Yarragon Poker Run Sunday 18^th July, 2010

Ben Warden (leader)	Honda CBR954	Peter Jones	Yamaha R1
Paul Southwell (rear)	Honda CBR1000	Henry Wright		Triumph 675
Ian Payne	Honda CBR1000	Cliff Peters		Suzuki GSXR1000
Dennis Lindemann	Honda CBR600	Ron Johnston		Honda CBF1000
Misho Zrakic/Pina Garasi	Honda CBR1000	9 bikes/10 people		293 km

It has been three months since my last ride and I’ve been chafing at the bit to get out on the R1. I have been spending most weekends with my daughter and her horse getting her ready for Pony Club. Once that’s bedded in, I’ll have more time for the bike. I can only imagine what sort of bike I could have had for the cost of this horse.

The bike was ready to go and the weather was looking good. As usual I arrive first at Yarra Glen, half an hour early. Next comes Henry, Dennis, Paul, Cliff and then everyone else. We had a surprise Harley Davidson attendee, the bike lovely and shiny with lots of chrome. It reminded me of my old Fat Boy. It turns out the rider was a former member, Rod Miskin who stopped to say hello. Ben invited him to join us to Noojee which he declined. He had finished his ride for the day and was heading home.

Ben did the pre-ride spiel as Misho and Pina turned up just in time to set off. We started the usual way with a quick run through to Healesville and on to Powelltown. Then the enjoyment begins with the run to Noojee. The bike was running sweetly though I was not pushing too hard through the high speed sweepers as they looked a bit damp and I was still warming up.

Last time I was up this way was the four-crash ride. I remember pushing really hard that Sunday through the twisties just past Powelltown, and when the A-grader passed me around the outside on his Blade, I knew it was a crazy ride.

Ben decides it’s a good time to take a detour and look at the old timber trellis bridge just before Noojee. Of course we all climb up, take pictures and climb back down again. Lucky I’m off the fags. We arrive at Noojee, defrock, and take prime position in the sun outside the coffee shop. It was lovely: nice coffee, good company, great bikes, and beautiful country. Can life get any better!

Time to move on from Noojee and head for Icy Creek. The roads start to turn green with moss so I decide to slow down. No such fear for Cliff and Misho as they fly past. Icy Creek Road was in good nick, clean and dry so I enjoyed it. I love getting the power down early on those tight, uphill twisties. Then up to Willow Grove before we cut down to the Old Sale Road, but it all looks new to me. Actually, every road from here on is new to me.

We turn off the Freeway just before Trafalgar and start heading up this road that turns into beautiful 50 km/h continuous corners. These go on for about 10 or 20 km before the road turns into dirt for three kays. It was worth it. Great road Ben! Apparently we went through Yarragon, Childers, and Thorpdale to arrive at Trafalgar for fuel and lunch.

We refuel and then do a lap of the town and end up back were we had lunch last time I was here. New owners now, thank God. The last ones thought they were in Southbank and charged accordingly. This time I got change from $10. When I sit to eat I see Ben has made friends with a Great Dane. They were sitting face to face; it looked like love.

It was nice to sit and relax, chat about bikes, and see Paul back on his bike. Last time I saw him he was on his back in hospital after he trashed Blade No 2. Ian decided it was a good time to do a video for Dave Ward, so he was wandering around interviewing everyone. It all made for very good entertainment, but I guess you needed to be there.

We now head off on the final leg, six kilometres down the highway, turn left (south) into the hills around Yarragon. I think we took a wrong turn somewhere as after a quick leak, Ben is heading in the opposite direction to me. Paul didn’t move from the corner so he obviously knew what was going on. We then head up into another 25 km of tight, narrow twisties. This was like Black Bobs in Tassy; you didn’t want to stay in one spot for too long as you didn’t know what’s going to come out of the bushes. (Duelling banjos country.)

We regroup near Allambe in rain forest for another photo opportunity. This looks like where people dump unwanted bodies. I was happy to leave! We head back to Yarragon (one more detour up a side road towards Childers again), then on to a new (formerly dirt, according to Ben) link road across to Lardner picking up the back road to Drouin. Instead of heading into Drouin we continued north up and over the Princes Highway to Brandy Creek, Jindivick and back to Longwarry North through the amazing sweepers where Dennis seems to ride like a demon. He passed me at speed hanging off the side of his Blade like he was at the Isle of Man. We finish at the usual spot and say our goodbyes.

No rain for the ride but it did start when we finished and progressively got worse closer to Melbourne. I had a good ride and it was great to cover some new roads.

Thanks Ben for leading; you never disappoint. Thanks Paul for rear rider.

Peter Jones

Results of the Poker

	Card 1	Card 2	Card 3	Card 4	Card 5
Peter Jones	Q♠	8♠	A♣	10♣	Q♦
Paul Southwell	J♦	K♣	A♥	A♠	J♥
Dennis Lindemann	10♥	K♠	7♥	9♦	A♦
Henry Wright	K♥	9♦	8♥	8♠	K♦
Ian Payne	Q♣	K♣	10♣	A♠	8♦
Cliff Peters	K♦	8♣	J♠	A♠	Q♣
Ron Johnston	Q♥	8♦	7♠	J♥	9♣
Ben Warden	Q♥	10♠	Q♣	J♦	K♠
Pina Garasi	A♠	9♣	7♠	8♣	J♣
Misho Zrakic	8♦	J♥	7♦	A♦	K♥

A new card was collected at each stop. Five stops, five cards. The winner of the best poker hand was Paul Southwell with two pairs, Aces and Jacks. He wins a year’s MSR membership valued at $60. Henry also had two pairs, Kings and Eights, making his hand the second best. Alas, no prize for second best.