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