Kinglake - Sunday 2nd   June 2002

 

Yamaha R1                  Geoff Jones      (2nd rear)          Honda CBR929RR      Pete Weyermayr

Yamaha R1                  Enzo Cunico     (1st rear)           Yamaha YZF750         Craig Morley

Honda CBR929RR      Ben Warden                             Yamaha FZR1000        Derek Atkinson (3rd rear)

Honda CBR919R         Liz Oliver                                 Honda VFR800           Bruce Saville (leader)

Honda CBR600           Di Welsford                              Honda CBR250RR      Matt Clark

Yamaha YZF600         Mick Hanlon                            Suzuki TL1000S          Greg Hales

Suzuki GSXR750         Robert Swan    (1st ride)           Yamaha R1                  Mario Ibeas (2nd ride)

Yamaha R6                  John Harris (1st ride)                 Suzuki GSXR600         Will Tran (2nd ride)

Suzuki GSXR600         Dave Deas (2nd ride)                 17 bikes, 17 people                 

 

 

Stage 1:  Yarra Glen – Christmas Hills – St Andrews Road – Kinglake - Toolangi – Chum Creek Road to Healesville – Myers Creek Road back to Toolangi – and back across to Kinglake (110 km).

 

The first Winter ride of the year and not a bad day, considering.  It was cold as expected for this time of year, but so long as you wore a few layers it was okay as the sun was shining, 18 degrees forecast. The ride for me out to Yarra Glen was beautiful –  the blue sky, the fog in the valley and four hot-air balloons dotted across the sky.  I was hoping this was an indication of a start to a good day’s ride.

 

Yarra Glen at 10.15am and we only had six bikes. But as time ticked on, more showed up and we ended up with quite a decent turnout.  Ben explained the corner-marking system to the newcomers, and Bruce came up to me and said “Ma-a-ate” which apparently translated means “Di, could you please do the write-up for the day?”   Now organised we headed up the Christmas Hills Road toward Kangaroo Ground.  There was a bit of “pea soup” around the Kangaroo Ground area, and in the middle of all that fog was a speed camera. However, a kind driver’s warning ensured none us of were out of pocket. 

 

We turned right and headed up the – eek – St Andrews Road.  I tip-toed along this road as usual, glad to see the end of it.  At Kinglake we turned right and headed across to Toolangi where we took the Chum Creek Road.  Between all the shadows, damp patches and a line of gravel along the middle of the lane that seemed to go on forever, this was another road I just “did the miles” on without getting any enjoyment. No-one dropped it, which was good.  A few of us had little slides and realised the gravel must be still be around, though not visible. You  pretty quickly moved over to the right again. 

 

At Healesville there was a bit of confusion.  John desperately needed the Gents so stopped at the servo in Healesville. The rear rider didn’t see him and kept going. John gave it the berries and caught up.  He wasn’t too impressed but I think he’ll soon realise there’s an MSTCV Gents on every corner where you corner-mark!  I noticed several guys watering the native flora.  I’m just damn glad I decided against the coffee at Yarra Glen!

 

 I joined a few of the new guys pulled into the old servo site on the left in Healesville. I then realised most of the bikes weren’t ours.  Eventually the MSTCV riders got the idea that Healesville was not an official stopping point and that the bikes on the left and right of the highway weren’t ours. So we continued up the Myers Creek Road to Toolangi.

 

Pete overtook me and disappeared out of sight.  However, a couple of corners later, I noticed what looked like a dust cloud coming up from the side of the road.  I wasn’t sure if it was dust or fog so parked the bike and had a look to make sure he hadn’t gone looking for a bush while still on the bike!  Ben pulled over as I was walking back to my bike so I gave him the thumbs up and off we went.  More shadows, damp patches and gravel across to Kinglake again. 

 

We finally arrived at Kinglake at 12 noon.  One of the new guys had his legs crossed so tightly he half walked, half crawled in search of a loo. Most of the others rode through town in search of them.  Once we’d all finally attended to nature’s call, some of us decided to get some lunch.

Liz and Pete started an international incident – they put a screwed up paper bag in my exhaust pipe!  Now, now, that’s not the way to maintain friendly international relations!  I must admit I started it by giving the paper bag to Pete to throw away. But that was because he refused to wash my bike for  my up-coming birthday!  So you see, New Zealand is to blame!  (I think I’d better duck at the next Social Sip – Trevor, Liz, Pete, Dave, Ron,  etc!)….I have digressed – back to the ride!

 

Geoff Jones kindly offered me the R1 for a “proper ride” this time!  What an offer. I couldn’t say no!  Geoff became the new rear rider on my bike.  Matt joined us here. He was very lucky, arriving at Kinglake at about the same time as the Club.  He was late arriving at Yarra Glen and had come looking for us. But it can be very hard if you don’t know the exact route of the ride. (Les Leahy also dropped in on his XT600, out for a quiet ride, as were the many other bike and car Clubs. …Ed.)

 

 

Stage 2: Kinglake, Kinglake West, Flowerdale, Strath Creek,  Yea (approx. 80 km)

 

I rode all the way to Yea on the back wheel. Just kidding Geoff! I actually took it reasonably easy across to Strath Creek then up to the Highway as I always feel a little nervous on someone else’s bike.  However, I did notice Matt was doing a brilliant job of keeping up on the babyblade as I still wasn’t doing the speed limit (oops, Geoff, you didn’t read that!).  We did have time to admire the skywriter above us though.

 

Once we hit the highway and turned right toward Yea I was able to REALLY enjoy the R1.  The road is smooth, open, wide, and just made for an R1!  I had a very fun ride following Craig into Yea!  There was another large bike club in town, I’m guessing the Ulysses Club as I think maybe Jack Youdan rides with them and he came up and said hi.

 

Stage 3: Yea to Kinglake West (50km)

 

After a bit of a break at Yea and a refuel for some, Derek volunteered to be the third rear rider for the day. We headed back to Kinglake West along a section of road that I just ABSOLUTELY LOVE!  I had a blast.  My taco finally got a chance to party!  So did I!  So did most of the Club from what I saw.  I also saw some rather interesting lines taken by one of the new guys ahead of me, but what can I say…maybe he was from a country you’re allowed to ride on the other side of the white line on? 

 

Mick Hanlon apparently left us at Yea to go check out the Highlands area, and we lost a newcomer, Dave, somewhere early in the ride. I don’t think anyone actually saw him after Yarra Glen.  Hopefully he found his way home okay because I don’t think he managed to stay with the ride long.

 

We finished the ride at Kinglake West at about 2.15 pm.  Some seemed keen to keep riding, but on further questioning it seemed most were happy to call it a day and head home.  I headed to Warrandyte with Liz and Pete for a cuppa (to mend the Australia/New Zealand relations!) and then headed home a couple of hours later.

 

Thanks Bruce for leading, thanks Enzo, Geoff and Derek for rear rider duties and thanks Geoff for the ride on the R1.

 

 

Di Welsford (Honda CBR 600)

 

PS:  This is a disclaimer for all defamatory statements about Kiwis – but Liz and Pete, you know I just can’t resist!