra - Warragul Road to Lardner, bypassing
Warragul town and its lights, to Nilma and the Crossover twisties to
the Neerims, Nayook and the Powelltown sweepers to finish. Expect
around 330 km for the day - plus start and finish commutes. Sun should be
awkwardly low as we head back to Melbourne via Healesville. Hard ride,
but enough to get you through the next week taking two days to recover.
According to Tim, the route is: "First, check tread depth after Friday's track day... From Yarra Glen, we'll take the standard route via Chum Creek, Myers Creek, Don Road (approx 3 km dry, hard packed dirt, or possibly sticky wet slippery mud...), through Powelltown and into Noojee for morning tea. After the break we'll continue on to Moe for fuel before heading up to Thompson Dam to see if any recent rains have fallen in the catchment area. Then back down the road and across to Walhalla for a late lunch. Down through Tyres, along the Old Sale Road, through Crossover and Jindivick to break up at Longwarry North. Around 370km of great roads."
17 bikes, 17 people, 365 km, 28 deg.
The route will include Kinglake, Toolangi, Myers Creek Road down to Launching Place, then taking the back road to Warburton for a coffee break. From there, we'll head down to Packenham Upper via Hoddles Creek and Gembrook, then back up near Healesville via Woori Yallock to Domain Chandon Winery. An easy 200kms.
6 bikes, 6 people, 195 km, 23 deg.
Note early start. The route will encompass the normal MSR back road to reach Moriac after 100 km travelling through Little River, Lara and Batesford, bypassing Geelong. After morning tea we'll head for Deans Marsh, Beech Forest and Turtons Track (narrow, very windy, always wet road through rain forest) to Lavers Hill for lunch, a further 120 km. With the temperature hovering around 14 degrees, a cup of hot pumpkin soup will go down well. Petrol costs $1.42 a litre or 20 cents above Melbourne prices - the tourist tax you pay for having fun. Homeward bound: Apollo Bay, Forest, Dean's Marsh, Moriac (regroup), then
breakup at Lara after 400 km. Be there.
7 bikes, 8 people, 426 km West Gate Bridge to Lara, 16 degrees and heavy rain; fine in afternoon
The route will follow the familiar good roads through Kinglake West,
Flowerdale, Strath Creek, Broadford, Pyalong and down to
Lancefield for morning tea after 115 km. Then up the Burke and
Wills track to Redesdale and on to Sutton Grange and
Castlemaine.
16 bikes, 16 people, 405 km, 22 degrees, some wet roads around Kinglake West - Flowerdale; small shower Lancefield, otherwise dry December 2009
32 people, 22 members, 2 bikes and 2 dogs
From Berwick we'll head around through Harkaway and across to Upper Beaconsfield, Cockatoo, Pakenham Upper, Gembrook, Hoddles Creek, Powelltown and Noojee for first break after 115 km. You'll need to get fuel here as the next stop, Neerim South, is just out of range for most bikes. After the break we'll head up Mt Baw Baw for the first time this season, then back down to Icy Creek turning left for Hill End and Willow Grove to regroup after 113 km. Not sure if there are lunch facilities here but certainly brilliant roads to this point. After the Old Sale Road its on to the Crossover sweepers to Neerim South
and around to Jindivick to finish at the Longwarry North servo after
another 56 km. Roughly 285 hard km for the day, but worth every
corner. Good tyres essential.
26 bikes, 26 people, 26 degrees, 330 km
8 members
14 bikes, 15 people, 290 km, 22 deg.
15 bikes, 15 people, 410 km, 24 deg. fine and dry.
22 bikes, 39 people, (26 members), 1750+ km, 32-38 deg. fine and dry
during days; 2 night severe electrical and rain storms (200 mm,
flooding in Bright).
2010 Calendar
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