Xmas Camp Day Two 27^th December 2005

Ben and Julie are ready for our ritual 6.30 am walk-the-dog. We got that in before the forecast overnight rain hit. A couple of thunder claps and now I don’t want to leave mighty Thor. I am surprised, the ride start is postponed. We will wait for the weather to clear. Great. With the rest of the week ahead, things are nicely laid back. It’s about 11 am and I ask “Where are we going, Ben?” “Dartmouth Dam,” he replied. While we are over that way we gotta do Granya Gap of course. Those on the ride include Ben on the CBR929, Cliff on his GSXR1000, Danny on the GSXR750 (he also brought his ZX10 up to camp), Breht on his CBR954, Ron on the mighty Bandit, Peter on the Blackbird, and me on the GSXer.

Towonga Gap was expected to be still wet so we head off to Ovens and the Happy Valley Road, which is not really a compromise. We stopped for a visor clean before heading up the Tamgambalanga Road, another visor clean and suspension teak, and then across to the Omeo Highway and down to Mitta Mitta for our first break, lunch. Breht was handling the rear riding duties as he settles back into the flow nicely. It may have been raining earlier but it’s stinking hot now.

I was concentrating on setting my suspension back to where it was last time we were riding up here, with the much appreciated help of my mentor, Danny. I hope I didn’t annoy him too much each time we stopped, trying to suck knowledge out of him. It worked for me. By the time we did Dartmouth and refueled at Mitta Mitta, one more click on my rear rebound had solved my problems. The run back up Omeo Highway to Murray Valley Highway towards Tallangatta felt great. My bike was back! A detour across Granya Gap followed by a regroup on the other side with lots of tire talk. Then back across the Gap and around to Tallangatta. Grouse! Danny got stung on the neck waiting in the hot sun at the last turnoff. I wondered if it would swell up. Danny, tuff as nails, never mentioned it again and I forgot to ask.

Back onto the Murray Valley Highway, Tamgambalanga Road, then Kiewa Valley Highway and turn off over the terrific Towonga Gap. An uneasy wait at the lookout with only Ben. A fella on a Harley pulls in to tell us one of our mates has ‘come off in a bad way’. I went weak. As it turns out, Ron was fine, his bike a little less pristine than last time sighted. When we got back to the crash site, Ern was there. He’d been up to Falls Creek with Enzo who also had an off, but was fine as well. Ron was mobile in no time, so we went back to camp.

After a fantastic refreshing dip in the river with Thor, who had been pampered by Les throughout the day, (thank you), I pulled on my sweaty leathers for the run up Mount Buffalo. I managed to slot in behind Darryn, with Peter Feistl eventually catching up after fluffing around taking off his sun glasses, and probably wishing he hadn’t. The low sun made it pretty awkward in spots.

Dave was waiting for us at the top lookout car park. When we got there Ben, Danny, Clint and Cliff were nowhere to be seen. Peter and I went looking for them up at the top Chalet car park with no luck, then continued on, presuming they’d gone to The Horn. Not there either. We beat them all back to camp. They must have been avoiding us. (We were down at the lower lookout car park waiting for the slow coaches , tooting our horns, waving our arms, yelling. And then watching you disappear! …Ed.)

I’m absolutely knackered. Thor had howled for me despite getting the royal treatment from Les again. I didn’t want to leave him, so I declined the luxury chauffeur driven dinner invitation at the award winning Simones restaurant in Bright. Bronwyn had booked for Peter, Dave, Darryn, Julie-anne, Ian and Ern.

I had an enjoyable, entertaining evening at camp. Three mates of Les’ have arrived to add color and character to the mix. Bruce and John on BMW outfits, Peter on 950 KTM. Jacinta arrived back from dining with Barbara and pulled up her chair and we shared a wine.

Slept well.

Lyn Duncan