Gembrook Sunday 3^rd September, 2006 (Fathers Day)

Honda CBR1000	Ian Payne(leader)	Honda CBR 954	Ben Warden
Honda CBR1000	Paul Southwell	MV Augusta Brutale	Dave Ward (Rear Rider)
Honda CBR 954	Breht Emmerson	5 bikes, 5 people

Saturday was such a beautiful sunny day that it was a shame to be stuck on a job at work. Never mind, work today to pay for play tomorrow! Well that was my only consolation at the time. Little did I know what the heavens had in store for me the next day.

I have it too easy with the Yarra Glen start less than 10 minutes from my door. Today, however, was a Berwick start and that means up early because if Ben has anything to do with it, there will be no waiting around. I found this out the hard way on his Licola ride (10:03 and no bikes to be seen). So, out of bed and grab some breakfast when I hear an unwelcome sound starting to play a tune on our tin roof. Damn. I rush to the door and see that the ground is saturated and the rain is still falling. Given it will only be a short ride, wet roads are now ensured for the day, even if the sun comes out.

On with the old leathers which are easier to get the wet weather stuff on over the top. Sit on the couch with a hot coffee and wait for the rain to stop. Realizing this was futile, I head off in light drizzle stopping to fuel up and perhaps leaving my run a bit late. The way I see it is that if there is no one at the servo by the time I get there, then I will just go home via Gembrook, which, in this weather, might not be a bad plan in itself. Now funny I should think this, because I did make it and Ian informs us that we will be heading straight back to Healesville, adding an extra 30 or so “touring” kilometers to the route home.

From Berwick we head north towards Wellington Road but turn off beforehand into (I think) Boundary Road and work our way around the south side of Cardinia Reservoir. There were only five of us and we all stayed fairly close together, the corners rarely marked. This was good and kept the ride flowing smoothly. Nothing worse than standing still in the pouring rain. The best defense is offence, right? I had taken my standard foot pegs off a couple of weeks ago and replaced them with some chrome ones. I did this to try and stop my foot from slipping as much when riding in the wet. Ben calls it Bling but as I discovered today, it actually works. Success!

When I realized Ian was taking us down some new roads, I was glad I did make the ride. Well, new to me anyway! I’ve been with the club now for nearly 2 years and have been reasonably consistent with attendance and I’m still uncovering the secrets of Victoria. Can’t wait to attack these little beauties in the dry. I was mainly following Ben in this section on his new…ish 954 and watched as he rode it like he was as comfortable on it as he was on his 929. It took me at least 3 months to get back into the groove on the new bike. Must be something in all this crap about experience and true rider ability. Being able to jump on any bike and ride it like the last amazes me. Reminds' me of Fiesty’s story about Dave Ward on his Blackbird or, as Pete affectionately calls it, “The Armchair”. Pete, no slouch in the saddle himself, mistakenly thought he might have a chance to keep up on Dave’s GSXR 600.

Onto Gembrook Road via those tasty roads I predicted and then it was a reverse run down the Gembrook-Launching Place Road that I had lead on the week before. Comments are revealing this road to be popular amongst club members who used to enjoy it when the center part was dirt. Now that it is completely sealed and mainly in good condition, apart from a few bumps and a spray of gravel here and there, I’m sure we will see it linked more often in various rides. We had continuos rain from Berwick and it seemed to be getting worse the closer to home we got to Healesville. However, we were still all enjoying these forest roads. From Launching Place it was the usual Dalry Road route back into Healesville.

Traffic seemed reasonable for Fathers Day and we were lucky to get a spot all together out the front of a café along the main drag. By this stage it was pissing down and we were happy to find some cover and food for our bellies. We thought we would do the right thing and sit outside under cover considering we were dripping wet. It was hardly cold at all, just wet, or was that hypothermia setting in. By the time we had finished our light meals, hot drinks and conversations, the sun was shining and had dried most of us off. Ian had a lunch date with his daughter and the rest of us could think of warmer places to be. So the ride ended where it always starts for me after a round trip of 160km.

Thanks Ian for leading and Dave for rear rider duties. Breht Emmerson