Ray Walker (GSXR750) - Leader Ian Payne (CBR900RR) — leader
Mick Bosworth (ZX9) Dianne Welsford (CBR600)

Ben Warden (ZXR750) Bruce Saville (VFR800)

Craig Morley (YZF750) Ron Johnston (CB750)

Geoff Barton (CB750) Frank Shutte (Varadero)

Ian & Sherry Handforth (Diversion 900) — rear rider

To Tourourrong Reservoir: I can only do the write-up from the Whittlesea point as this is where I joined the ride. Most of us started the ride here, and Ian brought the small group out from the City. Must mention too that Ron had the most immaculate looking bike I have ever seen that’s done 102,000km! He’d even pulled off the front pipes and made them sparkle! (Ron, how much would you charge to detail my bike?!) Apparently they had already had passed a speed camera on the Kew Boulevard and we were told to be on the lookout for cops and that our leader would be looking after his remaining points. With this word of caution we headed off to Tourourrong Reservoir. As we left Whittlesea a little late we rode straight through Tourourrong Reservoir, but it was a lovely place, and I especially liked the narrow little winding road through the pine forest…spoken like a true girl I know, but I guess I have these liberties don’t I! Ben fiddled with something on his bike here but blowed if I know what it was as I admit I know absolutely nothing about the mechanics of bikes, beyond the tyres, throttle and petrol tank! That’s all you need to know isn’t it, put petrol in, have tyres to ride on, pull that throttle and you’re off! (The horn was interfering with the fairing on turning — I moved it back out of the way. …Ed.)

To Sugarloaf Reservoir: Anyway, we then rode that fantastic road from Whittlesea to Kinglake West (I know I shouldn’t refer to road as racetrack, but again that comparison leaps to mind! I just lerv it!) We turned right and headed down through Kinglake then…eek…turned right, onto the St Andrews Road. Ray was in front of me and Craig was behind me. I quickly rectified that and waved Craig past, then after a while waved Ron past too. It wasn’t long before they disappeared from sight. I’m not too keen on the St Andrews Road and just tootled through there on my own, happy to make it through! Through Panton Hill, Smiths Gully, then just as I thought we were heading toward Kangarooo Ground Ian surprised me with a left-hand turn (actually 2 cornermarks surprised me!) Applied some rather heavy braking, toyed with the idea of doing a stoppie - just kidding, and took the turn onto a "rollercoaster" road across to the Christmas Hills Road.

We rode into Sugarloaf Reservoir. Some of us climbed up to the info centre and read a little about the area, and then had a yak in the carpark. Little did I know what it would start when I commented that I found it rather strange they quote that people have been there 40,000 when Europeans have only been there 150 years. Ray mentioned carbon dating the artifacts the Aboriginals left there…and from there the conversation went onto reconciliation…and we could go on all week about that topic at the moment couldn’t we!…to immigration, government handouts…etc etc etc! So Bruce requested we get onto the weather rather than get him started on the injustices of our system. I think it would have got us all started! Actually then it progressed to banks (more injustices)…hmmm…I digress!

To Marysville: I also discovered here that Ray does competition ten pin bowling, as he had to leave us to go play his 2pm game. The rest of us continued along the Christmas Hills Road. Ben & I were flashed early on by an oncoming car so ended up taking it very easy as the whole road is now an 80 k zone and the cops are blitzing it.

On through Yarra Glen, Healesville and up through the Black Spur. A Porsche I was behind early on thought he’d see how long he could stay in front of me. Well that killed a few seconds! I then tucked in behind Mick, with Craig on my tail, well up my clacker actually. I must apologise to Craig as I didn’t realise at the time how many times he was trying to get by. I was too busy watching the approaching bends. Eventually he took off and I started to follow him, however traffic put an end to that idea (well that’s my excuse anyway!).

Craig and I ended up corner-marking on the turn-off to Marysville…and we waited…and we waited…and we waited. (I found out later our rear rider was getting used to his new bike and was taking it very easy). In the meantime a couple of guys tried talking to me across the road, when I went over to hear what they were saying they said they were just admiring my fluoro wheels…that must deserve an extra couple of member points doesn’t it Ben! You’re privileged to have such a showpiece on a Club ride (now do you want a bucket!). Had a struggle here putting my helmet back on as my head grew a little bigger!!

Just when I was beginning to wonder if everything was okay with the rear rider (actually quite a while after I was beginning to wonder!), I asked Craig if he could go back to see if they were on their way. (With my u-turn expertise I was just as likely to spot them at the end of the Spur but have to continue to Yarra Glen to do a u-turn!). He got about 5 metres and they came along!

By now I could hear that bakery calling me so off I shot to Marysville for the lunch stop. We had a really enjoyable lunch on the veranda, again yakking about anything and everything, then headed up to the servo to fill up. Our numbers grew by one at Marysville as Frank Shutte joined us here, just for the section up to the Upper Yarra Dam.

To Upper Yarra Dam via Reefton Spur: On the section from Marysville up toward Lake Mountain I found myself behind Mick & tucked in behind, but had a very interesting time trying to keep up with him going uphill. I managed to do it though, just had to dance all over the gears and just about pull the rubber off the throttle…but I did it! (Anyone feel like contributing to the "Di needs an R1 Foundation"??!!)

I gave myself another 100 grey hairs on the newly sealed (new to me anyway!) section leading to the Reefton. I made the mistake of going left around a "bump" and found myself sliding on the loose gravel along the edge…hmmm…won’t make that mistake again in a hurry. Also decided to wave past Frank as I didn’t want him to have a heart attack too!

Got to the Reefton & found quite a few bikes around it, Geoff Barton left us here to go home to milk the cows. Apparently he’s thinking about buying a ZX7 (Geoff I know a fantastic CBR600 going cheap, at just $12,000! Only ridden by a girl on Sundays!) With corner-markers already there, I followed Mick & Bruce through the Spur. I quite enjoyed having bikes to follow through there actually as I usually end up doing it on my own. It’s also handy seeing when they brake and how far they lean so you know what corners are coming up, so long as they’re read them correctly! But they did and all 3 of us lived to tell the tale so we did okay! The only bit of action I know about on the Reefton was apparently Mick’s bike stepped out when he went to overtake a car. It must have handled it okay though as I never noticed it (or do you have 100 grey hairs now too Mick?!).

We found Ian waiting at the end and followed him up to the Upper Yarra Dam, and last dam for the day…damn...okay so it’s corny but someone had to say it! There was still no sign of the forecast thunderstorm; in fact it had been muggy all day and we were now really feeling it. We stayed just long enough to get some more chit chat in, different subjects yet again, I don’t remember a ride I’ve been on with so many diverse conversations, I didn’t hear any hero stories at all! Ian, you mustn’t have been leading the ride hard enough! Actually it was great. I always love a yak (as if that needed to be said!) Ian said we’d continue down to Warburton for "break-up" point. He told me he’d see me at the entrance, so I headed off, only to be totally confused when I saw his bike go past and was positive that wasn’t his leathers! I pulled over and Ron explained Ian & Ben had changed bikes, just as Ian went sailing by on the ZXR750. So off I headed in pursuit…and for quite a while that’s what it was. I would give it the berries, and just catch sight of him only to see his bike disappear around the next corner…but the chase was fun! Caught up with them when they slowed down for the towns…and we pulled into the Warburton Bakery for a much desired drink. (I’m now informed Ben was testing Ian’s suspension on the Blade).

I basically had to scull my water as I still had to attend the Welsford Christmas "do"! (For those of you on the ride, I actually made it! I left Warbie just after 4, and was in Rowville just after 5 having swapped vehicles & clothes! And most of the family were still there. I was rapt to have been able to "have my cake and eat it too" by enjoying the ride but still seeing them all!)

From the City to Upper Yarra Dam was about 260ks, and I was told on Monday that it reached 30 degrees on Sunday, which wouldn’t surprise me.

So thanks Ian for a great ride with great roads (and great weather, you certainly covered all angles didn’t you! What a Pres! Thanks Ian & Cherry for going rear rider all day, congratulations Craig on riding well all day after a "big" day Saturday!, Ray I hope you won your bowling!, thanks Ben for chauffering my cap around all day and thanks all who came and made this a great ride.

As the scheduled leader, John Murphy, had/has a damaged back, he was not the leader, having even gone to the trouble of planning and pre-running a route.

Not many starters you say? Well, it was Father’s Day, with attendant other commitments. But it was the first Club ride in the first spring of a new century so what’s that to do with anything? We, well, me wanted to start on time (you know like MTCV used to) but the 10:15 am Hallam start was really 10:25 am. My slackness.

The route was Cranbourne, Hastings, Red Hill, and Arthurs Seat. We just had to go down the Arthurs Seat road and just noted a motorcycle cop parked at a lookout. We go to the bottom, turn, and halfway back up see officer is powering down after us, and by the time he turns, we are in parking mode at the top. Turns out he had "nuttin" on the group but just had to do licence/rego checks anyway. The four proved "clean" even if cop was surprised by Vincent’s Belgium international license. Cop goes "Is this a motorcycle licence?" Vincent responds "yes". Cop goes "OK I believe you".

According to this officer, Arthurs Seat and the Reefton Spur are the prime roads where motorcyclists ride big bikes (or unregistered bikes) on limited or no licenses — easy pickings for Police!

A short lunch break was followed by the return trip through Boneo, Flinders, Merricks and Hastings. Good roads, good bends and good riding although close to being blown off by very strong cross winds.

Our short ride stopped around 2pm near Dandenong after 225 km.