Hallam was the only pick-up on this short ride but just to make sure I came off the West Gate and checked the Kings Bridge car park. No waiting bikes so off down the freeway to the designated start point, weather looking OK, some cloud around but no rain all day.

Fuel up and join the waiting group, consisting of:

Rhys Williams ZX7R, Geoff Barton R1100GS,

Bruce Saville VFR800, Danny Carr RS250,

Geoff Jones ZZR600, Colin Scott GSXR600,

Jacinta Thomas CBR900, Ian &Leslie Zepher 750,

Darren Morcomb TL1000, Ron Johnston CB750 [at Hallam only],

Wayne Grant ZX9R, Ray Walker GSXR750,

Wayne & Jo Nimmo Hayabusa, Rob Wordie GSXR750,

Ian Payne CBR900, Michael Jones Katana 750,

Rob Matricciani VFR750, Tania Walker GPX250,

Steve Philp & Melanie CBR600, Steven Bailey & Jo VFR750,

and at Queenscliff, John Curry R1100RT.

Ian Payne then explained that the designated leader was unable to attend so the ride would be lead by Committee members. The corner mark system was explained and Ian became the lead for the first leg to Arthurs Seat where we would have a morning tea break. Wayne Grant took rear ride duties on this section and would lead from Arthurs Seat to the ferry. So onto Hallam Road we go for the southward run to Hastings and Balnaring. Turning west here and head for Arthurs Seat, where some don’t see the lead rider turn into the car park and follow the twists and turns of the Arthurs Seat road down to the bottom and then come back up. No one complained about the detour.

Morning tea treats were then taken, hot items the go as the temp was down in the chilly end of the gauge. But at least the roads were mainly dry with some shaded areas still damp. Ian left the ride here and Wayne took the lead. Steven & Jodie struck some electrical problems and decided to head for home. I hope they made it. Your scribe took the rear ride role and after a run down and up the Seat we headed for the ferry at Sorrento.

Wayne took the ride back to the east side of the peninsula through Flinders, Cape Schanck, Boneo and Blairgowrie to Sorrento. The ferry was due to leave at 2pm and our arrival at about 1.30pm allowed time for decisions whether to sail or not to be sorted out and also to have a couple of problems resolved. Steve and Melanie locked a helmet to their bike and then found they did not have the key to the lock. Ray Walker was carrying a spare helmet, to what end I'm not sure, but he was able to lend it to Melanie. So bolt cutters were not needed. Jacinta also struck key problems when her ignition key would not come out of the lock and, with only about 60 km of fuel left, and no way of opening the tank, things were looking grim. Some further pulling, prodding, swearing etc saw the key release and after an application of chain lube the problem was solved.

Onto the ferry a minority of the ride members went, paid the $16, and settled down for the crossing which proved to be very smooth. At Queenscliff Wayne, Ray, Tania, Ian & Leslie, Michael and Geoff were joined by John Curry who had guessed we would be on the 2 pm ferry. After fish and chips at Queenscliff I took the lead for the run back to Melbourne. We went through Collendina and Wallington to Geelong where I lost Wayne who was rear riding and Ray who was heading to Bacchus Marsh to work. With the remaining few we took the Bacchus Marsh road, after fuelling at Corio, and settled into a higher wind speed run through Balliang East, Exford and the ride finish at the Western Highway, just west of Deer Park.