Acheron Way                        Sunday 23rd October 2005

 

Honda CBR1000

Paul Southwell

Suzuki GSXR1000

Lyn Duncan

Honda CBR1100XX

Martin Hastie (leader)

MV Brutale 750

Dave Ward

Honda CBR929

Ben Warden (0.5 rear)

Yamaha R6

Joel Haley

Honda VFR800

Mark Rigsby (1st ride)

Suzuki GSXR1000

Cliff Peters

Yamaha R1

Graeme Arnold (2nd ride)

Suzuki GF1200

Ron Johnston

Triumph 955

Ern Reeders (0.5 rear)

MV Augusta 750

Darryn Webster

 

Sunday started with the weather really turning it on. The meeting at Yarra Glen had a sprinkling of new faces in with the usual suspects. By the time Martin delivered his pre-ride instruction talk we were ready to blast off up hills and down valleys.

 

First set of twisties was up to Toolangi via Healesville then back down the other side of the ridge, back into Healesville. Both these sections were a little greasy, but still good fun and just dry enough to give a taste of things to come.

 

After Healesville the Black Spur was the next tasty morsal. And tasty it was. In fact very tasty. Dave Ward and I managed to get a clean run through the first section, up to Fernshaw Park, then had a reasonable run on to St Fillans. Next we had a very pleasant run up the Acheron Way till the tar ran out. Hopefully, one day the Victorian government will realise that this little bit of country along the Acheron River is some of the region’s finest and seal the road through to Mt Donna Buang. Ben captured the moment digitally, his efforts adorning the front cover of the magazine.

 

From the lush, green rainforest by the Acheron River, we headed back to the main road, then on to Marysville for a lunch break at the bakery.

 

The ride from Marysville to Cumberland Junction had a couple of interesting moments. One that springs to mind was passing three fellows in different models of Mercedes. The lead car was a 6.3 litre, with a very relaxed driver and plenty of grunt. Given that the road after Lake Mountain turn-off is narrow and tight, it was a challenge to pass these three competent drivers.

 

The run down the Reefton Spur towards Warburton was clear and clean with no reported moments. (Spur Minders and Club members, John Clowes and Eric Makin, were seen flashing by in the other direction on their R6s, chasing some even faster riders on R1s. …Ed.) Some of us elected to “coffee” in Warburton whereas six of the diehards preferred to finish off with a run up Mt Donna Buang and back.

 

Thanks, Martin, for an incident free ride of 250 kms. I’m already I’m looking forward to visiting some of these areas in the near future.  

 

Paul Southwell (Honda CBR1000)