Dianne Welsford, CBR600 Dave Ward, MV Agusta 750

Bronwyn Manifold, Ducati Monster 620 ie Clint Vertigan, GSXR750

Martin Wain& Yvette Anderson, GSX1400 Daryl & Ruth, R1

Craig Davidson, GSXR600 (2^nd ride) Dave Hives, ZX9

Darryn Hutchinson, CBR954RR Stewart Lens, Bandit 1200

Darryn Webster, TL1000R Andrew Symes, RF900

Gaven Wearing, GSXR1000 Michael Snare, TL1000 S (1^st ride)

Rob Blunden, TL1000 R (2^ndride) Paul Southwell, CBR954RR

Dave Skitt, TL1000S (Rear Rider) Dave Moore, R1

20 Bikes, 22 People

What a pleasant surprise to see all these big, brave motorcycle riders there, ready and willing to venture out onto the two lane blacktop and accept the challenge of every motorcycle rider. Greg, who was leading the ride, was sporting long, black hair. I think he was blond with short hair last time, but I stand to be corrected on that. He likes to keep up with the fashion, does our Greg. (Good on ya mate). He gathers everyone around to explain where we are going and where the stops are going to be. Then finished off by telling us he had to be home early. (Maybe he was on a promise, lucky bugger.)

It was time to mount up and ride off into the sunrise. (yee haa). Off to Healesville we go via the Yarra Track; not a bad piece of road. On the Koo-Wee-Rup road we all got sidelined behind some cars and a truck going up hill, which slowed things up a bit till we were able to pass. Then onto Dalry and Don Road to Launching Place. We hit the Warby Highway and headed towards Yarra Junction, but turned left before the Junction into Corduroy Road, and Settlement Road where you can twist the wrist if you like, and get rid of the cobwebs, spiders and birds nests out of your bike. Railway Road is something else: narrow and bumpy, but okay, and brings you out opposite the pub in Wesburn. Left turn and cruise the Highway to Warburton. No stopping here and we carry on to the Reefton, where I noticed quite a few stopped to empty their bladders, considering we didn’t stop back down the road.

I took a casual approach to the hill climb and eventually caught up to Paul on his 954 Honda and sat behind him all the way to the top, where we all stopped at the Cumberland Junction. There were quite a few other riders who turned up as well; popular place is the Reefton. After a short interval, we headed off to Marysville. I was following Dave on his MV Augusta all the way to the bottom, and we didn’t waste any time either. We passed a bike accident not far from where Dicky had his one. I think there was only one bike involved. There was a Ducati parked on the side of the road looking in a bit of a sorry state. We came around the corner and there was a Nissan 4WD with a tandem trailer parked on the wrong side of the road, facing down hill. The people in it, along with another vehicle, were helping out. We didn’t stop.

Marysville was supposed to be a quick fuel stop and carry on, but it didn’t work out like that. After 15 or 20 minutes Greg came and asked me how many people were on the ride. I got my note pad out and counted 20 bikes. Greg said we were short a couple of people. Time for recount. Should be 20 bikes, but we are still a couple short, insists Greg. Head count, somebody is missing, but who? Somebody better go back and have a look. Dianne arrives and tells us that Andrew, on the RF900, has come off his bike about the same spot as the person on the Ducati. Dianne explained that the people that helped the person on the Ducati also helped Andrew. Dave and Andrew turned up shortly afterwards. In the mean time Greg told everybody that this may as well be the lunch stop, considering we would be held up for a while.

The others arrived and I talked to Andrew about what happened. He said he came up too quickly behind Stewart on his bike, hit the brake, nothing, then went across the road and down the embankment. Dianne couldn’t do much, but the people who helped the person on the Ducati, also helped Andrew, along with Dave Skitt. The bike, from all accounts, must have disappeared over the embankment a fair way because they had a hell of a job getting it back up. After everybody had sorted themselves out it was time to hit the road again.

Off to Buxton we go. This is a good road for a fang and don’t spare the horses. To Taggerty where we have to do this supposed law abiding riding on the main drag for obvious reasons, especially if you don’t want to get pinched, in the back pocket, that is. Thornton: cross the main road and take the back road to Eildon. This is quite a good road with not too much traffic. Eildon: no stopping and we hit the Skyline road. Is this good or what? Another favourite road of mine. Off we go, hell for leather, up and across the top. I corner mark at the Fraser National Park/Taylor Bay intersection, wait for the rear rider, and then go for it again. It is a good road, but like the Reefton, must be treated with respect. Those who don’t only know too well what will happen.

Cruise on to, and through, Alexandra, and then on the Whanregarwen Road. By this time I have caught up with Greg, only to be passed by Clint on his 750, who sits on Greg’s tail, as I sat on his. It too was a good run through here. Clint and I corner marked at Molesworth, then carried on to Yea. Some of us got fuel and some didn’t. Time for something to eat and drink, which was most welcome, a rest and some idle chatter.

Time to move on. We leave Yea heading for Kinglake West. We are scattered to start with, but regrouped before we hit Junction Hill, at the bottom. The adrenalin starts to pump, and then it’s like the green flag drops and we’re off. Everybody is going for it, nobody is sparing the horses, passing one another, and others just hanging in there. Good fun. A hard, fast ride to Kinglake West.

We eventually arrived and stop at the General store. Another welcome stop. Food, drink and ice creams were the order of the day. I made the comment to Greg that he had been going too slow through there, and that Rob and I had done it a lot quicker. He then turned and made an apology that he had been informed that he had gone too slow and that he was sorry. Wasn’t that nice of him. Nothing like having a dig at someone.

Thanks to Greg for leading the ride. Everybody had a good time and the weather was good. The only mishap was Andrew on the RF900. Damage was superficial - scratched exhaust. Thanks to Dave Skitt for rear rider duties.

Ron Johnston, Bandit 1200