Brisbane Ranges                  Sunday 18th May, 2003

 

Ben Warden                 Honda CBR929                       Paul Southwell  Honda CBR954

 

I got up late and arrived 20 minutes early at Whittlesea. The traffic lights were kind and there weren’t many cars. The choice of clothing was obvious: full wets.

 

I figured no-one would show. Kate had rung in to ask where the first stop was – Pyalong. She had visited the Bureau of Meteorology web site to check on the rain and figured yellow splodges were bad news – heavy rain. Even so, she thought she might catch up with the ride if the rain eased off. And Pete (and Liz) had phoned from under the security and warmth of their doona to see if there was anyone silly enough to be out riding – just when Paul Southwell rolled up on his spotless 954.

 

At twenty-five past the scheduled 10.15 am leave time we mosied off for a leisurely ride into the mist and drizzle heading for Kinglake and Flowerdale. As usual, it was very cold around Kinglake West, almost foggy, and the first trickle of liquid cold found its way into my boots.  No worries about cops today – we weren’t even going fast enough to register and besides radar doesn’t work in rain.

 

Along the Strath Creek road the pace picked up a bit and again I had trouble at the second mid-corner pimple, avoiding the gravelly road works just before it and having to run wide to miss the pimple. At Strath Creek we turned right and headed for Parrot Creek, encountering quite a few oncoming cars. Now left, heading for Trawool, getting on the gas a bit to enjoy the first long left hand sweeper that goes for ever.

 

After Trawool we turned left and headed along the bumpy section towards Tallarook and on to Pyalong, noting the kangaroo sign. Whereas only a few weeks ago the countryside was brown and grassless, it was now green with short grass.

 

We pulled into Pyalong for a break after about an hour’s riding. The immediate thing I noticed was a patch of concrete where the petrol bowser used to be; something to remember when next planning a ride out this way. If anything, it started to rain heavier. By mutual agreement we decided to head for home straight down the highway.

 

There were clumps of cars producing losts of spray and requiring a little patience to get past in the treacherous conditions. Both of us had tyres with the minimum number of cuts to make them legal, and given the cold conditions, were probably running well below their optimum operating temperatures. Never-the-less we made could progress south, joining the Hume Highway at Wallan and parting company at Mahoney’s Road.

 

I was home just before 1 pm after having travelled 230 km for the day. Thanks, Paul, for some company. Maybe next time the weather will be a little kinder.

 

My dab of marine grease on the chain that morning was still holding good, and at $7.50 a tub, it is top value.  The bike clocked over 82,000 km and is running well.

 

 

Ben Warden (CBR929RR)