Mirboo North– Sunday 19^th March, 2006

Honda CBR1000	Paul Southwell	Suzuki Bandit	Ron Johnston
Honda CBR1000	Ian Payne	Suzuki GSXR1000	Cliff Peters
Kawasaki ZX10	Danny Hasnat	Honda CBR929	Ben Warden (leader)
Kawasaki ZX12R	Paul Grosser	Honda VFR750	Gavin Eakins (2^nd ride)
Triumph 955i ST	Ern Reeders (half rear)	Suzuki GSXR750	Clint Vertigan
Kawasaki ZX9	Goran Stankovic (1^st ride)	MV Augusta 750 SPR	Dave Ward
Honda CBR600	Paul Punicki (half rear)	Suzuki GSXR1000	Lyn Duncan
Honda VTR1000	Bill Wee	Honda CBR954	Breht Emmerson
Yamaha TRX850	Tony Raditsis	17 bikes, 17 people

Berwick departure, warm weather, plenty of people, should be a good day’s ride. We always get a good turn out for this ride. Cliff rode up to Melbourne from Portland on Friday arvo. Danny Hawker rode up on Sunday morning and was already at Berwick when we arrived.

On Saturday morning I took Cliff and his front wheel to the Lilydale bike shop to get the front tyre changed. He bought a new rear tyre as well. Afterwards, we went to Peter Stevens in Ringwood and I bought some summer gloves to replace my old ones which were a bit worse for wear after a couple of spills and holes in the fingers from using the clutch lever. We refitted the front wheel, had lunch and then visited Jason and Heidi in Berwick. After visiting them, we called in at New World Honda on the way home. Big place, lots of boats, cars and motorcycles and stuff. We checked out the spares. They had some new Dunlop Qualifier tyres, the Michelin Pilot Power equivalent. The bloke in Spares was interested in someone trying out the Dunlops so he could get some feedback on how they worked.

When we got home, Cliff decided to change the rear tyre as well. Otherwise it wouldn’t do the whole Sunday ride.

Sunday morning. I got the bike out of the shed. Julie mentioned that I had better make sure the bike would start. I tried, and it didn’t sound too good. Cliff walks out to get his bike out of the shed and there I am changing the alternator which only takes about five minutes. I said to Cliff that I had to change it because the battery was crook and I didn’t want to make it worse.

On Saturday when I went to start the bike the battery was a bit flat and I had to jump start the motor with jumper leads off the car battery. It took ages to start. On the Brisbane Ranges ride the alternator had an overcharging fit. On the way home I had mentioned to Joel a couple of times when stopped at the lights I could smell battery acid, but thought nothing more of it. When I got home, I took the seat off the bike and the battery was red hot; you couldn’t hold your hand on it. So I ran the hose over it to cool it down. I was very lucky it didn’t explode. It’s handy having spare parts for your bike.

I got the rest of my riding gear on and we headed off to Berwick at a brisk pace.

Ben gathered the troops around and gave us a run down on where we going and how far between fuel stops. He called for a volunteer rear rider and someone to do the write up, but no hands went up. So we didn’t worry about that for the moment, a minor technicality, deal with it later. Let’s mount up and go.

Highway to Pakenham, turn off and do the back roads through Nar Nar Goon, Garfield and Longwarry. I corner marked and turned the motor off to see if would start again. It sounded a bit sad and wouldn’t go the first time, but fired up on the second attempt. I decided to leave it running until further notice, not relishing the thought of being stuck in the bush with a dicky battery. You couldn’t push start my bike if your life depended on it. On the other hand, if the battery has had the dick, you’re in trouble any way.

On to Drouin where we turn right at the roundabout. They were doing work on the poles. There were people with signs … SLOW … waving of hands. We continue on to Lardner and Ellinbank. From here the tempo picks up, along a nice flowing road. Some riders were quicker than others; lots of fun.

We arrived at Korumburra. They are doing up the traffic islands where you come over the rail line and it will be good when it’s finished. We park in the usual car park and walk across to Kelly’s Bakery, a popular place, eat inside or out. We stayed inside because it was cooler; pretty warm outside. Breht spoke to me about changing a rear tyre on his bike the following week. I told him to take it to the bike shop and they would change and balance it for $11. A couple of riders left for home to meet prior commitments.

We rode back towards Warragul and turned onto the Fairbank Road to Arawata. We became spread out along here. On the gravel section, Dave Ward was in front of me and then Danny Hawker came from behind, passing both of us and was gone. We all stopped at the Wild Dog Valley, Mt Eccles Road and Leongatha North road intersection for a visor clean. Then on to Leongatha and Dumbalk. I corner marked here with Lyn.

From this intersection the road is nice and twisty all the way to Mirboo North via Dumbalk, Boolarra South and Boolarra. At Mirboo North we stopped for fuel and then headed down to the bakery for food, drink, and a bit of a chat. By this stage we had lost a few more riders.

Bill Wee decided to stay at Mirboo North while the rest of us did the Hallston Loop. On our way out of Mirboo North there was a lot of silt on the road where they had been cleaning the drains, making it very slippery. It is a bit exciting when you’ve got two wheel steering. It cleared up after a couple clicks and the rest of the ride back to Mirboo North was great.

Bill was quickly putting his helmet and gloves on so he wouldn’t be left behind. A brief stop and then it was off towards Thorpdale. Everyone was coasting along till we got to the Thorpdale turn off. Last time we were here they had just started altering the intersection, and they still haven’t finished it, but it will be good when it is fixed.

I waited with Cliff and some of the others till they caught up, and then it was on. A nice twisty uphill climb. We passed a few cars and a truck carrying livestock. I was following Dave on the MV and not sparing the horses. It definitely is a top piece of road. On to Trafalgar, and it’s on for young and old again, passing a few cars and 4X4s along with a semi thrown in for good measure. Tony, on the TRX, saw to that. Fuel stop in Trafalgar, visor clean and some more talk-the-talk. Lyn might still be having some suspension set up problems?

We left Trafalgar for Willowgrove and Hill End. We stayed together as a group pretty much, even if we did spread out a little. From here to Noojee it was every man for themselves. The road through here is tight and twisty with no margin for error. You must watch for other motor vehicles. I remember when the road used to be gravel; not much fun then, but it is now. At Icy Creek we turned left to Noojee, got on the gas and went for it.

A quick stop at Noojee for a visor clean. Powelltown was our last stop, with more fabulous roads in between. It’s a tough job, but somebody has to do it. When I arrive, there are a few dirt bikes there as well. I get my helmet and jacket off and head into the shop, seeing a couple of familiar faces. Gary, who had an on-site van at Porepunkah, was riding a KTM. Troy used to be a ride with the club some years ago. He rode a Ducati and always wore a singlet and jeans, and used to be built like a proverbial outhouse but is now a mere shadow of his former self. Troy was riding a RM Suzuki and had come off and injured his hand. Gary and Troy were waiting for a couple of mates to come and pick Troy and the bike up. It was good to catch up with them.

Cliff said it was too early to go home and he wanted to know if we would have enough time to go for a spin over the Reefton, Marysville, and Black Spur. I said I would go. Danny declined, just wanting to get home early (ie 10 pm …Ed.). Paul Southwell also declined but asked whether we hadn’t ridden enough for one day? Reckons we were mad. It was 4 pm and I said to Cliff that we had better make a move owing to the sun setting. The ride finished here and people started to leave.

Down to Gladysdale, right into Tarrango Road coming out on the Highway. We took a right into Old Warburton Road which someone informed me recently has been sealed. It’s not that wide, and is tight and twisty. A few corners in and I almost got a bit too close and personal with a late model Commodore wagon towing a trailer with three trail bikes on it. That makes you pay attention. We meandered our way through the windy road and came out opposite the old Sanitarium Factory, turned right and went a 100 metres and turned right again into Kellys Road. That takes you round the river to miss Warby altogether.

We stopped at the bottom of the Reefton and I told Cliff, if he wanted to go, go, and I would see him at the top. At the bottom there were a couple of bikes, their riders sitting down having a smoke. One was a GSXR1000 and a mint looking CB750/4, about a 1970 vintage. Cliff followed me for a few clicks up the Spur and then passed me. See what happens when you ride too slowly? We passed a few bikes going the other way. We had no sooner stopped at the top and these other two pulled up behind us.

Cliff went and spoke to the bloke on the 1000. He had a look at his apparently bald tyre, but on closer inspection he was running a slick. I mentioned to Cliff that he wouldn’t want to be riding on wet roads and the owner agreed! The CB750 looked pretty swish and it obviously had a lot of money spent on it.

Back on to the bikes and a quick trip to Marysville. We stopped at the Bakery for a cuppa and a bite to eat. I said to Cliff that the two on the 750 and the 1000 didn’t waste any time coming up the Reefton behind us. Cliff said that as we were leaving the bottom, they were scrambling onto their bikes. The little bloke on the 750 would have had his work cut out, I reckon, getting up the Reefton that quickly. The pair now arrived in Marysville and I had a closer look at the 750. It looked like it had alloy wheels, but they were re-chromed and polished steel wheels. They certainly looked the part along with the rest of the bike.

Last and best leg of the journey. Hands up who doesn’t like the Black Spur? We’re off. How good is this road? Marysville to Saint Fillans and turn onto the Highway passing cars as we go. At the Black Spur servo we came up behind a P-plater in a brand new XR6 turbo ute. Best we pass him, but oh no, he wasn’t going to have that. Driving a Ford he put his Dick Johnson hat on. He gave me a run for my money.

The ute handled fairly well in the corners and was making sure he wasn’t going to be passed, or so he thought. Up through the twisty bits, past the well on the right and another couple of corners before the straight, on which I thought I would get him. We hit the straight and he is on the gas and going for it, so was I. The little shit didn’t follow the shape of the road, and just cut across the middle of the chicane, which cut well into my lane. I reckon there would have been about six to eight foot between the ute and the embankment. We were both hard on the gas and I eventually passed him before the end of the straight. The only thing was he had to slow down for another P-plater in a N13 Pulsar. We were going quick.

Cliff was still behind somewhere, and I was all fired up. I passed numerous cars on the way down, hit the Fernshaw Reserve and on our way up the other side, come up behind a chap on a bike. He had been passing cars as well. I went to pass but thought I had better just hang back a bit because he was going to pass more cars as well. He goes and I go, and pass the lot of them. Cliff was somewhere in my shadow. I think I made him earn his keep, coming across the top. On to Healesville and we turn off and go the back way to Yarra Glen and home.

At home we were discussing the day’s events, particularly the Black Spur run. Poor Cliff was in fits of laughter about the bloke on the bike I passed on the Spur. He noted that he was hanging off the seat on all the corners and I have come up behind him not moving and blown him into the weeds. Very amusing, he thought.

Cliff and I did 535 kilometres for the day, door to door. Danny Hawker would have done 1200 to 1300 kilometres by the time he got home. Thanks to Ben for leading the ride. We had three different rear riders including myself. Good weather, good company, good roads and no mishaps.

Ron Johnston

p.s. Paul Southwell, you missed out on some good fun.