Swapping Leads?

I was down in the June-September itinerary to lead the August 14^th Dams Ride, but my wife booked me in for a weekend in Merimbula (NSW) instead. I tried to swap dates with Nigel (Walhalla) on the 28^th, as both rides were starting from Berwick - this would make it easy for people showing up if there's no change to the meeting point, just a surprise for the destination.

Sadly Nigels' Buell was not going to on the road in time, so that didn't work out. At the August committee meeting Paul Southwell put his hand up to lead my ride, and I put up my hand to lead Nigels. As it turned out, Paul went where there were no dams, but I managed to get to Walhalla and take in a dam.

Where to go? What roads to take? Out with the trusty Melway and check things out. As I don't know my way around Gippsland, I was not going to take the proposed route in the club magazine. My idea was to head north from Berwick, with the first stop at Noojee. Worked that one out pretty quickly, as I'd used some of the roads in my second Dams Ride back in January. From there it was on to Moe for food/fuel.

Route decided on, it was time to get out there and see if it made sense in the real world. Plus there was a 'new' road or two to check out on the way (who picked them up on Sunday?). Saturday 20^th saw me head out of the garage at home at midday and down to Berwick for the first pre-ride. Three hours later I'm in Moe, satisfied with the route so far. Out with the map again, and check out the way back: via the Old Sale Road as it turned out, then back along the Powelltown Road for a probable breakup at Yarra junction. Only one wrong turn when I tried it out, otherwise it was simple enough for me to find the way - always a good thing when you're leading. About 400 km for the day.

Saurday 27th. Second and full pre-ride today, as I don't want any surprise roadworks or stuff like that on the day. Berwick by 10:25am and I head off without even looking at the map today: getting some faith in myself. FYI: Last time I led a ride from here I took a wrong turn at the first roundabout and took us all up a dead-end road.... Everything goes to plan with only one stop to check a road name - and I'm on the right one! Up to Woori Yallock, zig-zag to Gladysdale and then on to Noojee. Find the road is wet in places and is likely to be the same on Sunday; make a mental note to mention this at the riders briefing tomorrow.

Noojee-Moe is damp in a few places but otherwise good. Lunch at the Yellow Bakery in Moe (yes that is the real name), check the map and plan the loop to Walhalla. That didn't work out as planned, as what I was expecting to be a sign-posted road didn't actually rate a signpost. This got me to the Walhalla turnoff sooner than expected, but what the hell - that's where we are meant to be going. Road damp/wet in places; some of this area doesn't get any direct sunlight at this time of year. Up to the old town, and back again. Thompson Dam was next, around 40 km for the round trip. Again there were damp corners to be wary of. More mental notes made for Sunday.

From the dam it was back towards Moe, on different roads. Onto the Old Sale Road just like last week but no wrong turn today. Eventually get to Yarra Junction, making this a 240 km leg from Moe - with no petrol available before this. Hmmm - need to work out who can't get that far on a tank. No problems on the YZF! Total distance Berwick - Yarra Junction is just under 400 km; home-to-home was 538km. And I get to do it all again tomorrow. But that's why I do the pre-ride: no surprises.

See the write-up elsewhere in the magazine for the events of the day.

Trevor Harris