MSTCV Porepunkah Christmas Camp

26th Dec.  to 2nd January 2005

 

Participants:

Ben, Julie and Fiona Warden                            Car, trailer and Honda CBR929RR.                

Ron and Julie Johnston                                      Car, trailer and Suzuki Bandit 1200.

Cliff Peters and Danny                                      Ute, trailer Kawasaki ZX-10R and Suzuki GSXR1000.

Jason Peters     (Cliff's nephew)                        Kawasaki ZX12R

Ken Wright and Louisa                                     Land Rover, trailer and Aprilia RSV1000

Dave Ward and Bronwyn                                 Mercedes van, Augusta MV SPR, MV Brutale and KTM250

Ian Payne                                                         Van and Honda CBR929RR.

Stoimen, Vicky, Karl and Nadia                       Ford 4WD, R1

Peter Feistl                                                       Honda Blackbird

Les Leahy                                                        Suzuki DRZ400

Renzo Cunico                                                   Honda VFR750

 

Sunday 26th  Ben, Julie and Fiona, Ken and Louisa, Dave and Bron, Peter, Ian, Ron, Julie, Cliff, Danny, Stoimen, Vicky, Karl and Nadia represented the MSTCV this year! The nightly run up Buffalo had already been by the time I arrived. The park had new owners who had been busy sprucing up the place. The only obvious change was the old machinery shed had been converted to a large BBQ/eating area.

 

Monday 27th  Today we headed over the top to Dinner Plain, then onto Omeo and Anglers Rest for lunch at the “The Blue Duck Pub”. Ron was having some back problems so he would have a rest day. The weather was a bit on the cool side so by the time we reached Dinner Plain it was actually lightly snowing! This was enough to send Bron heading for home, too cold even with the heated grips.

 

The rest of us headed to Omeo via Cassilis and Swifts Creek then on to Anglers Rest. Unfortunately this tight twisty bit of road was covered in loose sand and called for cautious progress. After a leisurely lunch it was back to Omeo for fuel, then onto Porpunkah. Everyone was off at a fast pace with a quick regroup at Hotham where we noted the temperature was just 4 degrees! Next stop Harrietville, but unfortunately Peter came unstuck on a tight right-hander with him and the bike hitting the armco quite hard. Fortunately Peter was OK and the bike was rideable.

 

Dave had been invited out on a dirt ride with the Caravan Park owner’s son, who crashed big-time, according to Dave, but, being young, was OK.

 

Tuesday 28th  Today’s ride would be a short one encompassing Tawonga Gap, Falls Creek and Happy Valley. The weather was marginally warmer than yesterday so it was a pleasant run. Unfortunately, the pace was hot which caught Stoimen out with his R1 running out of fuel a few kays from Porpunkah.

 

Cliff's nephew Jason arrived today as had Les. A stop at Myrtleford for some supplies had Les lose the key to his DRZ400. After much searching and finding nothing, the bike was eventually loaded onto Ben’s trailer using ken’s 4WD and bought back to camp. Les would ‘phone home’ and have his spare key sent up by Express Post.

 

Wednesday 29th  The ride today was to Thredbo and Jindabyne so it would be in the order of 750 to 800 kilometres! We met at Myrtleford where Peter had fitted a new tyre to the Blackbird. It was then across to Dederang, Gundowing, and Tallangatta for fuel. Dave had bought the Brutale out for the day and, as my neck was a bit sore, we swapped bikes.  I thought the more upright riding position would help. The 750cc MV was a revelation, especially across Granya Gap where the revy engine, superb brakes and wide bars made it an easy run. We continued on to Walwa and Khancoban for fuel and to swap back for the run along the Alpine Way. What a hoot of a road, apart from some ‘oversize’ vehicles taking up all of the road and a couple 4WD’s on our side. We all made it through unscathed to the Jindabyne roadhouse. After lunch a few of the guys followed Ben to Charlotte’s Pass and back.

 

The return trip would follow the same route and what a sensational run, especially the ‘freight train’ of bikes along the Alpine Way.  Granya Gap was also exciting with lots of leaf litter to keep you alert! Unfortunately Stoimen was caught out on one corner but the oggy knobs saved the day with little damage to the R1. Jason was badly in need of a tyre so he and Cliff took the most direct way home. The rest of the group were getting tired and eager to get back, so it was fortunate that our only sighting of Mr. Plod was watching him chase another bike!

 

We all made it back safely with just on 776kms (plus another 80 km to Charlotte’s Pass) covered for the day. The 1000 corners had shredded tyres and left most with aching arms!

 

Thursday 30th  After yesterday’s marathon today would be a ‘rest’ day, Dave, Bron and I cycled the 29km to Myrtleford along the rail/trail. Renzo had arrived and accompanied Danny and Cliff to Dartmouth Dam and Mitta Mitta. The rest went trout fishing, swimming or just took it easy. Les had a doubly good day: his spare key arrived and the Myrtleford supermarket found his original key. Perhaps this would make up for the tumble he took getting here, high up in the Alpine National Park!

 

Friday 31st  Another short ride today, across Tawonga Gap, Falls Creek and Happy Valley. We met at Myrtleford where Peter had gone in search of brake pads for the Blackbird but had had to go further afield to find them. Renzo joined us for the ride and Les, now mobile, would meet us along the way. After a study of the map, we did a detour down to Lake Buffalo. Along the way back Renzo pointed out the family farm. We next rode out towards Yackandandah, then detoured to Rosewhite to pick up the Happy Valley road. It was fairly warm so we stopped at Mt Beauty.

 

A group of Italian men were quite excited by the bikes but showed there ignorance by asking Dave “What model Honda is the MV?” The run up Falls was quite good with Peter and Les stopped along the way taking photos. Home across the mighty Tawonga Gap.

 

Ron was starting to feel better so he came along on the evening’s run up Buffalo. A little Lancer rally car took some passing. At the top, the driver explained that he worked at the chalet and therefore knew the road very well.

 

An attempt to see in the New Year failed dismally with all in bed by 11.30pm.

 

Saturday 1st  There was another ride across to Falls Creek but I wasn’t feeling too well so didn’t go. (Bron and I and eventually Cliff contacted some kind of stomach bug.) I did a bike ride to Bright, Les departed heading for Tumut to catch up with friends, and Ron, feeling good, accompanied Cliff on a run to Omeo and back.

 

Sunday 2nd   Today we headed home with only Ron and the gang staying on an extra night. All in all, another excellent week away with good weather, good company and good riding. The amount of fun was measured in fried tyres.  I lost count of the number of these being changed!

 

Ian Payne (Honda CBR929)