To save Geoff going into the City, Tim Walker had led the KBCP contingent out to at Hallam. So altogether we had: -

Geoff Barton (leader) – R1100GS Ray Walker – GSXR750 Cosimo Comodo – SZR650*

Geoff J. – ZZR600 (Rear Rider) Theo Kalkandis – R1 Ian Payne - CBR900R

Tim Walker – ZX7R Roger ? – R1* Wayne Grant – ZX9R

Phil ? – VFR750* Rhys Williams – ZX7R Danny Vits – VFR800

Mark Blaski – GSXR600 Bruce Saville – FJ1200 Derek Atkinson – FZR1000 Michael ? – VF750* Hilary Smith – TRX850* * Non members

With the pre-ride talk given and rear rider selected we headed around to Upper Beaconsfield, Emerald and Cockatoo. Then onto Woori Yallock and the Warburton Highway to Yarra Junction. Unfortunately some of the group got mixed up with other bikes heading for the Reefton Spur. Eventually they got back on track and we continued along this great piece of road through Powelltown and Neerim South. Up to Warragul, where a few of the group needed a bit of a breather. But due to the long nature of the ride Geoff had planned on a stop at Korumburra, still another 40 kilometers away.

A stop at last. After fuel we headed to the bakery to check out all the delicious treats, with the dark skinned beauty in the short white skirt getting everyone’s vote. Now a chance to catch up on the news and meet the newer riders. Yes Hilary was a guy and he could really get that TRX to mono.

Off again, this time passing through Outrim, Leongatha South, Tarwin Lower, Walkerville and Yanakie. Then onto "The Prom". Due to its National Park status an entrance fee of $2 was charged per bike. As well as your entry, the fee entitled you to some Park information but I don’t think the Ranger knew how to answer Rhys’s question "Are there any coppers on the road between here and Tidal River"?

The run to Tidal River was sensational with Geoff setting a "good pace". But the place was bursting with people, some camping, some tourists. If you had begrudged the $2 fee it now seemed OK as the amount of "birds" in skimpy outfits made it all worth while. Some of the guys had a theory that the hotter the weather, the skimpier the outfits, the higher the entrance fee!

Talking of birds, Geoff had managed to catch one, the ‘feathered’ kind, in the engine finning on his GS. Not sure how long it had been there but it looked ‘well done’ and a look at his tyres showed they were also a bit hot and bothered. Time for some food and a bit of a talk with Ray, who proudly told me "it’s taken 18 months but I’ve finally stopped the oil leaking out of the GSXR"!

Wayne, Mark and Danny had already departed as Geoff rallied the troops for the 37 kilometer run up to Yanakie where we stopped for petrol. Then it was off to explore a great little road between Hoddle and Foster North before hitting the highway to Meeniyan, Leongatha (more fuel) and Loch. On to the back roads for the run to Nyora and Lang Lang where the ride officially finished.

Many thanks to Geoff.Barton for leading an exceptionally well run ride and also to Geoff.Jones for the rear riding duties. The run home along the South Gippsland highway was exciting when a drought-breaking storm hit the area. I pushed on the extra 15 kms to arrive home where it was bone dry. Unbelievable!