Wayne Grant (ZX9) (leader) Ben Warden (CBR929RR)

Ron Johnston (Bandit 1200) (rear) Di Welsford (CBR600F)

Greg Hales (TL1000) Ian Crossley (R6) (1^st ride)

Stuart Lens (Bandit 1200)(1^st ride) 7 bikes, 7 people Weather: 19º and sunny

Whittlesea to Pyalong (approx. 150 km) After running late due to several factors (including missing a turn-off and having to refuel before Whittlesea!) I only just managed to join this ride. I was itching to speed up Plenty Road to make it in time but a car had flashed like mad on this road and I didn’t want to pay $165 for the privilege of making the ride today, especially seeing as I had a "close call" recently. A few weeks ago I went riding with Ray, met some guys up at the Reefton and joined up with them and rode back to Kew. On the way home the cops overtook me (WAY too fast and close to my right leg for my definition of "safe driving"!!) and pulled over the guy in front, only to be rather angry that I didn’t pull over. Well personally I was never taught that Police overtaking you and chasing someone in front means "pull over", but I guess they saw it differently. Anyway, I figure I don’t want to test my luck any further so I took it easy to Whittlesea.

Back to the Club ride. I saw the bikes pulling out onto the road and was going to chase them but noticed Ron and Greg still at the servo. On establishing Ron was rear-rider I gave chase, only to overtake 3 bikes and find the leader. I initially was very surprised at such a small turnout on such a gorgeous day, then someone pointed out to me later it was Mother’s Day (my excuse is my Mum is interstate! What about the rest of you guys?!).

I followed Wayne across to Flowerdale, but the lovely twisty bit had lots of roadworks signs and gravel around and as I hadn’t had time to change my visor to a clear one in the morning I was basically riding blind so far as the road surface went. So whenever I saw dirt fly up from Wayne’s rear tyre I would brake, only to discover it was just a spot of dirt on the road most of the time!

We turned left at Flowerdale and had a bit of fun on the Strath Creek road, but noticed there is STILL a pimple in the middle of the road on a bend! They’ve put a sign up warning of a traffic hazard, how generous! Let’s hope that’s fixed very soon.

I heard later in the day that our visitor, Stuart went "chasing rabbits" coming down into Strath Creek. Having not travelled that road he was unaware of how that section is usually gravelly and he was caught off guard, ran off the road, but apparently made a stunning comeback onto the road with the shiny side still up. Good save Stuart!

We turned right and headed up towards Yea. In one section I discovered Ian on the R6 was tootling through the corners but opening it up on the straights. He mentioned when we stopped that he’s having trouble getting the suspension right, with 6 different points to adjust, it’s taking awhile. He’s happy with the way it handles in the straights but finds it pogo’s in the corners. Bummer!

We turned left onto the Goulburn Valley Highway and did that fantastic sweeping stretch across to Trawool and turned left going through Tallarook. Not long after that found a big DETOUR sign (around the new bridge under construction) pointing to a gravel road! Not very inviting! After consulting the map Ben said we’re in for 6km of the Hume. I said that certainly beat 6 km of gravel so was happy to do so.

We backtracked a little and looped around to Pyalong which Wayne declared to be our lunch stop. We filled up with petrol, filled up with food, and starting talking about the bike races, commentators, etc. Apparently Ben went down to the Supers and got drenched all weekend. We all agreed Darryl Beattie is a pathetic commentator (too many crashes to the head); Darryl Eastlake is no better (he can blame a stroke); Barry Sheen knows his stuff (and the guys discovered his wife is an ex Penthouse pet). Apparently there’s some cute guy who commentates for the superbikes on Channel 10 whom I have never noticed; I’ll have to start watching the Supers! Apparently the Superbike riders are down to earth, the GP riders are up themselves, and Troy Corser and Colin Edwards are very nice guys. What a lot you can learn on a lunch break!

Pyalong — Blackwood - Ballan (approx. 135 km) After a decent break at Pyalong we headed off toward Kilmore. About 50km down the track Wayne decided a toilet block was a pretty good place to stop, and I was extremely pleased having had a bottle of diet coke at lunch! Half the group raced in and raced out and off we went again.

I kept my eye out for Blackwood as it’s a place I haven’t been before, although I now know that maybe I have been through it and haven’t seen it, as if you blink you’ll miss it! Lovely area though. I was also looking forward to seeing Daylesford as I last rode through there about 8 years ago and wanted to see the changes, but today’s ride didn’t go through it.

On the section from Blackwood to Ballan I totally stuffed up a left-hander. I couldn’t have described what happened, just halfway through I knew something had gone wrong and I just had to concentrate on keeping the bike going left and stopping my heart leaping out of my mouth.

When we pulled over in Ballan Greg mentioned I did something strange in a corner and seemed to go out wide and the next thing he knew his back end was sliding out. I mentioned I couldn’t see the road surface on that corner and I seemed to stuff up. On discovering nearly everyone had done a similar thing, Ben mentioned there was a pot-hole which had been badly filled and the gravel was spilling out of it onto the road. I guess if I had a clear visor on I probably would have seen it! Next time I must remember to change it!

Ron also mentioned Stuart had slid through an intersection in gravel. It seems he’s a gravel magnet today. At least he kept it upright again which is always a relief on the budget and the body!

Ballan to Diggers Rest (approx. 70 km) I filled up in Ballan as my bike seems to guzzle fuel. Greg was going to until he discovered the servo only took cash. Most had a drink and more goss, this time about the gravel and stuff. I also gave Stewart my "your first ride? how did you hear about the Club [answer is nearly always internet!]? and don’t feel pressured to ride beyond your limit" spiel. I think he appreciated the last bit especially!

We headed off toward Diggers Rest, at which a very relieved Greg with a flashing fuel light found petrol. He mentioned he had 208km on the clock and the most he had done in the past was 200km.

Diggers Rest to Bulla (approx. 8 km) We lost Ben here so I presumed he took the Calder Freeway. Ian also decided to go home the Calder, and Stuart left somewhere in this vicinity as he lived out that way. Greg, Ron & I continued to find Wayne and head to Bulla, and onto the Tullamarine Freeway.

There was no official break-up point, just a point to the Western Ring Road and a wave and toot from Wayne. Greg invited Ron and me back to his house in Warrandyte for a coffee (I’ll leave it to him to explain the room still decorated from a previous party…let’s just say it wasn’t streamers and balloons hanging up on the wall!! ah see Greg, the fun you can have when you do the write-ups!).

Approx 365km for the day from Whittlesea to Bulla, but closer to 465km for me! It was an enjoyable day with gorgeous weather, good roads and no "incidents". Thanks Wayne for leading, thanks Ron for going rear rider, and Happy Mother’s Day Mum!