Reefton Spur Sunday 3^rd January 2010

Tim Emons	Honda CBR1000	Dave Ward	Kawasaki Z1000
Misho Zrakic	Honda CBR1000	Mark Copeland	Kawasaki ZX10
Ian Payne (rear rider)	Honda CBR1000	Cliff Peters	Kawasaki ZX10
Ron Johnston	Honda CBF1000	Geoff Shugg	Suzuki DL650
Ben Warden	Honda CBR954	Rob Langer	BMW R1150 GS
Kurn Bridgeman	Honda CBR600	Pierre Ong (2^nd ride)	Ducati 1098
Dennis Lindemann	Honda CBR600	Pina Garasi	Yamaha R6

The forecast for clearing showers and a top temperature of 22 degrees was in marked contrast from the 32, 35, 35, 35, 36, 38, 34, 34 degree temperatures at the Club Camp at Porepunkah Mt Buffalo Caravan Park. And without the humidity, a welcome change. But as the misty rain got heavier and colder heading for Berwick, I was already missing the heat and relentless blue skies.

Marty Thompson, with Tatyana on the back of the ZRX, was leading a group of five bikes heading out along the freeway, possibly to meet up with us, but when he pulled the group over to receive a phone call, that was the last we saw of them.

I arrived uncharacteristically 15 minutes early, with most of the road works on the freeway appearing complete, as many as five lanes wide in places, reducing the travel time. It looks really good, though annoyingly still 80 km/h for much of the way. I didn’t expect anyone to be the start point this early, the weather forecast, and the very intensive Club Camp resulting in people needing a rest. Of course, I was totally wrong; all the fanatics were there, minus Ha, strangely missing. The head count at the end of the day was 14 bikes and 14 people. I say “at the end of the day” because Rob didn’t find us until the bottom of the Reefton Spur. He had issues with the battery on his bike and missed the start and then tried to track us down. With my object to avoid highways and attempt to be invisible, he did well to find us.

Tim’s damaged left hand side fairings were the early talking point, his crash a few weeks ago possibly the result of cold tyres exiting a roundabout. A few scratches and a bent gear change linkage were the only remaining telltale signs. Along with Ben Fuller’s crash, Paul’s crash and now Ern’s crash, December was a particularly bad month for members. Interestingly, only one of those four crashes occurred on a Club ride.

Ian, as is his penchant these days, took up the rear riding duty, planning to stay until the lunch break, and then off to visit his daughter for afternoon tea as per usual. After the basic route and stops were outlined, updates on Paul and Ern were conveyed to those not in the know, for instance Geoff Shugg, a non email reader, we were off.

I followed Ian’s well worn route up through Harkaway, right off the highway through the very pleasant suburban twisties heading for Upper Beaconsfield and Cockatoo. The first thing that you notice after a week riding around the mountains surrounding Bright is the amount of traffic to contend with back in the city. The Xmas Camp really does offer superb riding conditions: great smooth roads, warm to hot weather, spectacular scenery and like-minded, bike-focused riders ready to laugh a lot. And only the odd car, 4WD or push bike to contend with. Ern may disagree of course.

Right again on to Paternoster Road noting the new road works on the first 45 km/h tight left hander making it wider and much faster. Fresh hot mix all the way up the hill. Along the ridge, travelling mostly alone, corner markers distributed across the country as the rear group battle the railway crossing and Princes Highway lights back at Berwick, I learn later. And some riders are travelling quite sedately.

Down the big sweepers to the Upper Pakenham roundabout and left on the Gembrook Road. Riding alone, battling the cars, past Paul’s corner, still corrugated on the left side as always. On to Gembrook and a short wait before the coloured bikes arrive – lots of yellow, green, orange and red today, a photographer’s dream. Enough of these black bikes, black helmets, black leathers.

We continue north towards Hoddles Creek before the tricky right turn across towards Yarra Junction. Missed the lights by ducking around the school to pick up the Warburton Highway for a couple of kilometres before turning right on to the Old Warburton Road which winds it way up and down the edge of the valley. I had Pina in tow as we battle the driveway washouts and leaf litter after the fierce rain storms of the previous couple of days. Ron had suggested we be on the lookout for errant 4WDs and trail bikes along here. We encountered no vehicles, just dirty roads. We resurfaced the other side of Warburton not far from the Mt Donna Buang turnoff.

Back through town and down to the biker friendly coffee shop below our once always frequented Bakery. The $3 sausages and $5 egg and bacon rolls on an outside portable BBQ, the sort of thing you would expect outside Bunning’s, was doing a good trade. We clogged up the front seating area with bikes, attracting all sorts of interested looks from the wandering tourists.

It occurred to me that it had been a few years since we had visited the Upper Yarra Reservoir, and with only a four kilometre diversion, worth the look, particularly after all the recent rain. No fuel in Marysville after the Black Saturday Fires (7/2/2009) burnt the petrol station down, meant those bikes with an appetite for fuel, or had small tanks, or had not been filled at the start, needed to do so now. So we regrouped at the servo before heading up to the Dam lookout for a group photo. Water is pumped from the Thompson so it looks much the same drought or no drought.

Next on to the Reefton, picking up Rob Langer on the way. Lots of on-coming bikes, the weather now perfect for riding, temperature wise, though still quite overcast. Mixed up in amongst the bikes was a marked police car travelling swiftly. A glance in the mirror saw no brake lights, so remain calm.

Dave, Tim, Misho and Mark come thundering by, on the pace. I follow Mark on his orange ZX10 but gradually he moved away to 80 metres ahead. Brand new Pilot Power on the front is a marked improvement over the work Pilot Road II but possibly too much rebound damping at the front is making for difficult rapid direction changes. The bike is very stable but harder to steer. Right-handers are getting harder with age. Fork oil is 20,000 old which could also have something to do with it.

No regroup at Cumberland Junction but press on to the Lake Mountain turn-off and the 11 km climb to park at the top carpark, all the bikes lined up impressively. The Mountain Ash will never recover from the fires and offer a stark reminder of its ferocity. There has been very little regrowth, unlike in other areas where the trees have turned into hairy coat hangers. Only the odd fern is pushing skywards.

Lunch at Marysville Bakery beckons on this very social ride. Alas, the crowd is 30 deep. Pick a number – 66 – and wait to be called – up to number 32. So riders scattered to all parts of Marysville – some to the upper café, Kurn to the supermarket, seeking food any which way. It was a long lunch. Rob was still waiting to be served when most of us were ready to depart. Ian and Dave left with Rob now taking up the rear rider duties.

The Black Spur was chaotic with one vehicle sitting on 40 km/h blocking the traffic, producing a massive queue behind him. A single white line now acts like a double white line since the introduction of the new road laws making all states’ road laws consistent nationally. Out front, I switched into pass mode, albeit at great financial risk, and had a reasonable ride. Of course, it was the last day of the Christmas New Year holiday break for many, and hence the heavy home-bound holiday traffic.

First fuel stop for most at Healesville, the bike hitting reserve at 245 km and filling at 272 km. This young engine is sure economical compared to the last.

We headed up Chum Creek Road and past Paul’s latest crash corner, on to Toolangi to finish at Kinglake Bakery for a coffee and chat outside in the pleasant cool of the hills. Pina shouted me a hot chocolate at the next door café while we ended up sitting outside the bakery once a couple of small groups had moved on. Pina spotted a potential member riding the right style of bike, suitable attired, and verballed him in the best possible way. Someone produced an MSR business card which may clinch the deal.

Most of the remaining riders were Xmas Camp survivors looking to prolong the adrenalin rush and camaraderie of the previous week. But the time had come, work for most the next day. My suggestion of early onset “post holiday depression” seemed to strike a chord with Pina, who was feeling the melancholy.

I bumped into a bloke I worked with for 15 years out picking berries with his family who were also feeding at the Bakery. Half an hour later the ride had disbanded and we were still talking. Only 75 km to home. Official ride length 255 km. Dry roads, plenty of corners, good company, no incidents. By definition a good ride.

Ben Warden