Loch                    Sunday 3rd October, 2004

 

Suzuki GS1200            Ron Johnston                Honda CBR 954          Paul Southwell

BMW R1150GS          Rob Langer                  Kawasaki ZX12R        Paul Grosser (Leader)

Matt Clark                   Suzuki GSXR750         Suzuki GSXR750         Damien Glynn              

Mick Bosworth            Kawasaki ZX9R          Ian Payne                     Honda CBR929 (Rear)           

Honda CBR929           Ben Warden

 

The weather looked ominous as Mick met at my place for the ride down to Berwick, even though the forecast was for a fine but cloudy day. Neither Mick nor I had been to the new meeting place in Berwick, and we took the wrong turn off the Freeway for the meeting place. A 10 minute detour through town finally got us back on track.

 

We made it in time to see a good group waiting. Kate Stewart and Pete Pondeljak turned up fully kitted out for what looked to be a multiple-day motorcycle trip on their matching CBR600’s, and as such were just saying hello and not coming along for the ride. A BMW, two Kawasaki’s, three Honda’s, and three exceptional Suzuki’s out to play.

 

Paul led us off to the Freeway, then down the usual straight and flat back roads through Nar Nar Goon and Garfield to Longwarry, where we headed north-east through empty and thankfully dry roads past Labertouche and Jindivick to Neerim South.  From there, south through Crossover and some fast sweepers and undulating countryside to Bandy Creek, then under the Highway to Drouin, Topiram and the unfortunately-named Poowong. Morning tea at Loch where the friendly staff informed us of a 30+ group of motorcyclists had just been through, a branch of the Ulysses Club we suspect.

 

A motion was raised by some crazy Club member, and then some other buffoon seconded it, so the motion was carried for me to do the write-up. Unfortunately Ben took this seriously and to my bewilderment and dismay handed me the list of names of those on the ride. Unable to defeat their legal mumbo-jumbo I assented.

 

Paul informed us we would complete a one-hour loop south then back to Loch for lunch. Quick fuel for some, then off in anger towards Krowera, Blackwood Forest, Ryanston, Korrine, etc. A great run, with me seeing magpies swooping Ben at one stage, and Paul at another, possibly as payback for their previous tomfoolery.

 

The weather remained constantly dry, but overcast, providing clear roads with no shadows to conceal wet patches or gravel. We mostly stayed together as a snake of bikes through nearly empty roads at blistering pace back through Almurta, Kernot and Woodleigh to Loch.

 

Seventy-six kilometres in around 25 minutes rather than an hour meant we were early for a leisurely lunch.  Rob decided to leave us and headed home. Then we then set off north east via Nyora, Poowong, Ranceby and onto the Warragul road, partly retracing our steps from the morning. Another great set of fast open sweepers and tricky narrow trails (with a tied-up goat on the edge of the road near Neerim scaring me for a moment until I saw the rope). Back past Labertouche to the Freeway for an official break-up. A great day, 350k’s of fun roads and no incidents to report.

 

Thanks Ian for an easy day of rear duties and Paul for a great maiden voyage.

 

Cheers.

 

Matt Clark (Suzuki GSX-R750)