Rawson (Thompson Dam) Sunday 15^th July, 2007

Ian Payne (rear)	Honda CBR1000	Cameron Stevens (leader)	Suzuki GSXR1000
Paul Southwell	Honda CBR1000	Misho Zrakic	Suzuki GSXR750
Ben Warden	Honda CBR954	Dave Ward	Suzuki GSXR600
Peter Jones (3^rd ride)	Yamaha R1	Ron Solomon	Yamaha R1

I was really surprised to see seven other riders at Yarra Glen. It was freezing cold, fog across Christmas Hills, the destination far, far away, and the ride designated arduous in the old speak. Peter was back for his third ride and I would extract membership money later that day. Clearly he has the bug badly and wishes to join like minded social misfits and deviants. Welcome Peter Jones.

Cameron has replaced his much punctured rear tyre with a new one and was leading this boisterous group of larrikins. Dave and Ron were already casting aspersions of each other’s sexual preferences. Misho was doing battle with his one piece water proofs, and would have them on again, off again all day. Trapped in a no win situation: flapping horribly when worn, cold and miserable and wet without them. Buy a two piece and be done with it I say. I think Cameron has ditched his one piece for a two piece.

Ian took up his now customary rear rider station, keeping the pressure on points wise. His balance issues are improving after another bout with the physio during the week. After Cameron gave a very detailed spiel describing the route to Healesville and beyond, which saw a couple of riders wander off, the key information gleaned was “Noojee, first stop.” Good, I wouldn’t need fuel till then.

All rugged up, we set off into the murk. No sign of the sun today: 100 % overcast. It looked like it could snow at any minute. It didn’t rain much all day, though the roads were wet everywhere, and we copped a bit of soaking mist and sometimes thick fog. It would have been truly miserable, if we weren’t having so much fun trying to stay shiny side up. Healesville, Powelltown, very cold patches, pushing until fear overpowered foolish bravery. Smooth riding paramount, concentration critical, almost no-one on the roads. Very quiet.

Noojee for petrol proved a mistake. Bowser out of order was the greeting sign. While purchasing a salad roll I noted this fact to be pleasantly surprised with “Except Bikes.” I qualified! It seems the shop owner is in dispute with the petrol supplier who wants $5000 for the bowser. Yes, but I want $100K to clean up the contamination. Lawyers at 10 paces. In the interim, petrol via 20 litre plastic jerry cans at $28.15. I used about 15 litres with the rest going into Ron and Dave’s bikes.

On to apply named Icy Creek, Hill End, Moe and Tyers for fuel and a quick break. Ron followed in the tight twisties, the logic something like “If Ben gets around that corner on hard compound Michelin Pilot Powers, then I am safe as houses on my super sticky Pirelli Super Corsas.” It worked. Paul disappeared at Hill End, the call of the Hawthorn Richmond game with a mate looking like a good option.

A couple of kids pulled in to the servo on trail bikes and then proceeded to give the worst demo of rear wheel riding: no height, no power, and no style. They were an embarrassment to the breed, particularly in front of the mono king himself, Rono Mono. Strangely enough, I didn’t see him pull one all day.

Off to Walhalla, Rawson and the soaking wet Thompson Dam. Lots of leaf litter, more like heavy bark, the closer we got to the dam. Braking hard down steep hills staring at Armco on wet, litter strewn slippery roads added to the masochistic excitement of the day.

The point of the ride – to inspect Melbourne’s largest dam water level – was achieved. It was 28%, it is now 31% full. But the water surface appears to have a brown algae bloom but is more likely flotsam from the recent flooding rains blown into sheets. The water appeared distinctly muddy brown and not looking at all palatable – or is that potable?

A large spill of diesel assaulted our senses in the car park. And there was only one place it would end up, sooner or later: in the dam. There were lots of 4WDs, it being the last day of school holidays and people were leaving the National Parks and making their way back towards Melbourne and home. A guy noted that the bitumen road across the dam wall now extended all the way to Walhalla. Well, we just had to check this out.

Lies, lies and more lies. It lasted 2 km before hitting the sign post saying 24 km of dirt to Walhalla to the right and Aberfeldy off to the left. We did a U turn and headed back to Moe for fuel. The big guy behind the counter has been there forever and now he is starting to go grey. He usually watches us like hawks, no doubt heaving to deal with “runners” in these high petrol price times.

Next door to the servo is a commercial car wash doing a roaring trade, despite (or because of?) the overcast, moisture laden skies. Dave took the opportunity to give his bike a hot wash, reducing the time he might spend at home. The bikes and our riding gear were covered in road grime, mainly muddy water picked up off the road. Dry chains were the order of the day – and watching Misho change in and out of his too tight fitting one piece waterproofs. Lucky there was the odd wall he could lean on.

Back along Old Sale Road to Buln Buln, then north to Crossover on the fast sweepers before tackling the narrow twisties to Jindivick. Dave and Ron worked their way past on the last stretch, Cameron and I just having too many slips to keep up. Survived until this point, don’t go throwing it away now.

We regrouped at Longwarry North near the freeway. I had an interesting discussion with Ron about tyre patches – radial patches – a type of material with a cross hatch construction designed to flex with the tyre distortion. No enlarging of the hole as with other intrusive type patches. It is worth further investigation.

So after 320 km of fun filled excitement we headed off home around 3.40 pm, still riding as a group. The closer we got to Melbourne, the drier the roads became. The sun eventually broke through around Pakenham and proceeded to blind us all the way home, riding one hand, the other used as a sun shield. Progress was swift and steady, the traffic heavy as expected. I was home before 5 pm.

Thanks to Cameron for leading, Ian for rear riding duties, and the rest for making the effort and sharing the experience which no doubt will make us better (and safer) riders. The bike clocked up 82,000 km and with new chain and front sprocket and near new Powers front and back feels like new. If only I could get to the bottom of the cam-chain rattle when cold, and now a constant ticking when warm - cheaply!

Ben Warden