Gembrook – Sunday 17^th February, 2002

Ben Warden, CBR 929 RR (Leader) Ron Johnston, Bandit 1200

Kate Stewart, CBR 250 RR (2^nd) Rhys Williams, ZX9

Liz Oliver, CBR 919 Rob Langer/ Kirstenn Anderson, BMW R1150 GS

Peter Weyermayr, CBR 929 RR Dianne Welsford, CBR 600

Jamie Myers, CBR 250 RR Dave Ward/ Bronwyn Manifold, BMW 650 Funduro

Frank Sibberas, GPZ 750 Mel Chandler, CBR 600

Greg Hales, TL1000S Martin Hastie/ Carmen Blackbird (rear rider)

Mark, VTR1000 15 Bikes, 18 People

The weather was warming up and looking good. Hallam: Pete, Liz, Martin and Carmen were there already. I do the usual thing and fill the bike up and go and have a chat. Catch up on the news. The rest of the people arrived. Ben got every body together and told them that he would be taking the ride because Ian was still not well enough and had been off work for about three weeks.

We headed down Narre Warren North Road to the Heatherton Road roundabout and turned right into Robinson Road /King Road where you come over a rise and there is a roundabout where you have to hit the skids to do a left turn into Harkaway Road. This is an interesting bit of road. Beaconsfield Upper: I thought we had lost a corner marker on a “T” intersection and so I spoke to Rob Langer who was also corner-marking. We decided to follow every body else and hope we would be on the right road. A couple of corners later, I came to a corner where Ben was marking and realised we were on the right road. I was a bit concerned we might be all over the place. The road from Beaconsfield to Pakenham is a good road; lots of twisties and some nice sweepers.

Into Pakenham, then left onto the Princes Highway for a couple of hundred yards and then left into Pakenham Road to Pakenham Upper, then across Mt Burnett and on to Cockatoo where we turned right onto the Healesville / Koo Wee Rup Road. Whilst corner marking an elderly gentleman stopped and asked me for directions. I suggested the Melways, which he got, but I couldn’t help and I said he should go back down the road to the CFA. They would be of more help because I didn’t know the area well.

We followed this road through to Woori Yallock where we went left onto the Warby Highway and immediately right off it again but still on the Healesville Koo Wee Rup Road. Then right into Dalry Road / Don Valley Road to Launching Place. This is a well travelled road by the Club. Right turn onto the Warby Highway again and stopped at Warburton. Food, drink, toilet stop, idle gossip and such like. Before we headed off again a couple of us had to get fuel for our bikes. Kate Stewart came back all excited because she had recruited another rider who was filling up at the service station. Can’t remember the name but he was riding a yellow VTR. (Mark …Ed.)

We are off again and on our way to the beloved Reefton Spur. A few of us were going hell for leather on the way there. On the way up Peter on his 929 Blade was hard on my heels. When we got to the top we stopped and regrouped. Pete commented to me about, when my bike was going funny in the corners, his was also. I said the Avon tyre on the front was losing its grip and I was sliding on the corners. I said to him that I was going to replace it with a Michelin Pilot Sport because I believe they are a good tyre and do not lose their grip. Everybody arrives at the top. Dianne said the Mark had come off but he was all right. Onto Marysville where, along with Rob / Kirsten, Dianne, we had lunch. The others carried onto Healesville where the ride broke up.

On the way home over the Spur, Rob was in front. We passed a few cars and bikes, but there was a bloke on an R1 who playing hard to get and Rob couldn’t get past him. I passed Rob and followed the R1 for a little while and then did a Craig Morley on him and went around the outside on a left hander and went for it. I didn’t see him until he got to Healesville. I must have frightened him off. Regrouped at Healesville and said our good byes and headed home. I took the long way home: Myers Creek Road, Toolangi, Kinglake, St Andrews, Panton Hill, Kangaroo Ground, Warrandyte, Croydon and Kilsyth. Not bad for a day’s ride. I hope everybody enjoyed themselves.

Ron Johnston (Suzuki 1200 Bandit)