Port Campbell – 12 Apostles MK I Sunday 25^th October, 2009

Misho Zrakic	Honda CBR1000	Corbin Spurr	Suzuki GSXR1300
Mark Copeland	Honda VTR1000	Bill Simpson	Suzuki GSXR1000
Ron Johnston	Honda CBF1000	Tony Stegmar	Suzuki GSXR1000
Ben Warden	Honda CBR954	Adam Wright 3^rd ride (rear)	Triumph 675
Ha Du	Honda CBR600	Mitch Marescuk (1^st ride)	Husqvana SM 610
Pina Garasi Cliff Peters (leader)	Yamaha R6 Kawasaki ZX10	Martin Thomson & Tatyana Ostapovich	Kawasaki ZRX1200 12 bikes, 13 people

Departure point West Gate Shell servo. Ride 600 km plus return. For me, today’s ride starts at Moriac, courtesy of Ben phoning the night before and volunteering to lead the boys and girls down to Moriac, since I now live in Geelong, ten minutes from Moriac (thanks Ben). The weather had been good all week despite the weather man forecasting showers for Thursday, Friday, Saturday and clearing on Sunday. I woke Sunday, and yep, it was wet. (Where did I put those darts?) (I might put in for the weatherman’s job!) J

Arrived at Moriac at 10 am. Bill Simpson, Mark Copland and Mitch Marescuk were waiting. A few minutes later the crew arrive. Coffees, smokes, chit chat, fuel, do the ride speech and we leave. Down to Deans Marsh, across to Barwon Downs and then to Forrest. The roads were quite damp and I am not keen on this stretch when it’s wet. It has that glassy feel to it, especially those really shiny patches on the corners where you need the most grip.

Mitch Marescuk on his Husqvana SM 610 was snapping at my heels. Ben said later he had been doing stoppies and wheelies behind me. I should have waved him past, hey? I could have said I was going slow so as not to miss the turn onto the Mount Sabine road...(yeah right!) Well that would have been partly true because I wasn’t too sure how far along it was. Ronnie showed it to me a few months ago when we ran in his new Honda VFR800. It’s quite narrow and very tight. Ben was saying later that he had been through in a side car attached to a Kawasaki Z1300 a few years (decades ...Ed) earlier. It must have been mid winter because it was snowing! Glad I wasn’t there that day. It would have been gravel at that time too. Not good. It’s sealed now, though not much wider than one way at times.

All through safely and arrive at Lavers Hill. Marty says its 12 degrees; no wonder my fingers are cold. The wind chill factor made it feel even colder.

Coffee to warm up. Smokes. More chit chat. Then Marty and Tatyana leave us. He’s being kind to his passenger who was too cold. Mitch Marescuk Husqvana SM 610 leaves as well, a family commitment.

We continue on to Port Campbell for lunch and fuel, stopping at the Twelve Apostles - down to eight now. Still more than worth a look!

After lunch the weather warms up. Showers have disappeared and it should be a good run back. Dry roads ohhhhhhh yeahhhh !

I usually bring my lunch with me, a salad sanga today. It saves me a few bucks; not much but it adds up over time. (More money to waste on stickers, eh Dave!)

We park the bikes and wander up the street. A sign on the footpath points to a bakery between buildings (mental note for next time) with seating inside and out. We took the out. Before long Misho and Pina find us, having eaten at the takeaway.

Nice place Port Campbell. The sun is out now and nicely warming us up. Talk turns to the following Melbourne Cup Weekend. I’ve been hanging out (as Ronnie would say) for this, from the day after the last Melbourne Cup run. Anyone who hasn’t been on one of these rides doesn’t know what they’re missing. Simply awesome. Usually around 2700 kms of fantastic roads, mostly with little traffic. You have probably missed this one but I would certainly be signing up for the next one, in late January. Be there. You won’t regret it.

On to the Bay of Islands after Peterborough, a further 18 kms. Said to Ben at lunch time, maybe we should give it amiss as it’s 2pm already and it’s a long way back to Melbourne. Answer, “Nope”. Good enough for me. (The idea that everyone stop at home for breakfast on the way back passed through my mind.)

There sure are a lot of people looking at all the sights along here. One older gentleman with his wife, from Queensland, were on a tour in their four wheel drive and van, all decked out with off road suspension. He said he had taken it to the top end of Australia without any worries. He couldn’t get over how cold it was down here. Reckoned he wouldn’t be back at this time of year again. The temperature would have been around 16 degrees.

After stopping to view the Bay of Martyrs, we headed for Lavers Hill, past The Twelve Apostles again. I can’t get a run at the Princetown twisties - as I call them. Too many cars. Next good bit is Gellibrand Lower to Wattle Hill, a stretch of about 12 kms. You drop down to the river, cross the bridge and it’s a gentle climb to Wattle Hill. Just a great bit of road, not long been resurfaced, smooth as. Great fang here. Ask Tony. He was stuck to my rear all the way up. Wet this morning but dry now. Yippeee.

We turn right to Apollo Bay at Lavers Hill. Past the lookout at Glenaire. Glenaire to Hordern Vale would have to be my favourite piece of road. Fast and flowing. Just one tight corner to keep the heart rate up and the bridge on the Arie River has a raised edge on the west side which unsettles the bike. It’s okay if you know about it, but can be hairy if not. Mind you, it is okay at the speed limit.

When I say favourite piece of road others roads spring to mind: Granya Gap, Dartmouth Dam, Towonga Gap, Happy Valley, Mount Buffalo, Dinner Plain to Omeo, most of Tassie (this Club is sooo cool). This list could go on and on. LOL.

Past Hordern Vale we head up into the Forrest towards Apollo Bay. (I reckon Tony and Misho were liking that last bit as they were on my tail. About half way through, Mark comes past on the VTR with the wick wound up. I thought, “Okay, this is good!” and set off in pursuit. (rethinking this is really good!) The sound coming out of those twin pipes ahead of me is music to the ears. Apollo Bay pops out of the trees too soon for my liking. “That was fun,” would be an understatement.

We regroup at Apollo Bay, get fuel, snacks, do tyre inspections. Ronnie has two new tyres on the way, one front for me.

Adam shows me his chicken strips which almost don’t exist. He has been doing a sterling job of rear riding duties for the day, thanks mate.

Next town Lorne. I take it easy along here. We get part way and a car flashes its lights. Sure enough a few corners later a four wheel drive with lights flashing. Tin top being booked. Better them than us, me thinks. It’s still a good run along here at the limit and a bit over. Through Lorne onto the Deans Marsh Road. I like this road and give her some berries. Someone behind me doing likewise. Looks VTRish.

Deans Marsh to Moriac. Mark Copeland and Bill Simpson left us here and the rest head to Lara and the break up after 555 km. Much loitering saw final departure at 6.45 pm, still with plenty of light.

Well boys and girls I hope you enjoyed the day’s ride as much as I did. The weather turned out better than it looked earlier, thankfully. Thank you for the pleasure of your company. I will see some of you next week on the Cup ride.

Thanks, Ben, for your short duties and Adam for being the rear rider. Great job, mates.

Ride summary: Incidents: zero. Crashes: none. Bookings: none. Result: excellent.

Cliff Peters

P.S. Good to see Pina’s R6 Yamaha running the way it is supposed to. New stator fixing the problems she has been experiencing off and on for must be 12 months now. Ha will have a new chain on for the Cup Weekend. Boy Ha, that will feel good. You don’t realise how rooted the old one was till you stick on a new one. Quiet and smooth...magic!!!

P.P.S. Mitch you left too early mate. Sun came out and road dried off. Corner speed came up and you missed the best part. Ah well! Hope to see you again on another ride soon.