Moto GP BBQ Sunday 17^th September, 2006

Paul Southwell(Leader)	Honda CBR1000	Ian Payne	Honda CBR1000
Liz Oliver	Honda CBR929	Paul Dwyer (1^stride)	Honda CBR1000
Cameron Stevens	Kawasaki ZX9	Ron Johnston (rear)	Suzuki GSF 1200
At the BBQ:	Rob Langer	Kirsten Anderson	Andi Sirninger
	Les Leahy	Pete & Danielle Weyermyer	Tom Saville

Yarra Glen departure. What a glorious day! It’s about time we had some decent weather, or maybe I haven’t been out riding much. Probably the latter. I arrived at Yarra Glen and there wasn’t a soul to be seen. Panic. Had I read the itinerary wrong? It wouldn’t be the first time I have gone to the wrong side of town. I was reading a mental picture in my head about the place of departure and convincing myself that I was at the right place. I pulled into the servo and everyone was there getting fuel. Phew! That’s okay then. I fuel up and park outside the Café. We had a new rider amongst us, Paul Dwyer, on a new CBR1000RR. But the day’s surprise rider was Liz Oliver, back from 18 months maternity leave. It was good to see her again.

Paul Southwell gives us the usual run down on where we are going, how far to the next stop and what the road condition is like. (He pre-rode the route the day before.) I volunteered for rear riding duties because I have new glasses and it was my first time riding with them. It’s amazing what I can see! The road surface is a lot clearer. You don’t realise how bad your eye-sight is until you have it checked.

We departed Yarra Glen taking the back road to Healesville and then Don Road part way up Mt Donna Buang. The road is pretty good until it turns to dirt for a few kilometers. Then on to the sealed road through the twisty bits to Launching Place and Yarra Junction. From here to Gladysdale we ride as a group and then it’s on. The front runners are gone. The Powelltown road is getting knocked around from the logging trucks. Like anything, you have to take it as it comes.

We turn off at Piedmont and head up the hill, reminding me of some years ago when we were coming down the hill and John Willis came off his bike after hitting offal. Poor John didn’t stand a chance. From memory, I think someone else came off. (Tom Saville also crashed on offal… Ed.)

First stop was Neerim South. There were cars and utes with trailers with trail bikes on them everywhere. The bakery was across the road and down the alley. Everything in there was big. I said to Cameron, looking at the coffee scrolls, “You could use them as door stops.” He laughed and agreed. Paul Dwyer said it was his first ride on his bike this year. He normally rides trail bikes and some of his friends were out riding but he decided to come out on a club ride for something different.

From Neerim South we travelled through Jindivick and down to the Princes Highway which we crossed over to Longwarry, Garfield, Nar Nar Goon and Pakenham. Then on to the Monash Freeway. Where the Mitcham/Frankston Freeway crosses over, there was a Police SS Commodore on the medium strip facing the oncoming traffic with the front all smashed in. Looks like it been travelling city bound, lost it somehow and kissed the concrete wall, wrecking the front. Tow away job.

At Blackburn Road Paul and Paul leave us for alternative BBQs. So Liz leads the ride to Rob and Kirsten’s house. Les Leahy is already there and Rob’s got the barby cranked up. Kirsten’s been busy getting all the salads and other stuff organised. Liz rings Pete to tell him that she has arrived. He would be late because Danielle was still asleep and he didn’t want to wake her.

A good day was had by all: good weather, good company, no incidents. My speedo indicated 194 kms from Yarra Glen to Burwood. On a sad note, this was the last official club BBQ at Rob and Kirsten’s at their present address. I would like to thank Rob and Kirsten for putting up with us lot over the years and hopefully they got as much enjoyment out of it as we have. All the best on their move to their new home.

Ron Johnston