Geoff Jones (Leader) RZ350 Les Leahy_ (Rear) Ténéré

Craig Morley YZF750 Tim Walker ZX7R

Theo Kalkandis R1 Ray Walker GSXR750

Steve Leyland & Sue Wells R1100GS John Moore & Francine Bandit 1200

Ian GPZ900 Brendan CX500

Mike ZX9R Scott CBR600

Walter VFR800

A strange start to the day: I’m less than 1 km from home, making my way to the KBCP, when I stop at set of lights behind a car. The old duck in the car ahead crawls off the line when the lights turn green, so, naturally I overtake, building up a bit of speed in the process. I’ve pulled in front of her when an oncoming car flashes its lights. "Ah, speed camera ahead" I think. "Thanks mate". I make eye contact with the driver and he waves his finger at me like a granny reprimanding a naughty five year old. Kept my front wheel on the ground? Didn’t even cross double lines! Just warming up for another day out with the MTCV. Very strange.

I arrive about five minutes early and see about eight bikes already in the KBCP. Having seen Geoff’s entry in the visitor’s book on the MTCV Internet home page I have a quick chat with him about his new iMac. Pretty soon it’s time to go, and we’re off to Whittlesea.

Unusually no one was waiting at Whittlesea, but a few more arrive over the next ten minutes. Geoff gives us the run down of the ride, the corner marking spiel for the first timers, and tells us that the ride will finish at Melton, finishing with the statement that "Val is cookin’ up a storm" and that we’re all welcome back at his place at the finish.

Geoff led us out, and took the turn off to Eden Park. Three police vehicles were spotted in the run through to Wallan, but we all got through unscathed. We then took the turn off to Romsey, onto one of Craig’s favourite roads, where he was seen to be enjoying himself as he crested the hills. Turning north, we headed through Lancefield to our morning tea stop at Pyalong. It was very hot.

As I walked toward the store for a drink I was intercepted by an old cove who wanted to talk about bikes. It turned out that he used to race a Triumph Thunderbolt in the early fifties, before he had a ‘major’, smashing many bones and requiring 33 stitches to patch him up. When recovered he moved to four wheels, racing at Albert Park with the likes of Reg Hunt. He’s now into property subdivisions and claimed he owned most of the land we could see to the east of where we were standing. I heard Geoff smoke up the two-stroke again and we were off. I never did get that drink.

Heading north we took the turn-off just out of town towards Kyneton. After Kyneton we travelled on some back roads via the Lauriston Reservoir, Spring Hill, Little Hampton, and Musk to our lunch stop at Daylesford. Geoff stopped on the outskirts of town, and we parked our bikes under the shade of some big gums. Looking forward to the ‘storm’ Geoff and I don’t bother to eat, but I was parched and had two 600 ml bottles of Coke.

After lunch we headed south along more back roads (are there any other sort?) and eventually we arrive at the Buninyong fire tower. The last couple of k’s to the tower is a one way road that crosses the one way road coming down about half way - the vehicles coming down giving way to those going up at the crossing. It’s a rough goat track with patches of loose gravel, but I give it my best shot, surprised by the sudden finish, where I come to a stop almost in the doorway of the gents toilet.

Most of us climb the tower to admire the 360° view. It’s pretty much flat uninteresting country all around.

We’re off again and I’m approaching the intersection with the road up. To see if there is any oncoming traffic I have to look about 120 degrees over my right shoulder which is next to impossible on a ZX7. You turn your head and you’re looking up, not behind. As I stop to have a good look a Rolls-Royce cruises through! We continue on to Buninyong for another short break where together with Steve & Sue I check out the Buninyong Hotel. It’s the one being raffled to raise money for the Olympics. Valued at $665,000 the barman tells us that only 5000 of the $100 tickets have so far been sold. By the time you read this the raffle will have already been drawn on Australia day.

We headed back the same way we had come for a while before turning towards Ballan. Then on through Greendale, and eventually back to the Western Freeway for the run in to Melton.

About half of the group took up Geoff’s invitation and followed him back to his home for the ‘storm’. We were a bit later than expected, but no worries. Cool drinks, sausage rolls, scones with jam and cream, lemon pie, chocolate fudge and more. All homemade! Thanks Val - it was simply superb.

We’d been at Geoff’s for close on an hour when Ben Warden, with pillion Julie McCall, shot up the drive. Having missed the start he’d enjoyed a private ride to the Buninyong Fire Tower, trying to double guess our moves without success.

Rumour has it that our captain Wayne, also missed the start, and that he also enjoyed a private ride to the Buninyong Fire Tower on a very hot January afternoon.