Porepunkah Christmas Camp 26^th Dec. to 2^nd Jan.

Who Went:

· Ben and Julie Warden – car, trailer, bicycle and CBR954.

· Cliff Peters, Ron and Julie Johnston – car, trailer, ZX-10R, GSF1200.

· Danny Hawker, Katrina, Jarrod and Noah Hollis – Subaru, trailer, ZX-10R and GSXR1000.

• Dave Ward and Bronwyn Manifold – Holden ute, Lancer wagon, CBR1000RR, Z750, bicycles and dogs
• Paul and Jo Southwell – car, van, CBR1000RR & bicycles.
• Kern Bridgeman – Ford ute, CBR600RR, YZ250 and bicycle.
• Ian Payne – van and CBR1000RR.
• Lyn Duncan – Transalp.
• Peter Hill – KTM 990 Rally.
• Rob Langer and Kirsten Anderson – 4WD, trailer, KTM690 and DR450.
• Juliann Randall - Car
• Justin ? – Ducati 748.
• Bruce Fleming and family – car and GSXR1000.
• Marty Thompson and Svetlana – at another caravan park.
• Stoimen, Vittoria, Karl, Nadia and Bubba (Mrs Stojanov senior) – at the next door caravan park with a pool.

Friday 26^th Ben and Julie, Ron and Julie, Cliff, Danny and Katrina, Jarrod and Noah, Kern, Lyn and Peter, Rob and Kirsten, and Ian all arrived today. Dave, Bron, Paul and Jo had been here since the 24^th at a house in Porepunkah along with Julianne. Ian’s daughters’ family - Melanie, David, Chris and Caitlyn were also here. The ‘usual’ run up Buffalo occurred at 5.30pm! Ben, Julie, Kern, Lyn and Pete went to the Wandiligong Pub for a counter meal.

Saturday 27^th Today Ben, Dave, Cliff, Ron, Paul, Danny, Peter and Kern headed to Tumbarumba and Cabramurra, a 650 km run. Unfortunately, Kern crashed on the Granya Gap road but thankfully there wasn’t not too much damage. Dave was looking for a cool day to tackle the big distances and he got more than he bargained for. While lunching in Tumbarumba, a torrential rain and thunder storm went through. Ben put forward the option of returning from whence we had come (Jingellic, Granya, Tawonga Gap) or pressing onwards as planned along the Elliot Way to Cabramurra and Khancoban, but with the obvious risks associated with climbing higher into the mountains – more rain. Kern, who had never experienced this sensational riding country and spectacular scenery in the company of certifiable hoons was all for pressing on. Who are we to impede a young man’s wishes?

Light rain returned about half way to Sue City where all hell broke loose. Most of us did not have wet weather clothing, self included, and were already cold and now getting very wet. That first trickle down the groin, the first stream into the boot and gloves. Very uncomfortable. But nothing else to do but set forth, the road 10 mm deep in running water, a 200 mm deep layer of splash bouncing off the road about as the rain pelts down with such ferocity. Throw in a balding rear tyre (one more ride), a near race slick on the front and the fear of aqua-planing, with minimal visibility, visor up or down no different, saw my road speed down to 54 km/h – the fastest I could mentally go. Not as bad as the 28 km/h through the fog over Hotham one time, but a lot more noisy and wetter. Lightening was close, and where better to be than sitting on a large lump of metal under trees! Time passed and so did the storm. From Cabramurra onwards the roads were increasingly dry, speeds and fun rose commensurately. It turned out to be a brilliant ride.

That evening, Ian went up Buffalo alone as the group had been delayed by the wet weather and Kern’s crash, not arriving “home” till somewhere near 7 pm.

Sunday 28^th Today’s ride would be a ‘shorty’ to Falls Creek consisting of Ben, Paul, Ian, Danny, Cliff and Ron plus Bronwyn on the Z750 and Juliann pillion with Dave Ward on the CBR. All went well until we tried to find the ‘open’ coffee shop with riders going everywhere, both the Snowman and main road shop closed. We eventually discovered the third open licensed bar that did food and coffees by following the signs, but not before we had scattered far and wide. Meanwhile Bron had decided to head back down to Mt. Beauty thinking Dave had headed back there, but he was still with us! So Cliff took off after her but couldn’t catch the little Z750!

Paul had some issue with the brakes on his bike and Ian was still running in his bike so they rode back together. During the return run over Tawonga a red Ducati 1098 threw out the challenge (he passed them) and it was on. Suffice to say the MSR beat off the young challenger!

Later that afternoon Ben and Danny arrived at the Southwell residence and bled Paul’s bike’s brakes in a vain attempt to fix the problem. Paul’s idea of producing a tube to slip over the bleed nipple was to purchase drinking straws. Surprisingly, they failed, but we at least humoured his idea. Luckily we were able to remove one of the overflow drain tubes which fitted perfectly. As Paul had only changed the fluid some weeks ago, this was a last ditch effort to fix the sponginess – lever coming back to the bar. With a lot of bike swapping going on over the course of the week, both Dave and Cliff got nasty shocks when the brake lever came back and crushed their fingers, let alone trying to pull up. Bleeding the brakes again didn’t fix the problem. General consensus was the master cylinder seals were leaking which can only be fixed with a master cylinder piston and seal kit.

Rob and Kern took to the high plains for a dirt ride. Apart from a puncture and running out of water they had a great time.

Monday 29^th The intention was to ride to the Blue Duck pub at Anglers Rest for lunch. The route was via Harrietville, Mt Hotham, Dinner Plain and Omeo. At Anglers Rest we discovered that the pub WASN’T open! Bron and Julieann arrived in the Merc and headed back to Dinner Plain for lunch. Meanwhile the main group had continued on to the end of the dirt, another 14 km of twisty roads, regrouped, and headed back to find the pub closed. In the end we all regrouped back at Dinner Plain in glorious sunshine. Still, from all reports this 395 km ride was still worth it. Participants included Ron, Paul, Ben, Kern, Danny, Bron, Cliff, Dave and Rob on bikes.

Ben and Danny swapped had swapped bikes for the 14 km run back to the Duck which included tight twisties and some medium speed sweepers. Ben quickly adapted to the light, powerful and sweet handling ZX10, sitting in the 6,500 to 9,000 rpm sweet spot rev range, riding the torque wave. Immediate impressions were the brakes lacked feel, but were plenty powerful enough and hence could be relied upon. And definitely better in low speed corners, thought the bike is very tall. In contrast, Danny remarked that the Honda had a very plush ride, the motor belied its 140,000 age, and it steered rocket fast. This is not surprising as it has the shortest wheel base, steepest steering head angle and was shod with 180 rear (stock 190) and front Pilot Power Race, a very triangulated profile. The non-standard Ohlins shock in the rear also raises the ride height. Yep, it turns quick alright. But, the bike is well set up and not flighty. I’ll probably go back to the 190 to slow down the speed to full lean.

Having only 400 kays on the new blade, Ian only wanted to do 1000 km maximum for the week so he went with my daughter to Beechworth and Horseshoe Falls where the drought was very evident as only a trickle of water was cascading over these once spectacular waterfalls.

Tuesday 30^th Another short ride today to Falls Creek, Happy Valley and Myrtleford. Starters were Ben, Dave, Ian, Paul and Cliff. It was wet after Bogong (two thirds of the way up Falls Creek) so the ride retreated back to the warmer lowlands. Coffee in Mt Beauty and lunch at the Myrtleford Bakery via Snake road twisties was the order of the day.

Over the course of the week Julie Warden took others to the trout farm, Wandiligong Maze, the new Buckland Valley alpaca farm and Bright Berry farm, or rode push bikes into Bright.

A popular destination was Harry's vegetable store on the big roundabout where people bought fresh cherries, apricots, nectarines etc.

Wednesday 31^st Another big ride today headed to Bethanga and Old Tallangatta via Mitta Miitta and Dartmouth Dam. Participants included Ben, Paul, Dave, Cliff, Danny, Ron and Jason (Julieann’s partner) on a Ducati 748, his first ride with us. As we are quite familiar with the Tamgambalanga roads, particularly the straighter sections, it was pre-planned to conduct some roll-on tests between Dave’s new CBR and Cliff’s new 08 ZX10. An upper shutdown speed was agreed prior, which lasted all of about 4 seconds! Surprisingly the Honda came out on top. It would have been interesting to compare Danny’s 04 ZX10 as well. We stopped at the usual top intersection under the shade of the trees to compare notes.

Dave, Paul and Jason returned to base from Mitta while the hard core nutters continued on to explore new roads on the other side of Granya, discovering at least one dirt road is now bitumen. Brilliant scenery.

Later that evening Ben and Danny swapped bikes for the charge down Mt Buffalo. The pace was “on”, Cliff out front on the green flash ZX10, Ben on his tail on the black shadowing ZX10, Danny a smidge behind on the ancient CBR954. It only takes 2 or 3 corners on these well set up bikes to immediately feel at home, the riding more an ethereal experience, nothing conscious about the riding mechanics required at all, just absolute concentration pushing as hard as one dares. The wrist and arm pain (pump?) starts to intrude but a quick shake of the left arm allows the senses to balance and re-centre. Flashing through the control pay station, left at the bus shelter and we are home. Danny informs us later that a certain North Melbourne coloured 4WD of the unpleasant kind was in hot pursuit from about the pay booth onwards. I suspect he was after a lifetime membership. Danny knew this as he nearly catapulted himself into the driver’s seat to talk footy and the Pagan glory years, his closing velocity was so high. If only we had known …

Being New Year’s Eve we decided on a picnic in the park in Bright. This was a casual affair with most enjoying take-away Chinese or fish & chips on the lawn beside the river. Some had a coffee back at the house in Porepunkah before hitting the sack well before the New Year!

Thursday 1^st Rob, Kirsten, Danny and Katrina headed home today. Ben, Paul, Ian, Cliff, Bronwyn and Dave did a run over Tawonga Gap and up to Falls Creek. Ben and Julie had been up early for a ride and climb to the Horn atop Mt Buffalo.

Friday 2^nd Most headed home today leaving only Cliff, Ron and Julie at the campsite. A ride with Paul across the Granya Gap was planned!

All in all another great week in a magnificent location. You know everyone had fun with eight tyres being worn out and changed during the week!

Ian Payne and Ben Warden combined musings