The itinerary says this is a short ride so it’s matched with a short report article on our adventures. Riders are Vincent Yamaha R6, Mike ZX9R, Greg TL1000S (rear rider) and Jack VFR 800 (leader and scribe).

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.