Eildon via Torbreck River            Sunday 7th October

 

TL1000S         Greg Hales (leader)                              CBR929RR     Ben Warden

YZF600           Shane Penrose (1st ride)                        CBR900          Liz Oliver

GSXR750L      Pete  Weyermayr                                  R1                    Geoff Jones (rear rider)

 

The weather forecast was not good: cold, wet. And it was the first Sunday after the football grand final – Bathurst – with direct telecast from 9 am and race start at 10 am.  Regular rider Ian Payne was committed to his daughter’s 21st and had indicated he would not be there. Lyn and Eddie had rung to say they would be on the ride – depending on the weather. Wet roads, drizzly. Lyn and Eddie unlikely. So I was surprised to see even as many as 7 bikes parked outside the Yarra Glen milkbar, die-hards through and through. Note: there are only 6 riders listed, the 7th now forgotton.

 

Greg outlined the route and the corner marking system to new rider Shane.  President Ian has downsized the Emergency Kit into a blue bumbag. This replaces the bulky green canvas bag and the tangle of ocky straps, always a threat to plastic fairing bits. While repackaging the contents Ian noticed some BMW puncture repair plugs that had magically appeared. Thanks to whoever donated these. Not so long ago we had nothing to fix a puncture with.

 

So, on our bikes, we had headed across to the back way to Healesville and up the Chum Creek Road to Toolangi, where it had got colder and colder. My tyre combination gives great confidence in the wet. Dunlops seem to have more feel, or it is what I am used to. Whatever, I had plenty of fun heading up the swervery. Back to Healesville via the bumpy Myers Creek Road and then across the wet Black Spur. Unfortunately the Spur had a heavy diesel slick from start to finish, the worst I had ever seen. It didn’t feel particularly slippery, but it sure looked bad.

 

Fuel stop at Marysville Bakery where we were accosted by the local bikie friendly, Harley-riding, publican who recommended we sample his log fire. Not for us webbed feet bikies. Onwards!

 

Buxton and 14 kilometres of Highway to Taggerty slipped away painlessly. On the way to Eildon we passed the Torbreck River turnoff, giving it a miss, the thought of green (lichen), wet roads not that enticing. Speeds were creeping up as the roads opened out and the weather remained overcast, the roads wet, but no worse. We took the scenic Skyline Road through Fraser National Park, the temptation to stop and take in the views resisted. The lake system still looks low.

 

Passing through Alexandra we picked up the Molesworth Road, always a fast favourite of mine, despite some painful memories. And after that farmer’s truck in the cutting a few rides back, I am even more wary.

 

We stopped at Yea for lunch. Of course the Ulysses Club were out in force. I headed for the bakery and had a ripper crab meat and salad sandwich, way too big for a standard paper bag. The usual discussions about suspension and tyres were engaged in. I think our Club, unlike most other Clubs, is extremely conscious of these two race-oriented elements of riding – tyres and suspension. Another indication of our “sport” bias.

 

We made good time to Kinglake West where we disbanded, having travelled about 230 km for the day. Home in time to catch the final, most exciting, hour of Bathurst. Perfect. Thanks Greg and fellow riders for another enjoyable day.

 

Ben Warden (Honda CBR929RR)