Meredith Sunday 15^th October, 2006

Geoff Jones	Yamaha R1 (leader)	Tony Saccuzzo (3^rd ride)	Kawasaki ZX7R
Paul Southwell	Honda CBR1000RR	Breht Emmerson	Honda CBR954
Ern Reeders	Honda CBR954 (1/2 Rear Rider)	Bevan Roberts (2^nd ride)	Suzuki GSXR750
Chris Pointon	Suzuki GSXR1000	Christian Evans (2^nd ride)	Yamaha R6
Ben Warden	Honda CBR954 (1/2 Rear Rider)	Jenny Critchlow (1^st ride)	Honda NX650

Out west with Geoff Jones! No, not a wild-west cowboy movie, even though the scenery would make the perfect backdrop for one. Instead, this is the planned ride and leader for this Sunday’s exploration. The average punter would expect the ride to have long straights and to cover large distances in short time slots. If Geoff was born in an earlier century and was as quick with a six-shooter as he is with his throttle, I am sure he would have lived a long and infamous life.

I haven’t quite got the West Gate Shell Servo start timed perfectly yet and arrived 25 minutes early. Last time (first time) I was two minutes late but still made it. Must find a compromise. At least I wasn’t the only one early, with four other riders already engaged in deep conversation about all things bike. They were Geoff, Ern, Tony (a work colleague of Geoff’s, who was also on the Mt Bunninyong Fire Tower ride) and new face, Jenny, who seemed to have zoned in on the ‘touring’ aspect of the club, showing up on a Honda NX650, an ex-Robert Langer bike.

Ern had been dragged further into the conforming mire with the purchase of a new pillion seat mounted Ventura pack, complete with a zippered extending section. The nasty taunts by others at his top box (retained from Sprint) seemed to have brought him into line, the price of individualism not worth the fare. Ern has been generating rave reports on his new purchase, a pre-loved Honda 954. I will miss his “Trumpy Tales of Woe” articles. Perhaps a new chapter on the art of motorcycle dissection may begin?

Soon other riders appear and the expanding motorcycle display gains more interest from passers-by. Two more new faces arrive to start their second ride: Bevan, on a GSXR 750, and Christian, on beautiful new R6. Paul Southwell would be happy with the number-crunching now bringing the average age of today’s riders down even further.

Geoff gives us the run-down and options for lunch and, although not pre-ridden, he was quick to point out his knowledge of all these brilliant (but bumpy) back roads out West is something like a trip deep into Gippsland with Ben. Whereas, take me out of the eastern ranges and I easily get lost.

We depart around 10:12 am after all the ICE numbers are jotted down. Ben reluctantly takes up rear rider duties, at least for the first half. He had just returned from his trip up to Dubbo Zoo and by my calculations he hasn’t been on the bike for over a week! We observe the happy snappers (speed cameras …Ed) tucked up behind the over-pass as we head out along the freeway. When we hit the first of the open stuff we soon lose sight of the leader’s R1 as Geoff heads off to wait at the first corner.

I follow Jenny for a while, waiting to see what pace she would set on her chook chaser. Eventually I overtake and make my way to the main group, care of some corner markers. We pass through Yanakie and Maude where I started to become more comfortable with the open surroundings but still cautious on these new roads. Paul came past me on an entry to a left-hand sweeper flicking a stone up that hit me fair in the chest. Nice way to treat ya mates! I slot in behind and let him set the corners up for me. Having a blast, we come over a rise to find a Commodore executing a U-turn, the car completely blocking both lanes. Shit! A bit of heart-in-mouth but he is well out of the way before any action is required.

Fuel and rest at Meredith sees us spend most of the time in the queue waiting to pay. The combination of canteen and shop service was left to one young man, slowing up the proceedings. Geoff was at the rear of the line (he had waited at the last corner to make sure no one got lost) and very kindly offered to pay for a couple who left him with the right cash so they could get going.

I noticed a red liquid all over the rear brake lever on Bevan’s GSXR and, on closer inspection, realised it was all over the swingarm on both sides. The worst is thought until Bevan emerges to reveal that he had a red Gatorade bottle in the ducktail. The crowd of concerned riders suddenly burst into fits of laughter.

We depart Meredith and head across to Durdidwarrah and then south towards Anakie. The thrill of the chase is on as I follow Tony who was obviously enjoying the straights, giving it a handful every time his bike reached a 90 degree angle. I soon find Paul in my mirrors but make it past Tony before Paul is right on my tail. Some quick sweepers ensue and we are at the next corner mark before we know it. Paul tells me that I flicked up a stone that hit him right on the clutch hand. Payback is a bitch, right! Nah, sorry Paul. It was completely accidental. I swear!

We continue on more nice sweepers at a steady pace, still with Geoff out of site, probably waiting at the next intersection. We complete a loop of the Brisbane Ranges, turning left at the corner I marked with Paul earlier in the morning. Evidence of fire from January made the passage very eerie. The charcoal coloured trees left standing after the fires were already sprouting lush green foliage close to their tops while the bottom half was an unnatural black colour.

On to Bacchus Marsh and then Myrniong and Greendale via back roads running parallel to the freeway. I am careful not to be going quicker in the 100 zone than the 110 the cars are doing on Freeway. A couple of members got pinged by a cop on the freeway a while ago for doing just that. We pass through Blackwood on our way to lunch. The town was full of Harley and ‘Happy Days’ hot rods, most parked at the pub. I don’t think these were the sort of Harley riders that go back to a 9 to 5 white-collar job during the week.

Lunch at Trentham instead of Kyneton as the day was getting on and needed to re-fuel or just relax! Conversations were typical, Geoff always having a good yarn to tell. It’s almost worth going along just for the lunchtime entertainment. Talking to Chris, I commented that he was riding well. “Up the front a bit more than usual” was his reply as he checks his front fairing. It has acquired a couple of nasty stone chips, the penalty for close quarter group riding not pleasing the big fella! Chris mentions he is doing a track day in December for his birthday and I remembered I still have a half price ride day so we organize to go on Friday the 15^th December. (The day before the club BBQ.) So if any other members are looking at going to the Island there will be at least a couple of friendly faces at the track.

After lunch Ben swaps rear rider duties with Ern before we head for Kyneton where Christian, on the beautiful new R6, accidentally takes a wrong turn, but is soon back on track after a small delay. He was riding quite well at the start of the day in the open stuff but had slowed down a fair bit after lunch. I thought he might be low on fuel and that was the hold up but no such drama. The rough roads had unsettled him a bit, not being too sure on suspension settings on the 2000 km old bike. Jenny was having electrical problems with her bike and decided to leave us at Kyneton. Having had a good day, she headed for home. Not sure if we will see her again.

Ah, familiarity! We head into Lancefield and a trip back to Broadford via the almost British-like countryside with smooth green grass and massive, huge, white rocks scattered over the landscape. You almost expect to round a corner and find a mini Stonehenge. I love this little hop, although you definitely don’t want to crash on some corners; coming face to face with a solid rock wall the likely outcome.

We pass straight through Broadford and the motor complex heading for Strath Creek. Apparently there was a Red Belly Black snake on the road somewhere that reared up at Christian. Now there is another good reason for quality boots. Don’t worry Christian, I didn’t see the snake either, but now that I think about it, I did run over what looked like a short bit of rope. Might have fired him up for you?

Next some of my favourite fast roads from Strath Creek to Flowerdale to Kinglake West. What a blast! Everyone enjoyed the final leg home. Smooth flowing corners and low traffic (along the Strath Creek – Flowerdale bit at least) made this a section that can cause you to produce a little giggle from time to time. Is that weird? Maybe what I mean is a “Big Manly Grin”! Yep. That sounds more like it.

We officially end the ride at Kinglake West after a really full-on day, with over 400 km on my trip-meter. Rider and tyres truly stuffed. Thanks again, Geoff, for an awesome day and ending it closer to my home than yours. Thanks Ben and Ern for rear riding duties. Faultless, as usual. More appreciation should be shown for the rear rider as it is not an easy task; so much more responsibility and restraint need be applied. It seems to be the same people putting their hands up and taking on the task when no one else volunteers. Thanks again to all involved.

Breht Emmerson

p.s. I received an email the next day stating that Christian and Ben were pulled over by Mr Plod heading down into Whittlesea, 116 on the radar, XR6 turbo, TOG. Talked fast, blew in the bag, license/rego check, wrist slap. Phew!

Note to self. Take class on ‘How to Talk Oneself out of a Ticket’. Should be worthwhile.