Dargo – Hard Core
Sunday 20th January 2008
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Honda CBR954 |
Pina Garasi (rear rider) |
Yamaha R6 |
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Chris Pointon |
Suzuki GSXR1000 |
Ron Solomon |
Yamaha R1 |
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Suzuki GSXR750 |
Cameron Stevens |
Yamaha FZ6 |
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Misho Zrakic |
Suzuki GSXR750 |
Jean Eldridge |
Suzuki Bandit 250 |
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Andrew Southen |
Honda VFR400 |
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9 bikes, 9 people |
Experienced riders only for this gazetted ride, which starts at Berwick… 10am Sharp.
With a handful of minutes up my sleeve, I arrived at the nominated starting point at the petrol station. A splash and dash is necessary as time was limited and thus nullifying my usual fill to the brim policy.
This ride sets out down the new part of the freeway – the Pakenham Bypass – presumably to save some time. My first encounter of the freeway – impressive for the first time - and that weird roundabout just past our turn-off. Plenty of corner marking and we pick up the old familiar territory of back roads. The pace is already on despite the constant wet roads and loose gravel on the Jindivick-Neerim South road. Ron Solomon is demonstrating his riding ability, illustrating that practice makes perfect.
Ben has opted for some variety at morning tea at stopped at the Moe ‘Subway’. The rest turns out to be brisk (as usual) and we are soon underway again. Ben had advised us that the fuel stops were at Moe (115kms) and Briagolong (220km), so a gentle pace was the order for this section…and besides the roads were still wet.
Ben continues the theme of variety with a new course to Briagolong. This time via the Tinamba-Newry and Boisdale-Newry Roads, the later claiming Jean as an ‘out of fuel’ victim. A quick calculation and we are 21 kms from Briagolong and fresh fuel. My tank has around one litre remaining and I have the know-how and equipment to transfer fuel (siphon hose and empty water bottle). Jean’s tank gets a healthy 550ml and we are off with only a small delay to the day.
I had just finished refuelling when Jean arrives having run out at the 70km/h sign and rolling the rest of the way. I knew Cameron’s previous offer of assistance (having arrived just as we were resuming) was not needed. A quick re-fuel and we were set to get going. However, to save time, Ben decides to pillion Pina for talking too much and riding too slow. She was to have a thrill without any possible loss of points to her name!
The ride to Dargo was unpleasant! Wet, wet, wet and wet…. This made for slow corners and a STARK contrast to my last visit to Dargo during the 4-day Melbourne Cup extravaganza! I remembered accompanying Dave Ward to Dargo in a ‘lean-fest’ of 60 kilometre proportions! Not so today... Anyway it accomplished – minimum tyre wear, excellent fuel consumption, lowered risk and not having remembered the back protector and new ‘extra-padded’ jacked, was not such a bad thing.
Ron continues to practice his riding ability with great displays. Jean did well considering his bike’s limited capabilities and Pina as pillion was nearly speechless for about a minute! Luckily for Ben and his riding talents, Pina’s newly discovered Squirrel Grip was not needed – no frightening moments there.
Arriving at the Dargo General Food Store, a round of hamburgers was ordered. Ben, continuing to opt for variety, allowed the group time to fully savour Maggie’s hamburgers and some general conversation with Dan. Ron commented on his long absence from Dargo – last time here was with his wife, before kids.
After a group photo or three, we were back on the road and returning to Briagolong – almost. With a slightly drier road surface – read damp, Misho, Ron, Cameron, Chris and Andrew set off in a hurry. Ben, usually the first to leave and lead the ride, was last to leave as everyone would probably pass anyway, with the expectation they would wait at the next intersection 60 km away. They didn’t!
Ben had a task to catch the guys before the
appropriate turn-off, and didn’t quite make it. Next thing I see 70km later, is
Pina standing by the side of the road and waving. I knew this was the turn-off,
so presumed she was corner marking as opposed to being
left behind for bad behaviour! Obviously, the boys missed the turnoff and Ben
had to follow all the way to the
Briagolong was not far away. Pina resumed rear-rider duties, so I ‘joined the mob’ in our quest for the township of ‘Tyres’, via Boisdale, Newry, Tinamba, Cowwarr and Toongabbie. This was a smooth and relaxed section of the trip – the drier and rather straight roads doing little to occupy the mind. Ron again showed us his riding ability, though he was overheard at Tyers saying, he has been on and off the bike corner marking, so many times, practiced riding so many times, gone around so many corners, that he was actually tired and just wanted to go to bed. I’m sure the official write-up of the day will capture more of Ron’s amusing anecdotes.
The final stanza – Tyers
to Longwarry North via the
Misho, as the retriever was able to locate our lost Cameron at the next town and brought him back to the safety of the group. The errant corner marker was politely re-informed and all was well.
As the sun sets in the west on another club ride Sunday and only the freeway trip home remains, that time was well spent reflecting on the days activities.
Start Time: Home – 9:30
Ride Start: Berwick – 10:00
Ride End: Longwarry – 7:40pm
Home:
Kilometres: 630
Incidents: Out of Fuel – Once, Lost – Twice, Pillions – One, Ron’s Talent Demonstrations – 43+
Too hard to pass – Ben, Misho, Chris
Too hard to follow – Cameron
Too hard to copy - Ron
Always for the Laughs – Pina
Up and comers – Jean and ?????
Too scary – WET Wooden Bridge, Big Grey Kangaroo,
- White 4WDs with special lights on the last corner of the Boisdale-Newry road,
Hard-Core??? No, hardly… We’ll do FOUR days in a row during the upcoming Australia Day weekend.
Peter Feistl