Reefton via Cockatoo Sunday 26^th March, 2006

An itch needs a scratch and there comes a time when you just have to go riding. As the weather over the Commonwealth Games week and a bit, was about as good as it gets and the final day promised no change the call to Yarra Glen for a repeat dose of Breht's well planned ride could not be resisted. Walk the dog, gather the gear, hope the R1 fires after a few weeks inactivity in the shed and drone east. 17 other scratchers at the Original Cafe as follows:

Honda group: build quality gold medal winners: Paul Southwell CBR1000, Ian Payne CBR1000, Breht Emmerson CBR954 LEADER, Wally Brouw CBR954, Ben Warden CBR929, Simon Trubiano CBR929, Renzo Cunico VFR750, Jason Miller VFR750

Suzuki group: power output gold medal winners: Lyn Duncan GSXR1000, Mark Rigsby GSXR1000 REAR RIDER, Glen Forsaith GSXR1000 (3rd ride), Dave Ward GSXR600, Ron Johnston Bandit 1200

Kawasaki: bullet proof engineering gold medal winner: Darryn Webster ZX6

Yamaha group: style gold medal winners: Andy Thompson R1 (1st ride), Geoff Jones R1

Triumph: individuality gold medal winner, build quality silver medal winner: Ern Reeders 955ST

As 10 am approaches Breht gets the attention he deserves and delivers a textbook pre-ride spiel. Pre-ridden to gather every bit of detail required, laid out in spreadsheet style. Including the exact location of potential grip problems on the Reefton Spur.

On his pre-ride he also became a person of "interest" to three members of the thin blue line resulting in transfer of funds and the certain prospect of walking in the future. Did the fact that there was no thin blue line activity on the ride day reflect the reality or not of police "Quotas": book on Saturday, relax on Sunday.

Out of Yarra Glen to the Old Healesville Road. Past Yarra Track winery, up Chum Creek Road to Toolangi then down Myers Creek Road to the back streets of Healesville to pick up the Maroondah Highway and the Koo-Wee-Rup road to Woori Yallock. The ride had by now settled into it's natural selection process as the corner marker group formed and others found their ride position based on personal comfort zones. Noted that migraine inducing twinkle in the mirrors as the faster groups pounced, one minute clear rear view and the next a gaggle of 55W headlights.

South of Woori Yallock to roads only Breht seems to know so for all you map tragics here is a quote from the spread sheet: L-R Healesville-Koo Wee Rup rd to Cockatoo, R Belgrave -Gembrook rd, R Macclesfield rd, L Beenak rd, R Monbulk-Seville rd, Seville for 1^st break at 105.8kms

Talk the talk here as we do: tyres, suspension, and why I should buy Dave's GSXR600. I promise not to mention a certain Mr Southwell's antics as his significant other reads the mag. Hello Jo. Note that Lyn still needs something with radial callipers and Ern is very happy with his sticky Dunlops. Feel very self satisfied that I resisted pies and went for the salad roll.

Breht restates the Reefton road condition report and we kit up for the run to Warburton for fuel. Some diversions to break up the Highway experience and we are onto the fabled Reefton. Bikes are out in numbers today and the bakery in Marysville has bikes lining the street on both sides. Eric Makin, the "Keeper of the Spurs" on Rossi rep R6 noted.  198 kms at the stop. Lunch over, we join the throngs of bikes and cars for the run down Black's Spur to Healesville. Two incidents involving bikes noted (not MSTCV). R1 and Porsche at the Narbethong end and two bikes that ran wide on a right hander and were up against the bank further down the Spur.

Lots of four wheel traffic adding to the adrenaline levels but all into Healesville OK and onto Myers Creek Rd, up to Toolangi, across the Melba Highway, on to Kinglake and down the twisty St Andrews Rd to the finish at Kangaroo Ground.   288 kms Thanks to Breht for the lead and Mark for rear rider duties.  Welcome to the new riders and thanks for the good company. No incidents reported, perfect riding weather.  Smiles all round, all day.

Geoff Jones