Di Welsford, CBR 600 (Rear) Liz Oliver, CBR 919 Rob Langer, R1150 GS

Today, just another Sunday, or so I thought. Another Yarra Glen departure. I don’t mind, close to home. Most of the troop already there when I arrived. After a while, Tim got everybody’s attention and gave the usual spiel about where we were going and how many kilometres between stops etc.

Usual run to Healesville down the back road. Whilst corner marking in Healesville I had to make some adjustments to the forks. I am still having trouble with the bike’s handling. Out of Healesville and onto the Healesville - Koo-Wee-Rup Road to Dalry. Then Don Road to Launching Place. Left turn and a quiet run to Yarra Junction where we turned right and went through Gladysdale and Three Bridges where we crank the pace up a bit. On to Gilderoy and Poweltown. I like the road through there: it’s got a couple of rough spots but it’s an okay bit of road. Everybody has got a different opinion, you either like it or you don’t.

Through Poweltown, down the dip, across the bridge and then you start the uphill climb, and, after a left and right, you come onto a straight with a sweeping right hander. Here a couple of cars and bikes were parked and people were standing and looking over the bank. My first thought was, what has happened? So I stopped and asked and the lady said somebody on a bike had gone over.

I parked my bike and went and had a look to see if it was one of our lot. All I could see from the roadside was a bike about 40 foot down the embankment and no sign of the rider, so down I went, helmet/gloves and all to see if I could find the rider. He was lying on the other side of the log with someone from up on the road. He was unconscious, and had lost his helmet on the way down. He was bloody lucky if you ask me. He had a cut on his forehead and on the side of his head, no broken bones.

The rest of our crew stopped and had a look to see what could be done. Someone had already rung for the ambulance/police/tow-truck. Jeff Hornby, Peter Weyermayr, Vel Ozbaki, Nathan Brown, Liz Oliver and myself made the man comfortable until help arrived. Thanks guys and girls, not to mention Dianne Welsford did her bit in trying to contact the appropriate people as well, even if it meant travelling some distance on her bike to get service on her mobile phone.

The Club carried on to Noojee where they waited for the rest of us to turn up.

The ambo arrived and one of the paramedics came down and checked the guy out. We had a bit of trouble getting his jacket off without cutting it, but was okay. The other paramedic bought the stretcher down and we helped put him on the stretcher and then we gave them a hand to get him up the embankment. Otherwise they would have never done it on their own. We helped put him in the ambo. By that time the air ambulance had arrived and he was to be taken to the Alfred Hospital.

I was talking to one of the bike riders with the group he was with and he said “The bike high sided and threw him down the embankment.” We said our goodbyes and I led the rest of the gang to Noojee.

Before we got to the Noojee turn off there was a car and half a dozen bikes on the side of the road and I thought “Not another crash.” So I stopped to find out. I asked if they had lost any body and they said no. But a guy with a beard said “We lost a Harley and a Japper.” I turned around and there was a guy on a Bandit whose bike was covered in mud and shit. What a mess…. He had run wide and run into the ditch. No damage, but what a mess: the whole engine and front wheel and back end was covered.

We carry on to the turn off and a few of the guys were corner-marking. Had a bit of a chat and then carried on to Noojee. I think everybody was glad to get to Noojee. We got fuel for the bikes and food for the people. A well earned stop for those that stayed back.

Off we go again at a brisk pace past the sawmill. We cross the new bridge (they are pulling the old one down). It’s good through there now. Up the hill where I passed about four bikes and chased Craig and Ian. It’s a good run up and across the top and down to Willowgrove, Icy Creek as you wind your way through to Tanjil Bren and then up to Baw Baw. Craig went ahead and I followed Ian all the way to the top. I spotted two wombats playing possum on the side of the ride. At the top it was cool with a wind blowing as usual but it was okay.

We were there for a while and did a head count and decided we were a couple short so Tim headed off. Craig rolled down the hill without the engine going and got past the kiosk where they take the money in the snow season before he fired his engine up. Dianne was still on the way up when we were going down. Passed a few 4WDs on the way down. Tim let me past before we got to Tanjil Bren. I went flat out for a while to get it out of my system and Tim eventually caught up. I let him past and chased him back to Noojee where Craig and I cornered marked.

Dianne came and stopped and we had another head count. We were still one missing. It was Nathan. He had got left behind but then turned up, so that was alright. Di explained that Vel, on the TL, had run into the bank on the way up. Di said damage was cosmetic and he had broken a brake lever but decided to ride it home rather than leave it at somebody’s house and come back and pick it up. I think when he helped at the accident out of Powelltown it may have upset him a little bit. Who knows.

From Noojee we turn left and go up the goat track: it’s narrow and rough in places and you have to watch for other vehicles. We hit the main drag to Drouin via Rokeby, Buln Buln, and the usual back road into Drouin. I had a couple of hair raising experiences on one or two corners, a rear wheel lock up from going too fast … I should know better…

Petrol stop for some and head off to shop for something to eat and drink. A few tales were told. Geoff Jones was telling us of his travels overseas in relation to his work. Sounded very good and Geoff and his wife enjoyed themselves. Dianne gave a run down on what happened to Vel on the TL at Baw Baw. From here Ian, Geoff Jones and Nathan left to go home down the Freeway, which left Tim, Craig, Jeff Hornby, Liz, Pete, Dianne and myself.

On the way out of Drouin I had to stop because of something in my eye. Geoff came back to see what had happened but I was okay. Drouin West and Tarago to Neerim South where we hit the main road again till we came to the roundabout and turned right and left at the bottom and headed up this narrow road which went up and down like a roller coaster. Lots of fun. We had to pass a couple of tractors and 4wds. Craig passed me and ended up doing a stoppy (for those that don’t know, coming to a stop on the front wheel). He got a fright because he couldn’t see where the road went at the top of the hill. Neerim to Piedmont turn off, go hell for leather down the hill and then turn left at the bottom and back to Yarra Junction via Powelltown, Three Bridges, and Gladysdale.

We stop at the Junction and discuss the day’s events. Dianne remarked that my rear tyre was a bit thin on the tread dept and I told her it wasn’t as bad as Craig’s one on his Yamaha. Pete was sporting a new 2^nd hand CBR 929 RR. Watch out Ben. I didn’t get to ask what he thought of the bike, but he had only owned it for a few days so it would really have been his first outing on it.

Thanks to Tim for leading the ride. We always go somewhere different on some obscure little back roads which are interesting. And thanks to the people who stayed and helped at the accident out of Powelltown. I am sure the person would be grateful. And thanks to everybody who came on the ride.

Ron Johnston (Suzuki Bandit 1200)