If nothing else, the title of the ride certainly had many members intrigued. This, plus the combination of excellent weather, ensured a good turnout at the West Gate Servo.

XT600 Les Leahy (leader) TL1000R Darryn Webster and Rachael

ZX7R Tim Walker ZZR600 Geoff Jones

R1100RT John Curry* CBR900RR Ian Payne

XTZ660 Ian & Sherry Handforth VFR800 Bruce Saville

CBR250RR Allison & Nathan * VTR1000 Stewart Forster

VFR750 Rob Langer XT250 Kirsten Anderson

* non members

With 12 bikes and 14 people assembled, Les explained the basic route to our destination of Meredith. This is where the trial would begin and a further discussion on the event would take place.

Rob andKirsten would make their own way to Meredith as Kirsten was "riding" on her first Touring Club ride and was a little concerned she would slow us down.

We headed out over the West Gate Bridge, passing the conspicuous radar toting police car, past Laverton and through Werribee to Anakie. In the middle of town we diverged west down a little used link road that snaked it way through the Brisbane Ranges. It had everything. Tight, twisty, undulating, and even a couple of kilometers of gravel. A real treat!

We emerged onto the main road and continued onto Steiglitz and Meredith, where the servo became our base for the duration of the trial.

Les then explained the ‘team’ concept of the event. Basically teams would be formed and they would answer the eleven questions about the surrounding towns. The team could either do it as a group or individually, but only one set of answers would be presented at the end. Tim and Geoff were picked as leaders and the teams formed:

Maps, pens and instructions were issued and a couple of rules explained: (i) All team members must depart Meredith together in a single direction, and (ii) all team members must arrive back at Meredith together from a single direction. That is, teams could not traverse through the town to reach destinations where the answers lay! Tim’s team chose the individual approach while we stuck together. Les would stay to observe proceedings ("From the pub", he said.) while Rob would accompany Kirsten while she practiced her riding.

Les had planned the event so that all of the locations were contained in a radius of 25 kilometers around Meredith. The trick was to work out a route that would include them all without passing through Meredith. Now to the questions:

1. Woodburne, what is the total of all the kilometers on the 4 roadsigns = 42.
2. Bamganie corner, there are 2 signs. One is ‘Bamganie Rd" the other = No through Rd.
3. Maude, what recreational sport is played = Tennis.
4. Anakie, the Primary School carries a slogan for the Anti Cancer Council = Sun Smart.
5. Steiglitz, on Sunday what hours is the courthouse open = 10.30 to 4.30.
6. Durdiwarrah, what is the bridge load limit, travelling to Meredith = 20 Ton Gross.
7. Morrison, what is prohibited = Dumping Rubbish.
8. Mt.Egerton, what brand of petrol is sold at the General Store = BP.
9. Yendon, in what street are the tennis courts = Pope St.
10. Lal Lal, what brand of beer is advertised at the Lal Lal Hotel = Fosters Special Bitter.
11. Elaine, how many doors are there on the hall = 3.

Wow, what a sensational event. Bikes were buzzing around everywhere. Wonder what the locals thought! The roads were a great, (some I can’t recall ever being on) and the pace, it was up to yourself. Although on one particularly bumpy section I heard Stewart had trouble keeping the front wheel of the VTR on the ground!

Les had certainly put a great deal of time and effort into organizing the day and it showed. It was simple, straightforward and extremely enjoyable. Unfortunately we lost. Yes, although the "stay together" concept has some advantages, the individual approach reaps rewards in that it is quicker to send members off in all directions to obtain the answers, then regroup for the combined return to Meredith. The proof being that although both teams had exactly the same correct answers, Tim’s Team accomplished it in 1hr 11 minutes while Geoff’s took 2 hours and 9 minutes.

Congrats to the winners who shared in a booty of motorcycle magazines.

After a quick bite to eat we were off again. Back down to Anakie, Durdiwarrah and Mt.Wallace. Although Kirsten had volunteered for the rear riding duties it soon became apparent that the pressure to keep up on these unfamiliar roads, made worse by the sun glare, slowed her to the extent that she and Rob decided they would go their own way. Ian and Sherry then took over as rear rider for the final run into Exford and Melton.

As I’ve already said, this was a very enjoyable event, and Les is to be congratulated on the organization. Thanks to all the team members, who without them this Navigation Trail would not have been possible. Thanks also to our rear riders, Ian and Sherry and Rob and Kirsten. Full marks to Kirsten who persevered to overcome her nervousness and ride her bike all the way out to these unfamiliar surroundings.

Ian Payne (Honda CBR900RR)