Omeo via Mansfield Weekend April 16^th and 17^th, 2005

How to sum up the weekend: SPIDERBAIT

1225km awesome roads, 2 days of awesome weather, 8 polite(?) riding partners

In order of appearance:

Paul Grosser our leader, thank you, thank you, thank you

Jeff Grosser some scraping, classic, heavy type, Harley thing, rear end guard

Ern Reeders TDM 850

Nigel Hellyer 4X4 Mitsubishi

Me of course GSXR1000

Ben Warden 995ish

Shane Hindle Blade

Bronwyn Manifold skirt

Dave Ward new ute

Enzo Cunico VFR

Yarck: foggy it’s gonna be perfect when this lifts.

Paul our leader, Jeff his dad, Nigel Buell that isn’t here (fork seals blown, bugger, bitch, bum) but the result being a support vehicle, which was called upon at Omeo (see Shane, that’s one mention already). Also Ern, who I first met on the Towong Snowies four day away trip. They’re all having coffee. I know I shouldn’t but it’s a bit chilly.

Ben and Shane are next to arrive. It’s the first time we’ve seen Shane’s Blade. Pity we didn’t see it without the scratches, brand new oggy knobs showing what a good job they can do, after the shiny tyres found diesel coming down the Tyak twisties towards Strath Creek. Both sides copped it, one oggy knob worn half away. Didn’t seem to faze him, though.

Paul hands out maps of the intended route. Bronwyn and Dave rock up in their easily recognisable new acquisition, a bright orange ute. Their plan is to detour to Wang’s Swap Shop for a look see. Hmm. I wonder if they are hoping to fill that empty tray with a collectable?

Nigel is already looking in the backup vehicle for Rainex for me; I’m whinging (already) about fogging on the inside of my visor. I’m gonna black out holding my breath if this keeps up. I’ve not tried this stuff before, and still haven’t. The fog lifted 5 minutes down the road. This ride is gonna be grouse, I thought.

Through Mansfield, I knew I shouldn’t have had that coffee. I forgot all about the discomfort with the concentration on the much anticipated fantastic road to Whitfield. Smoko and refuel here. Ern leaves us, going cross country to rejoin us at Myrtleford. Paul and Jeff swap bikes for this 80 km stint to Myrtleford.

Ern already is there by the time we arrive. I notice while we’re stopped at the bakery that there were more smokers among us than usual, saying to Ben “We’re out numbered, 3 to 3”. Wise-ass replies he has same situation at home, being out numbered by Julie, who always has the casting vote. Which reminds me of the joke about a bloke who was asked how he managed a successful 50 year marriage? His reply was a pre-nuptual agreement stating that he would make all the important decisions and his intended wife would make all the minor decisions. In 50 years, he hasn’t had to make one decision.

Yahoo! We’re getting back into the good stuff: 40 kilometres of twisties across from Ovens to Dederang on the Happy Valley Road, then down to Mt Beauty. Then off to Falls Creek and back. This is what we came up here for: another 60 kilometres of non stop twisties.

We stopped at the Towonga Gap lookout on the way to Harrietville, our overnight stay. The idea of doing Mt Hotham before calling it quits came up. “There’s enough light”, said Ern, with his endless knowledge of the area, assuring me that sun in our eyes wouldn’t be a problem; we’d be on the south side of the mountain for most of the ride. And it might be foggy and damp in the morning so better to do it now! Well that did it!

Ern was staying behind at Harrietville Motel but Paul, I’m sorry, got left behind. I thought he heard me when I said we’d fuel and regroup at the pump. Sorry again. We thought you changed your mind when you didn’t rock up for fuel. Jeff’s thoughts, when we got up the top were: “Shit, I should have borrowed Paul’s ZX12 instead of grinding away the Harley.”

Was that weird coloured ute Bronwyn and Dave heading down as we were heading up? Yep.

It was a perfect way to finish the day. Ben called this our sighting lap for tomorrow, sitting on a pace allowing me to tag on, both up and back. Awesome stuff. Thankyou.

I found out the Hotel has a heated (so they told me) outside pool. I’m in! Spotted Bronwyn and Dave heading for a camera. Oh! Towel. I’m out! Almost forgot to mention the colourful foliage display at this time of year, adding to all the other joys along the way.

Just on dusk Enzo rolls into town while we are all sitting outside with drinks, viewing the road. Pub is busy; Klaus Mueller has a dirt bike tour group staying. I was told he does at least seven of these tours a year, each lasting at least 5 days. That’s a bit of punishment on your body. He was fueling up a DR350 electric start when I struck them the next morning. I found that odd. There were another 20 or 30 dirt bikers at the other motel as well as a group of Ducati owners. Bike city!

We had better get our meal orders in before the rush, I thought. But, somehow the Mueller lads got special privileges anyway. It took all evening to sort out our meals. There was lots of talk over the table, watched some footy, then went for a walk and observed the awesome, star filled sky, followed by bed.

It was a crisp morning. Ern was right, no fog. Bronwyn and Dave were heading off early in the opposite direction. One of the workmen at the pub told me about another good road out of Omeo to the Blue Duck Inn. Turns out we won’t do that one today. Ben, of course, already knew it. By the way, Ben should get a refund for his room with the smoke alarm beeping every 30 sec. There was no way of disabling it with the cathedral ceilings. He ended up getting some sleep using earplugs.

I walked down to the General Store where the others were already having coffee. Some of us managed to get something to eat. We’re leaving in 25mins, I heard called. Shit, gotta get back, gear up, and fuel up. I was already worried about holding things up.

I got back to the bowser to find every dirt biker in town filling up. Shane rode up and changed his mind. I didn’t have a choice. I was hoping Shane told the others what was going on. This is when Klaus introduced himself: an arrogant, loud mouthed, obnoxious, pain in the ass. His words. Yes, you would surely have to know how to take him, hey Jeff?

Up to Mt Hotham with Ben and Enzo. It was very windy on the summit and I really felt it riding across the ridge. Unlike yesterday, when it was perfect. On to Omeo and smoko,

I’m starting to worry. Shane seemed to be taking a while to come through. Ben said, “That will give you something to do.” Worry, that is. But even the Harley, through those open sweepers, wouldn’t be this long.

Shane’s blinker had fallen off, a legacy of the earlier crash. Then his bike wouldn’t start. The support crew (Nigel and Jeff, who by the way, did the rear riding duties all weekend, thanks) helped push start it. Still won’t restart when he got to Omeo. Fuses are OK. Shane has already taped the blinker wires, after a few hypotheticals are discussed. Then Ben swaps his battery and Shane’s bike starts. We call upon the back up vehicle to jumpstart Ben. No go. Shane’s battery is worse than flat. Swap them back. Shane will just have to push start from here.

Paul and Jeff have got a good head start on us for the 100 kilometres to Bruthen. I’m the rabbit for this section, everyone happy to stay behind me. It might have had something to do with the two cockies chatting on the side of the road, one of them with big blue POLICE logo across the back. I’m lucky he wasn’t paying attention. I’m thinking, well at least there couldn’t be any more police along here. WRONG! Moments later there was another oncoming cop car. So now I think there positively can’t be any more police. Wahoo!

It was another awesome section. We caught up to Paul. I was shagged by our next refuel at Bruthen. What a buzz! And there’s still more to come!

Nigel left for home, knowing the traffic from here on would be affecting his time. Shane’s bike, after undergoing the BenMidas touch, is now cured. Hope it’s still OK, Shane.

Only about 40 kilometres through Bairnsdale and we turnoff for the 70 kilometres to Dargo, and 70 kilometres back! Another awesome ride of non-stop twisties. It was really, really, really hard to keep up with Ben and Enzo. One slightly scary corner, out of the hundreds. It had a sheet of water and slope, right on the apex, of course, with an on-coming 4x4. Stay cool, I told myself.

I got a head start on the way back from Dargo. I was getting worn out and couldn’t remember where that water was. About a dozen 4x4s headed out just before us. I thought maybe by the time Ben and Enzo caught me, I would be able to tag on. Nup. Dropped off. Great while it lasted.

Paul had headed off before us and Jeff had been waiting at the turn off. Ern and Shane roll up and it’s back to boring stuff through Heyfield to next refuel at Tyers. The sun is getting low and bothersome, now heading directly into it. But it’s not all over yet. Paul scooted us up through Neerim South and Jindivick. So probably another hour of fun before we said our goodbyes. Ben, Enzo and I went and played in the traffic.

I hope someone else does their version cause this sounds like it’s just all about me, me, me. Awesome fun all weekend. Thanks to everyone.

Lyn Duncan (Suzuki GSXR1000)