Woolamai Sunday 23^rd December, 2007

Ben Warden (leader)	Honda CBR954	Cameron Stevens	Yamaha FZ6 (new bike)
Denis Lindeman (2^nd ride)	Honda CBR600	Pina Garasi (rear rider)	Yamaha R6
Willem Vandeveld	Honda ST1300	Jean Eldridge	Suzuki Bandit 250
Renzo Cunico	Honda VFR750	Cliff Peters	Suzuki GSXR1000
Rob Langer	BMW R1150GS	Nic Jacka	Hyosung GT250

Renzo originally volunteered to write this article in Italian, which to me seemed like an interesting and plausible multicultural proposition. For the non-Italian reading members of the club, the option would have been to scan the article and then run it trough Google’s translation engine. But that idea got canned and yours truly was handed the task.

Weatherwise it was a funny day oscillating between brilliant sunshine and heavy downpours. A few members on the ride thought that the brilliant, not-a-cloud-in-the-sky sunshine over Melbourne would set the tone for the rest of day and thus left their wet weather gear at home. It turned out not to be too bad a mistake in the end as you dry pretty quickly when travelling at the sign posted 100 km/h. J

Leaving Berwick and heading towards our first stop, Loch, I had an unexpected stop at Drouin with Renzo as he had to replace the bolt that holds his muffler onto the bike near the pillion foot peg. All up it took Renzo a very swift 15 minutes to find a shop, get a bolt, fit it, settle his account and rejoin the ride. Well done Renzo. I was impressed.

One of the highlights of the ride was our stop at a lookout near Woolamai over looking Port Phillip Bay and Phillip Island where Ben took a potential magazine front cover shot. The view was sensational. Pina had a minor setback here dropping the R6 while dismounting. The side stand unexpectedly retraced on her. Only minor damage, and I mean minor as opposed to the Club’s definition of “minor cosmetic”. The oggy knob took the brunt of the fall, the only damage being a snapped left hand side footpeg but cunningly designed to snap in half leaving enough to be serviceable.

Not to be left out of the stacking takes was Jean who made a contribution to Club’s crash count on a set of wet twisties into Mt Worth National Park, again another minor cosmetic with mud scratches the only visible damage. Jean continued on for the rest of the ride. He certainty rides better for a learner than what I did when I was learning back in 1991. I spent the first few months on the road learning the finer art of not stalling the bike in the middle of intersections.

I have left attached the route as provided by the Club Secretary for those interested.

Leg1: Berwick, new Packenham bypass to Nar Nar Goon, back roads to Drouin (Tynong, Bunyip, Longwarry), Main South Road to Poowong, Nyora, Loch 93 km.

Leg2: Loch, south down towards Wonthaggi, then loops around towards Anderson picking up Almurta, Kernot, Glen Forbes, Archies Creek, stopped at lookout. Possibility that head of ride will intersect middle of ride. Then on to Kilcunda, Archies Creek again, then straight section until sweepers and tight twisties around Kongwak. Deviation down to Outtrim and on to Korumburra for late lunch (1.30pm ish) by which time Jean runs out of petrol and Cliff rescues him. 120 km

Leg3: Korumburra Warragul Rd to Lardner turnoff and east to Yarragon before climbing 16 km of tight, wet twisties into Mt Worth National park stopping near Allambe at end of bitumen. Jean crashes. Back to Yarragon and north over highway until intersect with Old Sale Road (500 metres of dirt in this section has now been made). On to Buln Buln, Brandy Creek and Drouin to finish. 120 km 333 total, 100 km back to Melbourne

Merry Christmas and a happy New Year to all.

Cameron Stevens