Tim Walker ZX7R Leader Peter Doak GSXR 1000

Ray Walker GSXR 600 Dianne Welsford CBR 600

Rhys Williams ZX9 Greg Hales TL1000S

Rob Langer BMW R1100S Darryn Webster TL1000L

Dave Moore YZF 1000 Dave Ward Ducati 996 SPS

Terry Sage CBR 1000 1st Liz Oliver CBR900RR 1st

Pete Weyermayr GSXR 750 1st Gav & Stacey Geddes GSXR 600 1st

Ron Johnston Bandit 1200 Ben Warden CBR900RR R/R

16 Bikes & 17 people

Had to remember it was an early start, 10 am not 10.30 am. So a quick sprint out to Yarra Glen. There were already a few people there when I arrived. Looks like it might be a good day; weather was fine and not too cold. Tim had done the usual thing and told everybody where we were going and asked for a rear rider, to which Ben volunteered, (must be going for more points). He also asked for somebody to do the write up, yours truly, plus he welcomed 3 new people on their first ride.

Terry Sage on a CBR 1000, Liz Oliver CBR900RR, Pete Weyermayr GSXR600. Even Darren Webster turned up. He hasn’t been on a ride for a while. Good to see some old faces. So it's mount up pardners and ride into the sunset. Down the highway, through the back road to Healesville, up Chum Creek road to Toolangi and back down Myers Creek road to Healesville. What a grouse road. Then its back on the highway and over the Black Spur. I like this road but it's starting to get a little rough in places. I was taking it quietly (was stuck behind a bus) when Rob Langer came up behind me and after a couple of corners, I decided to try and pass the bus. As we came around a right hander I went for it, but, as I went to pass, there was a 4WD in front of me, so I pulled back behind the bus. (I didn’t see the 4WD in the blind spot). After another couple of corners and an S bend, I managed to pass the 40 seater sports car, and Rob disappeared in the distance.

As I was going up the other side (of the Black Spur I presume …Ed) Darren Webster passed me and I gave chase, but he had the edge on me. Across the top, down the other side to the turn off for Marysville, what a road!!! Another good road is the one on the way to Marysville. I like the hill climb and the run down to the township. Everyone arrived there except Gav and Stacy. They left at Healesville. Peter seemed to think the pace was a bit fast for 2 up. (I heard he bought the bike from a wrecker and had just got it back on the road, suspension unsorted, and bottoming out everywhere, making it difficult/unsafe to ride. Rather than continuing he was going home to fix it…Ed.)

Everybody eventually found their way to the bakery for refreshments. Some stayed inside and others found themselves on the nature strip under the trees. There was plenty of gas bagging going on. Liz on the CBR900RR found the bracket holding the fairing around the screen was broken, and decided she wouldn’t be going any further, so friends, Pete on the GSXR750 and Terry on the CBR1000, left with her and headed for home. So that left 12 of us.

Tim summoned everybody to mount up again so we could head out on the next leg of the journey. We turned left out of Marysville to Buxton, and then we turned right on the highway and headed to Taggerty where we turned right again and headed to Thornton. Upon arriving at Thornton there were people marking the intersection, because there were cyclists on a ride in the area, so we had better watch out! Another right turn (we must be going in circles) and we headed towards Eildon. Another right turn (geez) onto the Eildon/Jamieson road. I tootled off quietly down the road, only to be passed by others, so picked the pace up a little.

Not a bad road. About half way in I came around a left hander only to hit a small tree with my helmet because it was hanging over the road. A bit further on there was another large branch hanging precariously overhead.

Dave Ward on the Ducati, Darryn on the TL1000R and Dave Moore on the YZF750 were passing me, so I decided I would try and catch them and stick with them for a little which I did. But they eventually left me in their dust (so to speak).

A bit further on I encountered an early model Mazda 323 sedan, yellow in colour (there is a discrepancy as to it being a Mazda or a Corolla) driving down the middle of the road. They were not moving for any body. I thought about the others behind me and hoped they would be watching out for the turkeys. I arrived at the bridge safely and parked the bike and rushed across the road for a squirt, a bit hard sitting cross-legged on the bike.

The rest arrived safely, except poor Rhys who had christened his new ZX9. In his own words, "I came around this right hander in the middle of the road and here was this yellow car in the middle also and it was not moving, so I had to get out off the way or get cleaned up. Went wide and dropped the bike on the grass on the side of the road." Damage was cosmetic right front indicator, glass in mirror and scratched fairing and a slight mark on the muffler. Rhys was okay. Some of the others encountered that little yellow car doing the same thing driving in the middle of the road as though it owned it.

Rob Langer was watching the fish from the bridge. I think he might have liked to have gone fishing!!! It was back on ya bike and head to Eildon for lunch, but not before enduring that sensational ride through all those lovely twisties. I rode a bit quicker on the way out, Dave Ward, Dave Moore, Darren Webster all passed me, so I followed them at a fast pace. Most enjoyable.

Arrived at Eildon. Most of us fuelled up our bikes, then around to the shops for lunch …not before time…most of us were hanging out for something to eat. Everybody had a tale to tell as well as a bit of gasbagging.

Dave Ward, Dave Moore and Darren Webster were the next 3 to leave so that left 8 of us. Off we go again up over the Fraser National Park Road. What a road, full of lovely twisties, a bit of peg to peg riding. Rhys passed me on the way up and after a couple of corners on the down hill I noticed he was having a bit of trouble on one corner….I think it was a bit of rear wheel lock up, gave himself a fright. Greg Hales said later that he hadn’t been on that road before and thoroughly enjoyed it.

We turned off before Alexandra and headed back on the Goulburn Valley Highway (I think). Then did a right turn and travelled a short distance on a gravel road and then some more twisties and ended back on the Maroondah Highway (I stand to be corrected). On through Acheron and Taggerty.

About half way between Taggerty and Buxton we met up with Dianne Welsford. Apparently she was going to come on the ride but decided not to but ventured out later to see if she could find us anyway. On the Highway most of us stuck to the speed limit. Through Buxton to Marysville (no stop but quite a few bikes were there) and carried on to the Black Spur, everybody going hell for leather…what a ride… We arrived back at Healesville where the ride finished . A good day was had by all. A few of us stayed and discussed the days events.

Ron Johnston Bandit 1200