Wayne Grant ZX9R Greg Hales TL1000S

Jeremy Hubbard ZX9R Richard Hilburn ZX7R

Priya Munasingh GSXR750F Ray Walker GSXR750F

Enzo Cunico YZF1000 Steve Anderson CBR1100XX

Ian/Sherry Handforth XTZ660 Ben Warden ZXR750

Peter Doak/Dave Sandars TLR1000 Craig Morley YZF750

Peter Wallis/Emma Norling Moto Guzzi 1100S Jack Youdan VFR750

Frank/Christine Schutte Honda Vardero John Curry R1100RS

Julie McCall Car

After doing the pre ride (drive, actually) the previous day I thought very few, if anyone, would be participating in this ride. The Saturday rained consistently throughout the day and I was pleased to be in the car. The outlook for the next day was marginally better, but not much.

As this was a short ride the first and last pickup point was Whittlesea where I arrived early. It was a lonely place at 10.10 am. I had been having problems with the ignition system on my bike for the last several rides where the whole thing would just shut down as if the battery had been removed. There is a direct short somewhere in the ignition system. The most likely culprits are the ignition wires themselves as they have been rejoined after somebody at the MCG attempted to hot wire the thing about six months ago. The bike was turned off while I was putting petrol in at Whittlesea and I knew I would be fiddling with the wires to get it started again.

Before I had an opportunity to try and get it restarted another possible problem arose. Just as I hung the bowser back in its place Craig races up to me saying, "Don’t get fuel here. I filled up last week and had to drain my tank!" His actual words were more descriptive but the message was the same. The previous week the station had had some dud fuel, some of which ended up in Craig’s tank and then later straight onto the ground. I guess it happens from time to time; it is just one of those risks.

As 10.30 am came closer the number of bikes steadily rose until there were sixteen with twenty people. I knew I had only booked the pub for about six, hoping that they would cope with a few extras on a quite Sunday. We commenced on time and headed down roads I am now very comfortable with, that is, I know where I am going. Wallan, Romsey and Lancefield where a child’s bike ride was running. I kid you not. The main road had police everywhere while these very young children (6 or 7 yrs old) were pedaling there bicycles but still wandering all over the main highway. It did ensure that most of the local police would be busy, even if it was a nuisance and held the group up for five or so minutes.

Morning tea was at Pyalong, although it was surprising how spread out the ride was, even at this point. The answer lay in the fact a children’s bike ride was heading down the main highway. We had covered around 100 kays so there was no need to fill up. My bike needed the seat off yet again and some fiddling of the wires before it would start. Veryannoying. I have now ordered a new ignition with wiring that will solve the problem.

From Pyalong I intended to head for Broadford via Glenaoura although I missed the turn. Instead we ended up on the highway and had a scenic tour of the Military base, Puckapunyal. Interesting, as I have never been in there although you are clearly on federal territory as the road in and out has boom gates with military/federal police. I was able to recover easily enough and find the correct turn. This lead the group to the quieter, more enjoyable roads to Broadford, Tyack, Strath Creek, Kerrisdale and Trawool. Those last several kays into Trawool are fantastic and it seemed as though several other motorcycle people were enjoying them also. On arrival we were lead into the garden room containing excellent views of the local mountains. We were segregated far enough away from everyone else such that Craig could be his normal self and no member of the public would be offended. We love our Craig, but a diplomat he is not.

The ride was basically over at lunch. However the last sprint to Flowerdale and Kinglake West seemed to really top off a great day. Thankfully there were no incidents and those attending seemed to enjoy themselves. It was good to see newer faces amongst the crowd.