Whitfield Pub Lunch Sunday 6^th May, 2007

Ben Warden	Honda CBR 954 RR	Darryn Webster (Leader)	Triumph 675
Dave Ward	Suzuki GSXR 600	Paul Southwell	Honda CBR 1000 RR
Chris Pointon	Suzuki GSXR 1000	Stewart Forster	Yamaha R1
Ron Johnston	Suzuki GSF 1200	Misho Zrakic	Honda CBR 600
Ian Payne (rear)	Honda CBR 1000 RR		9 bikes, 9 people

Whittlesea departure, 9:30am early start. Who forgot to turn up on time?! Someone did…LOL.

When I had a look outside this morning it was overcast and grey; not really motivational weather. Next comes the hard decision: will I or won’t I? Maybe I will just have my breakfast and see how the weather progresses. Then again, if you’re hardcore about riding your bike, there’s no debate, you just get yourself organised and go. That’s it. End of story. By the time I had my breakfast and read the newspaper, the grey clouds had disappeared and some blue sky was beginning to appear. Things were looking good. Problem number two: what to wear? DriRiders or leathers? Can’t decide whether it’s going to rain today. I end up wearing leathers and taking some wet weather gear in my bag. I must be getting soft in my old age.

When I arrived at Whittlesea, most of the group were there, except Misho. Ern, please note: Darryn was sporting a brand new `07 Triumph Daytona 675. Not a bad looking bike. Darryn said he picked the bike up yesterday, (Saturday) and had done 500 kms on it and that he wouldn’t be going that fast and those that wanted to pass him could.

Ian volunteered for rear rider. Ben asked for a scribe. I volunteered ‘cos I haven’t done a write up for yonks.

We headed up to Kinglake West. The uphill climb out of Whittlesea is fantastic. The road through to Flowerdale was wet in places so we cruised through at a nice pace. On to Strath Creek and Kerrisdale and then we hit the highway to Yea. About halfway to Yea there was someone in a Toyota Camry going really slowly who seemed to be looking for a place to turn off. They were holding up the traffic. When I passed, I saw an elderly lady driving. Maybe she should hand in her licence, her driving a bit erratic.

On to Yea, Yarck, Merton and Bonnie Doon where we saw the local copper in his Commodore outside the local servo. Chris pulled out of the ride here due to a back injury the previous week. He was okay this morning but riding had taken its toll. We continued on to Mansfield, our first stop. Some fuelled up. I went to the bakery across the street and got a coffee and a jelly slice. I needed a sugar fix, but it wasn’t enough. Dave Ward saw me with the coffee. “Where did you get that? he asked. I said at the bakery across the road.

It wasn’t long before we hit the road again, wanting to get to Whitfield Pub sooner rather than later. This road is a favourite for motorcyclists. Just before we get to Tolmie you can see where the fires have burnt the bush. Between Tolmie and the other side of Powers Lookout the ground is black.

I would say the fire was extremely hot because it has burnt all the ground cover. There is nothing, other than rocks and dirt, the trees burnt from top to bottom. Where the land has been burnt, they have been logging large areas producing some huge piles of timber The good news is that the bush seems to be recovering well with regrowth on the trees and on the ground. I know I have ridden over this road a few times, but it looks completely different. It’s great. You can see through it. Though it is a bit eerie.

I saw one house just off the road which had been in the fire but looked okay. I couldn’t decide if somebody was living in it or not. There was a winery on the top of the hill which had an LC or LJ Torana parked by the trees. It was burnt out.

We arrived at the Pub around 12.30 pm, parked our bikes and made our way into the pub. We sat outside in the very pleasant beer garden with a handful of other people. Last time the club was here, the joint was packed and we ended up getting our meals around 2 pm, which made for a long day. This time the service was good and so were the meals. Everyone was happy. While we were having lunch, another group of motorcyclists arrived on a variety of bikes. Lots of talk ensued about tyres and exhaust systems, and the cost of buying over the Internet, and how much dealers were making when you could get it cheaper yourself.

NEWS FLASH. Dave Moore has bought Darryn Webster’s Kawasaki ZX6.

Back at the bikes there was some discussion on how far it was to Mansfield. I looked at my odometer and reckoned I should be able to get there, but decided to go to servo and put a few dollars worth in, just to be sure. But the place was locked up, so I just did a U turn and headed back up the hill. The others had already gone, so I rode by myself. I didn’t go slow and I didn’t go fast, just kept an eye on the fuel gauge.

When you go up the hill from the Mansfield side, there is a big clearing. It looks like they may build something there one day. On the far side of Tolmie there was a white Mitsubishi Triton dual cab ute with a canopy and black, plastic bull bar. As I was coming towards it, I thought what funny place to park. Was that a camera in the front grill? Yes. I just kept going. On the long straight into Mansfield I was following a BMW station wagon and considering passing it. Coming over a rise I saw flashing lights ahead on the next rise and decided it wasn’t in my best interest to overtake.

When I got closer I saw Ben, Misho, Ian, Darryn and Dave getting licence and rego checks. I just looked as I went past. (The camera car in Tolmie had radioed ahead to Mansfield Police who despatched a reception party. Paul, leading at the time, managed to pull over when he saw the brake lights come on, while I continued on, now assuming the lead position, waiting for the inevitable. We endured a 10 point sermon, based on some mathematical equation relating distance and time, the theoretical result matching well with the instantaneous reading on his Doppler effect instrument, which had nothing to do with us of course, because leader Paul was parked back 1 km or so, and now stealthily gliding past! …Ed.)

As you come into Mansfield there is a reserve on the corner. I spotted Paul Southwell parked under the trees, so I pulled into see what was happening. Whilst talking to Paul, Stewart Forster turned up. He had been at the servo filling up. After a brief period, the others started coming down the road, so it was on your bike and head for the servo.

My speedo read 282 kms from Whittlesea to Whitfield and back to Mansfield. The tank holds 19 litres and I put in 18.65 litres. Not bad, but I wouldn’t want to stretch it too often. Misho missed the early start, but caught up with the boys on the Whitfield side of Tolmie. He did well. Short stop and back on the road again.

Highway to Molesworth, Whanregarwen Road to Alexandra, then the Maroondah Highway to Buxton and the turnoff to Marysville. What a road! It’s nice in the middle going through the corridor of Poplar trees, especially at this time of year when they change colour. I passed the front runners and waited for them at the roundabout. The Bakery is the next stop and a chance to unwind and have something to eat and drink. Then back on the road for the last leg of the journey.

We regroup at the Highway and then it’s all on for young and old. Once we get to the caravan park at the bottom of the Spur, everyone cuts loose. There was a bit of traffic to contend with, but it was okay. Stewart passed me just before the Dom Dom Saddle, Misho was in front of me and a couple of others. I didn’t get to pass Misho until a kilometre or so after the reserve at the bottom, and then followed Stewart the rest of the way to Healesville.

After I had passed Misho I thought Paul Southwell was on my tail, but it was Dave Ward. When we pulled into the servo at Healesville, Dave spoke to Paul and couldn’t stop laughing.

A good day was had by all. Good weather, good people, no incidents as such, Mansfield maybe? Thanks Darryn for leading and Ian for being rear rider. The ride from Whittlesea to Healesville was 434 kms, and 500 kms door to door.

Ron Johnston