Ben, Julie, Laura and Fiona — car, trailer and CBR900RR1, Ron & Julie Johnston — car, trailer and CB750, Ray Walker — GSXR600, Katrina, Jye & Riley Walker — car, Tanya Walker - GPX250, Wayne Grant & Verity Mayo — Nissan 4WD, trailer and ZX9, Ian Payne — van & CBR900RR, Rob Langer & Kirsten Anderson — Merc 4WD, trailer, WR400 & XT250, Paul Tallents — Ford ute & YZF600, Dav Zivkovic - car, Jon Riddett — K100RS, Peter Philferan — Majesty 250, Bruce Saville - car, Derek Atkinson & Kathy Robinson — CBR600, Dianne Welsford — Car, Rob & Mandy Matricciani — Car (plus the dogs), and Ian & Sherry Handforth — XTZ600. 28 people

The Wardens, Walkers, Johnstons, Grants and Payne all arrived on this day. With much interest in Ray and Ben’s new bikes. A quick run up Mt Buffalo at dusk. The National Parks fee collecting kiosk shuts at 4.36 pm Eastern Standard Public Service Time, effectively dropping the starters flag, with about four hours of daylight remaining, allowing plenty of time to sightsee and get back for tea.

Davorin and Jon arrived as did Peter P who was staying in a motel in Porpunkah. A ride on the Hotham chair lift for the Wardens was a good excuse for Ben, Ray and Ian to ride over the Tawonga Gap/ Dederang Gap, up Hotham and on to Dinner Plain. Usual run up Mt Buffalo at dusk.

With the others doing the family thing, Ian went over Hotham to Omeo and on the way back checked out the new airport. Bruce Saville arrived on his way to Sydney and stayed overnight at a hotel in Bright. Rob and Kirsten also arrived. Usual run up Mt Buffalo at dusk with a couple of car loads coming up to feed the birds.

A big day today with a 532 kilometer trip planned that would encompass Bright, Tawonga Gap, Gundowring, Tamgambalanga, Tallangatta, Granya Gap, Walwa, Corryong (lunch), Mitta Mitta, Tamgambalanga , Dederang, Ovens and back to camp. Phew! Those going included leader Ben, Ray, Ron, Wayne, Ian & Robert (Rob lives in Epping and rides a YZF600. He was also staying in the caravan park and we had met him 2 years before. He had joined us for a couple of blats up Mt Buffalo and would fit in well with the Club, if you get my drift.). Every time we stopped Ron was heard to exclaim "These roads are fantastic, I have got to come back here. Where are we?" First timer Ray was pretty impressed too, though the high speed stuff really took its toll on the tyres. Wayne gave his bike its head on his favourite Corryong to Tallangatta stretch, Ian doing his best to keep up. A sensational ride in perfect riding weather. And very few cars on the roads we went on.

That afternoon Rob and Mandy (with the dogs) and Dianne Welsford arrived to spend a few days with us. No run up Buffalo tonight!

Another family outing was planned with Ben & Rob’s brood visiting the Emu/Deer/Alpaca farms, then back for some swimming as it was quite hot. Paul Tallents arrived and quickly headed off, with Jon Riddett to scrub in his new tyres on Tawonga Gap.

Derek & Kathy arrived; they were camping at Jamieson and paid us a visit.

Usual run up Buffalo at dusk.

Another big day planned with the boys heading to Omeo/Benambra and return. Dianne and Ian headed for Hotham then back to camp to prepare for the New Years eve party. No run up Mt Buffalo tonight, instead across Tawonga Gap! Big party around the camp fire to see the New Year in with most in bed by 2am. The Scrabble game had to be completed well in to the new year.

A rather late start for most, although Rob and Mandy left early (a deflating airbed blamed for no sleep) followed by Wayne and Verity then Dianne. Soon after Ray and Katrina then Ben and Julie and finally Ian. Paul andthe Johnston’s had planned to stay another day.

• Tanya Walker had only come to the camp for the ride, she then headed straight back home to Sunbury, which, on a GPX250, after doing the Mt Buffalo night ride, is an unbelievable effort.
• Derek and Kathy were camped at Jamieson and had ridden over via Whitfield just for a visit. They rode back that night, also a dedicated effort.
• Ray had a brand new 2001 model GSXR600, having traded the old GSXR750 on the 23^rd of December. A Christmas present for himself.
• Ben had his new Blade at the camp and from the constant grin I think he likes it!
• Bruce Saville was heading up to Sydney to be with some mates for the new year. This annual get together seemed to be "who could kill the most brain cells" type of gathering.
• Ben and Ray didn’t waste any time in coming to terms with their new mounts. Within a few days they were riding the wheels off them with Ray’s rear tyre looking worn out at 1700 kms.
• We met a GSXR600 rider at the top of Hotham who lived near Wangaratta and trailers his bike to Bright before riding over the top to Omeo and Bairnsdale. As he does this at least once a week, to say he knows the road is an under-statement. Bike is also tweaked and puts out 110ps at the back wheel! Ben and Paul gave pursuit but only Ben stayed with him.
• After riding Ray's GSXR Paul commented that his YZF felt like a barge in comparison.
• Julie, Laura and Fiona visited the Ovens Deer Farm (including ostriches and emus), the Alpaccca farm, the Smoko trout farm (twice) - BBQ fish for tea, drove to Mt Hotham and did the chair lift including being caught in a flurry of snow, visited Mt Buffalo to feed the birds (twice), swam in the river and went horse riding at Freebourg. Fiona got off her training wheels, caught her first fish, went camping, made new friends, and stayed up late!
• Excellent weather throughout the period - low twenties early in the week building to mid thirties late in the week, allowing some swimming. Certainly better than a damp and cold Melbourne.
• A Total Fireban in the caravan park was enforced on second night - we had a big fire first night, not knowing any better. Other residents complained about the ban, open fires being a major attraction when camping, and Craig, the Park Manager, relented and lifted the ban. Mind you, Ben went prepared with a bow saw and axe ostensibly to cut down dead limbs. But Wayne thought green ones would burn a bit slower. Oops. Craig wasn't too keen on that idea either.
• Wayne and Verity went riding on their push bikes on a few occasions.
• The Scrabble board was brought out on a few nights, Ben's powered site providing a long extension to a lead light. Plenty of chocolates and Christmas cake etc consumed along with the odd bottle of wine.

Ian Payne and Ben Warden