Attracted by the promise of a sunny day and not deterred by very cold early morning temperatures, 23 of us met at the Greensborough start. John K briefed us about the ride and I was among a group who were not paying proper attention, because we turned immediately left from the start heading up Yan Yean road instead of following John towards Diamond Creek. This caused confusion, phone calls and a delay but the two groups were reunited at Whittlesea, and the ride continued according to plan from there on. I had my handlebar warmers on full blast and was envious of riders with screens or fairings to deflect the frigid air.
John led us in bright sunshine to Wallan and then Lancefield for morning coffee and a much needed warm-up in the busy bakery. There was a slight increase in temperature as we left Lancefield heading north to Pyalong via an enjoyable winding road surrounded by dramatic boulder outcrops. I once asked a geologist if the boulders were a result of glacial action and the answer was no. They are granite and being exposed over huge amounts of time, slowly flake in an irregular way to attain the strange formations we see today. They are called Granitic Tors.
Reaching Broadford we continued to the Murchison Gap bends, and approaching Strath Creek any hope of warmer temperatures disappeared. It got colder! But we continued to enjoy the bendy roads reaching Yea for lunch, where Paul Beukelman and his dad Henry joined us. One bakery was closed so most of us piled into the remaining one.
From Yea we made our various ways home. It had been a great ride in good company on a variety of roads. Perhaps one of the best supported Sunday rides for a long time. Thanks John K for leading and Peter for riding TEC.
Participants:
Mark Hine | Vincent Rapide 1949. |
Kay Murphy | Honda CB750 1972. |
Robert van Louizen | BMW R90S 1975. |
Scot Oldfield | BMWR90S 1975. |
Conor Murphy | Honda CB750 1975. |
Phi Pilgrim | BMW R100RSR 1981. |
Ian Snadden | Yamaha FJ 1200 1991. |
Wally Walsh | Triumph Trophy 1997. |
Jimmy and Celia Linton | Yamaha XJR 1300 1999. |
Keith McCraken | Honda ST1300 2002. |
Jim Cameron | Yamaha FJR 1300 2007. |
John Addy | Suzuki GSX650 2008. |
Colin Sullivan | BMW R1200R 2009. |
Gary Mckechnie | Suzuki GSX1400 2009. |
John Killingsworth | BMW R1200GS 2011. |
Steve Inman | Triumph Bonneville 2014. |
Paul Clayton | Honda VFR800 2014. |
Colin Borthwick | Triumph Bonneville2017. |
Peter Hansen | Triumph Street Twin2017. |
John Best | Suzuki SV650 2021. |
Paul and Henry Beukelman | car. |
John Best.