MSR Itinerary                     October 2010

Sunday 10^th Licola Cliff Peters leading
10 am Berwick

Leg 1: Longwarry, Jindivick, Crossover, Old Sale Road to Moe. 110 km. Leg 2: Moe, Yallourn North, Tyers (must fuel at this point as it is a 210 km return trip). On to Glengarry, Toongabbie, Glenmaggie and up to Licola for lunch. Some will ride up the mountains to the end of the bitumen and back to Licola. 140 km Leg 3: Retrace our tracks from Licola to Tyers for fuel. ThenYallourn North, Willowgrove, Icy Creek and Noojee for afternoon tea. (70 km) Leg 4: Noojee, Neerims, Jindivick, Longwarry North to break up. (30 km) Expect around 450 kms for the day. Ride will not suit inexperienced riders; not recommended for first time Club riders.

Sunday 17^th Jindivick via Noojee short ride Rob Langer leading

Followed by Moto GP BBQ in Ferntree Gully

10 am Yarra Glen

John Rousseaux has kindly offered his home as the place to finish the short ride and watch the Phillip Island MotoGP on TV while enjoying a home cooked BBQ. If intending to participate, then please advise John on mobile number 0412-880-537 for catering purposes.

Route: Yarra Glen, Healesville, Myers and Chum Creek Roads, Healesville, Powelltown, Noojee for morning tea. Retrace route back to Powelltown, Gladysdale, Hoddles Creek, Gembrook and Ferntree Gully to BBQ.

Sat. 23rd Pillion Ride, Commercial Hotel, Alexandra Dennis Lindemann leading

10 am Berwick

The Parma's at The Commercial Hotel have been voted as the best in Victoria so Dennis thought we should check it out. From Berwick we'll take our usual route through Harkaway along back roads in to Gembrook for morning tea after a leisurely 50 km. After the stop, we'll continue riding on to Hoddles Creek, Healesville and across the Black Spur. At Narbethong we'll detour to Marysville and rejoin the Highway again at Buxton to finally stop in Alexandra for lunch after another 115 km. The ride back includes Yea, Flowerdale and break up at the Bakery in Pheasant Creek making 247 km in total. Please text Dennis on 0425 802 031 if you intend to meet us at the Hotel so that he can reserve tables for lunch at this popular venue.

Sunday 24^th Kongwak (Central Gippsland) Tim Emons leading

10 am Yarra Glen

From Yarra Glen we'll head across to Healesville, up Chum Creek Road, down Myers Creek Road and into Healesville. Then on to Powelltown, Nayook, Neerim East and Neerim South for late morning tea. After a leisurely break we'll continue southwards down through Crossover, Old Sale Road to Yarragon and Trafalgar where we'll cross the Princes Highway and head for Thorpdale (famous esses) via Childers (2.6 km of good, uphill dirt) and on to Mirboo North for lunch and fuel at the 200 km mark. After lunch we'll work our way to Leongatha and around through Kongwak to Loch for a break after 109 km. Then up the fun but treacherous Korumburra Warragul Road to Darnum, Crossover, and Jindivick to break up at Longwarry North after another 100 km making a total of 410 km for the day. Ride will not suit inexperienced riders; not recommended for first time Club riders.

Sat. 30^th Towong, Melbourne Cup Weekend Ben Warden leading

to Tue. 2^nd 9.30 am Yarck

The Committee has booked the spectacular "Snowy Mountain Holidays" B&B accommodation package on the Murray River at Towong, 11 km out of Corryong. For more information on Snowy Mountain Holidays visit: www.snowymountainholidays.com.au

Fully booked. See below for more details.

Sunday 31^st Trentham via Brisbane Ranges Geoff Jones leading

10 am West Gate Shell Servo

Geoff will lead us over the West Gate Bridge taking the third Werribee exit to avoid as much of suburbia as possible before heading off towards the You Yangs and Anakie. The roads are pretty straight up until this point but from now on become more exciting with uphill sweepers as we traverse the Brisbane Ranges on the west side. At Anakie we'll cut across to Steiglitz and do the loop through She Oaks down to Maude before traversing the length of the ranges to stop at Meredith after 120 km of brilliant roads.

After the break we'll pick up the twisty and steep Durdidwarrah road across to the east side of the Ranges and back to Anakie. Now we'll start heading north picking up the old Club Hill Climb road up Mt Wallace. You'll marvel at the poor state of the road - gravel and potholes on every corner - and wonder how we ever held time trials up here. On to Ballan, Greendale and Trentham for late lunch at 1 pm after another 115 km. That makes 235 km to the tank which should be just okay considering the economical cruise down the highway to start the ride.

The final leg from Trentham will head through Ashbourne and the back roads to Woodend, up Mt Macedon and down Straws Lane, across to Bolinda and down Wild Dog Road to finish at Bulla under the Tullamarine airport flight path after another 94 km. Expect around 330 km of varied roads for the day.

November 2010

Thurs. 4^th Social Sip

7 pm Mark's Place, corner Grattan and Swanston Streets, Carlton

Collect your magazine and get all the news first. Catch up with your fanatical motorcycling enthusiast mates, share a cheap meal and still be home by 10.30 pm

Sunday 7^th Gembrook Ha Du leading

10 am Whittlesea

The route will include Kinglake, Toolangi, Myers Creek Road down to Healesville, Launching Place, then taking the back road to Warburton for a coffee break. From there, we'll head down to Pakenham Upper via Hoddles Creek and Gembrook, then back up near Healesville via Woori Yallock. An easy 200 km.

Towong, Melbourne Cup Weekend Sun. 30^th Oct. to Tues. 2^nd November

Typically we make a four day weekend out of the Tuesday public holiday to take advantage of the great location and the time and distance required to get there. The plan is to ride up Saturday, ride around the hills Sunday and Monday and return to Melbourne on Tuesday. This means three night's accommodation. You'll need to take annual leave for the Monday, so book your leave day now.

$130 buys you three nights' accommodation, a home cooked meal and forms your deposit. The first night's meal is a BBQ (steaks, sausages, salad, potatoes, sauces, ratatouille, garlic bread). Great value.

Accommodation: Please visit: www.snowymountainholidays.com.au/accommodation.html

Cancellation Policy: Deposits are fully refundable up until three weeks prior to the start of the event - 9^th October. No refunds are available after this date.

Sat 30^th: Melbourne, Yarck, Mansfield, Whitfield, Myrtleford, Rosewhite Rd, Happy Valley Rd, Tangambalanga Rd, Mitta Mitta, Dartmouth Dam, Mitta Mitta, Tallangatta, Granya Gap, Walwa, Tintaldra, Towong. 710 km from Yarck

Sun 31^st: Towong, Khancoban, Alpine Way (Tom Groggin, Dead Horse Gap), Thredbo, Jindabyne, Charlotte's Pass, Jindabyne, Dalgetty, Berridale, Adaminaby, Kiandra, Cabramurra, Khancoban, Towong. 475 km

Mon 1^st: Towong, Khancoban, Cabramurra, Elliot Way (Sue City), Tumbarumba, Rosewood Road, Tumut, Bondo, Tumorama, Adjungbilly, near Gundagai, Tumut, Rosewood Road, Tumbarumba, Jingellic, Walwa, Towong. 554 km

Tue 2^nd: Towong, Walwa, Granya Gap, Tallangatta, Tangambalanga Rd, Happy Valley Rd, Rosewhite Road, Myrtleford, Whitfield, Mansfield, Yarck. 435 km to Yarck.

Middle two days' routes are interchangeable depending on the weather.

Ride will not suit inexperienced riders; not recommended for first time Club riders.

Dargo via Omeo Sat 4^th / Sun 5^th December

Tim Emons leading, 9 am Berwick

Come out for an epic weekend adventure covering some of Victoria's greatest motorcycling roads, cutting in and out of the Southern valleys of the Great Dividing Range. Good tyres essential.

Accommodation: Dargo River Inn

Cost: $85 per person gets you dinner, breakfast and bed in a shared room - bunks or singles only with up to 4 people (maximum) per room. Money to be paid into Club bank account asap. First in, best dressed. Cancellation Policy: no refund

Saturday 4^th: We'll take a fairly direct route from Berwick to Tyers for a short break, then work our way around Lake Glenmaggie and on through open farmland to Briagolong for fuel and sustenance after 206km.The real ride starts here!

Heading into the forest and up the sensational Beverleys Road, across to Wuk Wuk and onward to Bruthen bakery for lunch. Once both tanks are full, we'll take the Great Alpine Road North to Omeo with a couple of side trips thrown in.

After afternoon tea we'll return to Bruthen, then on to the final leg into Dargo. Around 626km for the day should give us plenty of material to compare stories over dinner and drinks, with shared accommodation available at the Dargo River Inn. A gentler option exists for those wanting to skip the Omeo leg and go direct to Dargo making a leisurely 284km for the day.

Sunday 5th: Back out on the brilliant Dargo road to Briagolong, then across to Lake Glenmaggie for a run up the spectacular Licola road. From here we'll tackle the same corners in the opposite direction, then across the flats again to refuel in Tyers.

We'll throw in a detour to Rawson, possibly as far as Thompson Dam if I feel we need more corners. Then on to the infamous Icy Creek road, stopping for afternoon tea at Neerim Junction, before the final short leg into Powelltown. Around 386km for the day, with over 100km more for most to home.

Ride will not suit inexperienced riders; not recommended for first time Club riders.

Porepunkah Christmas Camp Sun. 26^th Dec. 2009 to Sun. 2^nd January 2011

Over the past 10 years the Club has camped for about a week at the Mt Buffalo Caravan Park. Situated on the fork of the Ovens and Buckland Rivers it offers a fantastic range of activities including swimming, fishing and bush walking. Close by is the Smoko Trout Farm, the "Wandi Pub", the Hedge Maze, various berry, deer and nut farms, and an alpaca ranch. The famous Milawa wineries and cheese factory are close by. Supermarket shopping is available at Bright, 6 km away.

Great road and dirt riding country abounds. Mt Buffalo offers a sensational 25 km climb to the scenic Chalet and lookouts. Nearby are good half-day rides to Falls Creek, Mt Hotham and Dartmouth Dam or full day rides into the Snowy Mountains and some of the best roads in the world. Who can forget Tawonga and Granya Gaps? On the flip side there are lots of fire trails and mountain tracks offering spectacular views of the surrounding alps, most of which can only be reached by 4WD or dirt bike. So, bring your road and dirt bikes, the missus and kids, the 4WD, pushbikes and swim shoes, ready for a great holiday.

The Club usually secures some unpowered sites "under The Willows". Another good option is to rent self contained cabins for the week. Ring 03-5756-2235 to secure a cabin or a powered site. Otherwise tell Ian Payne of your intention to camp with the group. Do it now.

Alternatively, there are also budget motels and hotels nearby.

Cancellation Policy: This year we have booked two sites (which accommodate two or three tents) at the "The Willows" (the usual unpowered sites the Club reserves). A payment of $15 per night per person is required to reserve a spot. This is currently not refundable (it depends on the Mt Buffalo Caravan Park cancellation policy, currently being investigated.) See Ian Payne for more information.

Australia Day Weekend, Jindabyne Wed. 26^th to Sun. 30^th January

The Committee has booked accommodation at the NSW Sport and Recreation Centre in Jindabyne. This is lodge style accommodation with 2 beds per room (7 rooms) with shared bathroom facilities, and a large kitchen/living area with a big screen TV. We have stayed four times before and are so impressed with the cost, quality and food, we thought we had better come back, and back, and ...!

The Australia Day holiday falls on Wednesday 26th of January. Given the distances involved (700 km on the first day and last days), a five day weekend allows us to take full advantage of the great location. The plan is to ride up on Wednesday, ride around the Snowy Mountains Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and return to Melbourne on Sunday. This means four nights accommodation. You'll need to take annual leave for the Thursday and Friday.

Typically temperatures are in the high 30's at this time of year, but at this altitude the temperatures will be around 10 degrees cooler making for ideal riding conditions.

As usual, this special event is offered on a strictly first come, first served basis. Preference will be given to members. A $150 deposit is required, payable in to the Club bank account. The deposit buys four nights accommodation; if you wish to stay less than four nights then you may choose to organise others to use the nights you are not using. It costs $150 (estimated at this stage) no matter how many nights you stay.

A BBQ pack is being offered for the first night. The pub $15 steak night (self cook) should do another night meal.

All you need is your toothbrush, a change of clothes and near new tyres. Street legal, race replica tyres will not last much more than two days so regular road tyres are a more sensible option, unless you are prepared to change them.

Ride will not suit inexperienced riders; not recommended for first time Club riders.

Tasmania Friday 4^th to Monday 14^th March

· Restricted to Members and partners only

· Night sail to Devonport Fri 4^th leave 9pm, disembark 7.30 am

· Return day sail to Melbourne Monday 14^th, depart 9 am (Labour Day Public Holiday)

· First three nights Tullah (West Coast)

· Second three nights Giants' Table Maydena (towards Hobart)

· Third two nights - St Helens (East coast)

· Last night - Devonportish - for day sail on Monday

· Costs: night sail ($146 each for 4 person cabin), day return $65, bike $108 return, car $158 return. So:

o rider plus bike $319

o driver plus car $369

o couple with car and bike $688

If you are going, please pay a $100 deposit into the Club Bank account as soon as possible to facilitate a possible group discount. The remaining Spirit of Tasmania ferry charges will be required in January or thereabouts - to be advised. Initial booking will be for 12 persons.