Jan 2018 Sunday Ride
Sunday Ride Report, 21st January 2018
Officer/Fish Creek
Despite threatening skies to the south-east, a good sized group met at the Officer servo. After welcoming a new member, Kam, and a briefing from Sam, we set off to the east along the freeway before taking a right turn south to Tynong. It was a pleasant ride through a series of small towns, close to the Gippsland railway line. We passed through Garfield, Bunyip and Longwarry, and had good views, firstly across the Swamp (Koo-Wee-Rup) and later, glimpses of the Great Dividing Range to our north. Soon we were skirting through Drouin and then onto some beautiful minor roads southwards.
New member Kam
We were welcomed into Korumburra by a rather treacherous stretch of bitumen liberally covered with gravel – interesting! Morning tea/coffee was a pleasant relief, as the staff at Kelly’s Bakery rapidly met our requirements and we shared experiences and relaxed.
Ian & paul at Fish Creek
Soon we were back on the bikes, heading south, enjoying great views as we dropped down the hills towards Wonthaggi. We were now close to the coast, past Cape Paterson and through Inverloch, with glimpses of cliffs, rock shelves and beaches, then Venus Bay and Tarwin Lower flashed past, as we enjoyed fast sweeping bends with a good clear view of the road ahead. We bisected the Bald Hills Wind Farm, and then zipped through Waratah Bay and into Fish Creek for lunch. Here we all shared a large table in the café and greatly enjoyed the company, food and refreshments.
A little heavier and much rested, we headed north on a minor road, where I was alarmed at first by an extensive stretch of gravel associated with road works. However, soon we were on firmer surfaces, enjoying the bends and further vistas of scenic country. Once on the South Gippsland Highway, we had a brisk run through Meeniyan, Leongatha and into Korumburra, where we said our farewells and began our individual trips home.
Thanks to Sam for leading a most enjoyable ride, and to Ian for a thorough job as tail-end Charlie. We actually collected another rider during the ride as Gary joined the group somewhere after lunch! My “wayside weed of the day” was the white flowered Queen Anne’s Lace (also known as wild carrot) which was plentiful along the roadsides, while the "Bike of the Day” award goes to the highly functional F650 Scarver!
Bill Washington
Sunday Riders Participants List 21/1/18
Ian Snadden BMW R90S 1974
Graham Boulter BMW R90S 1975
Ian Bryant BMW K100 RS 1984
Bill Washington BMW K75S 1986
Sam Panettieri (Ride Leader) and Anna Suzuki GSX 750F 1989
Richard Sommerville Honda VFR 800 1995
Ray Isles BMW F650 2004
Reg Hammond Honda Integra 700 2005
Richard Haughton Kawasaki W800 2012
Jack Youdan (Tail-End-Charlie) Suzuki DL 650 2013
Kam Saraswati Triumph Bonneville 2014
Paul Clayton Honda VFR 800 2014
Gary Moore Yamaha XJR 1200 1995