Casual/Pillion Ride – Blackwood Pub         Saturday 16th February 2008

 

Jacinta Thomas (leader)

Honda CBR900

Phil Staniland (1st ride)

Yamaha MT01

Danny & Anita Hain

Honda CBR600

Trevor Harris  

Yamaha XJ900

Ian Payne & Bronwyn Manifold

Honda CBR1000

Rod Miskin (former member)

Harley 883

Ben & Julie Warden   

Honda CBR954

Rob Langer

BMW R1150GS

Ian & Sherry Handsforth (rear)

Honda Varadero

Nick Jacka & Andrea

Honda CBR600

Barbara, Annette & Brian Rolfe

Car

10 bikes, 15 people

 

 

I thought this would be a solo ride for me with Kerrie, my other half, deciding to do the city walk with her bushwalking club. But the day before Dave Ward rang to ask if I could take Bronwyn as pillion because he had to work and the CBR600 was still in the shop being fitted with new tyres. No probs. I picked up Bron on Saturday morning and headed to Whittlesea. There was certainly more traffic on the roads than on a Sunday but we still made the servo in plenty of time. Quite a few new faces on this ride with the pillions and a couple of new riders, one was an old/new face with ex-member Rod Miskin coming out with us. It had been 14 years since his last Club ride!

 

Jacinta gave us a run-down of the ride and emphasized the casual nature of the day! We then left for Flowerdale, Strath Creek and Broadford for a coffee stop. The stop also gave us a chance for a bit of a natter with the new riders/pillions. Phil’s MT01 certainly had a ‘formidable presence’ with its huge engine available for all to see along with copious amounts of carbon fibre! The Harley Sportster, Rod explained, had been secured by telling the wife he needed a bike to ‘commute’ into the city on!

 

Soon we were ready to leave but Danny informed us he would not be coming as Anita was feeling quite uncomfortable after some recent surgery and they would head home by the most direct route. The rest of us headed to Pyalong via the back roads, then up the highway to Tooborac before turning south to Lancefield. From here it was to Baynton, Kyneton, Tylden and Trentham before the final leg to Blackwood. For me it couldn’t come early enough as that last coffee and the bumpy roads were playing havoc with my bladder and, by the look of the stampede to the toilets, I wasn’t the only one!

 

We had stopped at the Blackwood Pub, not Greendale as advertised. Here to meet us was Barbara with her parents. She was certainly looking much better than when I last saw her in hospital and is making very good progress with her rehabilitation.

 

The table that Jacinta had reserved was way too small with the group now swollen to 16 diners but a couple of extra tables soon had us all seated where we enjoyed some great company and delicious meals.

 

All too soon it was time to go but not very far as most needed fuel so we took the most direct route to the closest petrol at Ballan where the only servo open HAD NONE TILL TUESDAY! Fortunately, a new BP was located a short distance away on the Freeway. After fuelling-up, Jacinta appointed Ben to lead the group back to Melbourne. With a bit of backtracking we got off the freeway for the more familiar roads to Myrniong, then Toolern Vale and Diggers Rest where, over an ice cream, we officially finished the ride.

 

Thanks to Jacinta for organizing this enjoyable outing with great weather, great company and a great destination. May there be many more of the same.

 

 

Ian Payne