Noojee via Gembrook Sunday 28^th November 2010

Ben Warden (leader)	Honda CBR1000	Jason Wilson	Kawasaki ZX9
John Willis (rear)	Honda XL1000	Roman Biaroza (2^nd ride)	Kawasaki GPx250
Geoff Shugg	Suzuki DL650		5 bikes, 5 people

I arrived at Yarra Glenn meeting point early. The weather forecast was bleak so I allowed myself plenty of time. While waiting outside the café in the usual spot I observed many other types of clubs pass by; there was the Holden Car Club, a four wheel drive club, and a vintage motorcycle club including a couple of nice Indians.

Roman, a second time rider on a GPx250, arrived, followed by John, Ben and Jason making it five riders for the day. The briefing was the briefest ever as Roman already had his helmet on and motor running, ready to go. The plan was to do Myers and Chum Creek roads to Healesville. Ben would make it up from there. John went rear rider.

You may not believe it for a sports bike club but soon after leaving Yarra Glenn we did two river crossings. There was so much water running across the Old Healesville Road that a couple of four wheel drives were not sure whether to go through until Ben showed them how it was done. Roman later said he lifted his feet above his shoulders. Doesn’t sound possible until you realise he was only wearing shoes, not motorcycle boots. He still got soaked though.

There was a lot of gravel and dirt washed out onto the road everywhere we travelled after the last three days of rain including the very heavy rain overnight. Chum Creek Road had some small land slides and small trees on the road.

Ben, as ride leader, had his cards out playing patience a couple of times.

We stopped at the bakery in Gembrook after 90 km for morning tea after which Roman left as we would be travelling on a few dirt roads. He was keen but conditions were very challenging and he accepted our advice and will be back in a couple of weeks.

We went out past the Mill Valley Ranch, a holiday camp, and came out on the highway at Tynong north. At one point the road had been badly eroded away where a storm water “river” had cut a channel about two 2 foot wide and a foot deep across the road. It was impossible to stop for as it was unsignposted and nearly invisible. The “road bike” riders had some concerns about dinged rims. Only Ben’s forks bottomed out badly, Jason managing to take a different line.

We crossed the Princes Highway at Tynong and ran parallel with it through Bunyip before crossing again at Longwarry North. Then on through Jindivick, Neerim South, Neerim East and down to Noojee for lunch. Lots of diesel on the steep descent, probably from a truck.

After lunch we were going to have a look at the Ada tree signposted at the end of the fast sweepers until we discovered there was 24 kilometres of dirt. Not that I would have minded. Ben and John had swapped bikes at this stage and Ben looked very strange on a different bike.

Instead we continued up through the tight twisties to Powelltown and finished the ride at Launching Place. Jason had a big “moment” losing the back end, then the front while following Ben, on an off camber left hand corner just after the tight 40 km/h Armco clad corners. Most of us had some sort of slide on the same corner, we worked out later.

On the way home I received an invitation to walk for a month.

Geoff Shugg