Highlands 25^th January, 2004

We travelled: Whittlesea - Kinglake West - Flowerdale - Strath Creek – Tyaak - Broadford. We stopped here for morning tea. We left Broadford and rode up to Sugarloaf Creek to Seymour (breath test). Seymour - Highlands (puncture). Greg led ride to Yea for lunch. Yea - Junction Hill - Flowerdale – Kinglake West - Kinglake - St Andrews - Kangaroo Ground. Approx. 200 km.

Jason Miller Honda CBR600F4 (1^st ride)

Greg Hales Honda CBR929 (2^nd leader)

Paul Grosser Kawasaki ZX12R

Liz Oliver Honda CBR954

Pete Weyermayr Honda CBR929 (1^st leader)

Trevor Harris Yamaha YZF1000

Dereck Atkinson Yamaha FZR1000 (rear rider)

So I wake up and look out the window. To my surprise, the sky is dark with clouds (no surprise really, based on previous two Sundays).

Getting from Malvern to Whittlesea, via the tunnel and Ring Road only took about 50 minutes which amazed me; as it’s normally an hour to Yarra Glen. At Whittlesea, Pete, Liz, Greg and Jason are raring to go. After fuelling up the ZX12, which uses more fuel than some small countries, we mounted up, ready to depart as the final two arrive (Trevor & Derek).

With Pete in the lead, I slip in behind Greg and we make our way towards Kinglake West. Expecting Greg to disappear in a flash as we approach the run into the hills I was surprised by his restraint, only to learn later that that stretch is a favorite of the local constabulary.

The run through to Broadford for morning tea was uneventful with little traffic and Pete setting a good pace.

After a quick refresh, it was off to Sugarloaf Creek, then Seymour. The road up to Sugarloaf Creek was littered with traffic and plenty of gravel making it an interesting run. On entering Seymour we were temporally delayed by the local constabulary with a few RBT’s (random breath test …Ed.) but were soon on our away up to Highlands.

This is where our plans quickly turned to mud. Not far out of Seymour Pete pulls up with a rear tyre puncture. The plan was for Greg to take over the lead, with Pete and Liz to meet up with us at Alexandra.

Under Greg’s command we head for Alexandra. However, as we pass through Yea, the grassy median strip looks like the perfect spot to park for lunch. After fuel and food, we have a nice laze on the grass in Yea, deciding where to go from here. Meeting up with Pete and Liz (they just happened to see us on the grass) we formulate a plan to head back via Kinglake West and Kangaroo Ground.

With Greg still in the lead the run to Kinglake West was fantastic: beautiful high-speed sweepers with great scenery. On leaving Kinglake West I notice an R1 in flight, chased by the cops, lights ablaze in a Nissan Patrol which was losing the battle fast. I thoroughly enjoyed myself on the Kinglake – St Andrews twisties, with only the occasional car on the wrong side of the read scare.

From St Andrews it was a leisurely pace to Kangaroo Ground and then on home.

Overall a great ride, with a wide variety of roads and surfaces, good company and mild weather.

Paul Grosser (Kawasaki ZX12)