Strathbogie Ranges                      Sunday 9th August 2009

 

Willen Vandeveld

Honda ST1300

Marty Thompson

Kawasaki ZRX1200

Misho Zrakic

Honda CBR1000

Clifford Peters

Kawasaki ZX10

Tim Emons

Honda CBR1000

Fred Menz

Kawasaki ZX9

Ian Payne (rear)

Honda CBR1000

Tony Stegmar

Suzuki GSXR1300

Paul Southwell

Honda CBR1000

Danny Hawker

Suzuki GSXR1000

Dave Ward

Honda CBR1000

Rob Jones

Suzuki GSXR1000

Ben Warden

Honda CBR954

Chris Pointon

Suzuki GSXR1000

Ern Reeders

Honda CBR954

Trevor Harris

Yamaha YZF1000

Ron Johnston

Honda VFR800

Damian Jones (2nd ride)

Yamaha R1

Peter Fisher

Honda VFR800

Geoff Jones

Yamaha R1

Ha Du

Honda CBR600

Brett Richards (1st ride)

Yamaha R1

Damien Denny

Honda CBR600 Hornet

Pina Garasi

Yamaha R6

Ivan Radywonik

KTM 990

Robert Langer (leader)

BMW R1150GS

Tony Raditsis

Aprilia Mille

 

27 bikes, 27 people

 

This morning I didn’t have to leave home so early because we were departing from Yarra Glen, approximately half an hour’s ride from where I live in Kilsyth. When I arrived, there were one or two people waiting outside the shops, with more in the service station. In the next half hour people kept coming and coming. All up, 27 bikes. We haven’t had such a large turn out in a long time.

Rob Langer is leading the ride today and it’s good to see him back, even if he did arrive 10 minutes late. It was also good to see Danny Hawker, his first Club ride for a long while. He had ridden up from Condah and picked up Cliff in Geelong on the way. We also had a first and second time rider. Robbie gave us a brief speech outlining the route for the day, noting fuel and food stops.

Then we ventured off to Healesville via Chum and Myers Creek Roads. Out the other side we have the Black Spur which has got to be every red blooded motorcyclist’s favourite road, or one of. On to Marysville.

Like Kinglake, the landscape has changed dramatically since the bushfires and will never be the same. There is a very large marquee on the left in the main street used as a visitor/information centre and coffee shop. On the right there are three portables, one ski and chain hire, the other two shops. The bakery still exists. On the left down from the bakery is another portable with the Lolly Shop. Opposite the golf course a mini village is going up, providing temporary accommodation for the locals.

On to Buxton and then the boring highway until Taggerty. The outside temperature was 8 degrees going past the Cathedral Ranges, according to the VFR ambient temperature gauge. I corner marked at Taggerty. The Thornton road has fast flowing corners allowing a bit of low flying.

From Thornton we took the back road into Eildon, the first stop, where the majority of riders filled their tanks up at the servo. The first retiree was Damien Jones who’s R1 had developed a misfire.

Then it was round to the shop where we got something to eat and drink, Some people didn’t bother because it was taking too long, too many people. You know the feeling…

Second leg:  Fraser National Park, another road listed in the motorcycle riders’ bible. It is brilliant! But it keeps you on your toes. Across the top to Alexandra, turn right and follow through to Yarck. At Gobur, veer right onto the Kanumbra road. This is a narrow, tight and twisty which keeps us off the main road for a while. Retiree number two, Damien Denny, on the 600 Hornet, survived the whole road until the last corner before the highway. You come down the hill into what looks like a sweeping left-hander. He obviously came in too hot and ran on to the grass, bike down.

Damage was minimal: bars into tank, bent mirrors, and pride. Sufficient damage to send him home. Everybody stopped for a rubber neck, but Paul Southwell sent them on their way. Ben stayed behind to tape the top fairing and reset the handlebars and mirrors, catching up with us at Euroa.

The Merton Euroa road is another good road, but you need to keep your wits about you. A couple of kilometres in, I came around a right hander and found some looney in a late model Nissan Patrol on my side of the road and in no hurry to move. It had a roof rack full of camping gear and family in the vehicle.

Galls Gap road to Polly McQuinns. The last time I was down this road some years ago they were replacing the bridge at the weir. The next time we couldn’t pass through either because they were replacing the first bridge. It must have been 4 or 5 years ago. Coming down the hill everybody hit the bridge with a thump. Instead of having a smooth radius on the road to meet the bridge, they have made it at about 240 degrees.

Between Strathbogie and Kelvin View the road was as rough as guts. I would liken it to riding a horse or a bull at a rodeo, my bike bouncing all over the place.

On to Euroa for lunch. We ended up at a place in town in a pleasant setting. You could sit out the front under cover, or sit inside close to the fire, which I did with a couple of others. Orders were placed and paid for. It wasn’t till lunch was nearly finished that I realised that I hadn’t received my order. Apparently, it went out the front and someone else ate it, but it didn’t matter because I got another burger anyway. I just had to eat it quickly.

Third leg:  Some of the members got fuel while the others waited at the shop. Retiree number three: Marty Thompson took off down the street and came back all excited complaining his brake pads were worn out…having only done 3000 kms. Marty left the group and went home.

The rest of us have headed out of town. Dave Ward accidentally took the freeway entrance, and then returned the same way. Alas, Brett was last seen heading for Sydney. Someone should have been corner marking just to be sure.

On to Creighton’s Creek and Ruffy. I haven’t been down here for years. I remember rides down this way early on with the Club.  Then Terip Terip, Caveat and a nice run through Highlands to Yea. I quite like it through here. By this stage we were well spread out. Yea to Flowerdale… brilliant…and Junction Hill… another one for the biker’s bible. Flowerdale to Kinglake West…just go flat out. I passed a couple of Ferraris, one a convertible and the other a hard top, out posing for the day. Check caps and driving gloves, going to the vicars for tea and scones, old boy…

Arrived at Kinglake West and boy was it cold. Only 8 degrees showing on the gauge, but the wind chill factor was something else. It was as if it was going to snow. Ben took usual group photos, with some riders not even taking their helmets off. Everybody had had a good day. Thanks to Rob for leading. Thanks to Ian for rear rider duties.

 

Ron Johnston