Midweek Ride Jan 2018

Midweek Ride Jan 2018

The weather forecast for the day was for a light shower or two in the early morning. There was some early morning rain at my place then brilliant sunshine. I therefore decided to take a punt and take my new Triumph Thruxton on the ride. Big mistake! By the time I arrived at our start point I had been through 2 or 3 showers, the road was wet and it was still raining. As they say, shit happens.

Bikes and riders and pillions kept arriving and when the ride commenced some 27 bikes were behind our ride leader, Reg Hammond. (2 bikes met us at Lancefield). It was interesting to note that there was father and pillion daughter, 2 fathers and their sons on individual bikes and pillion partner and passenger son on the Harley outfit of Dave Kimpton.

We travelled through Whittlesea, Kinglake West, Flowerdale and stopped at Murchison Lookout to admire “the view of a thousand hills”. Whilst taking in the view I observed that the countryside was unusually green for this time of the year, no doubt due to all the rain we had last month. Next we went to Broadford, (where Peter Cullen joined us), High Camp and Lancefield for lunch at the bakery where we met up with ex presidents Ray Isles and Burger with pillion Pauline.

Stomachs refuelled and following a good chin wag we headed across to Hesket and Kerrie (horse stud country) and then turned off at Clarkefield to go through the Wildwood area. The road through here is now sealed from end to end and the old wooden bridge, which was a hazard in the wet, has been replaced as well. The ride finished in Oakland Rd at the Hume and Hovell historic marker.

I have to say I was impressed by the large turnout of riders and the diversity of bikes this day and hope that this continues for 2018. It was also pleasing to see Andy and Aaron from Geelong make the effort to be on the ride. Thanks to Reg for organising and leading a great ride and to Ed for TEC duties.

Graham Boulter

 

Participants List

Martyn Goodwin             Vincent Comet         1951
Alan Kelly                         Velocette   MSS        1955
Greg Costello                   BMW    R75/5           1971
Ian Snadden                    BMW R90S               1974
Wally Walsh                    Kawasaki 900           1974
Andy Symons                  Kawasaki Z 900        1976
Burger and Pauline        BMW R100                1976
Michael Thompson        Honda CB 750 E       1979
Kim Coillet                       Ducati 900                1979
Aaron Symons                 Yamaha XJ 750        1981
Richard Fanning             BMW    R80 GS        1981
Bill Washington               BMW K 75                 1986
Glenn Maddigan              Honda VFR 750       1990
David Kimpton & Anne & Stephen   Harley outfit 1992
Keith McCracken            Kawasaki   1100        1994
Richard Sommerville     Honda VFR 750        1995
Ray Isles                           BMW F650                 2004
Mark Hine                        BMW R1200 RT       2006
John Best                         Suzuki  Bandit           2008
Paul Woods & Melati    Suzuki  DL 650           2010
Trevor Coswell               Triumph Sprint          2010
John Killingsworth        BMW R1200 RS        2011
Richard Haughton         Kawasaki W 800       2012
Bert Ricardo                    Triumph Tiger           2015
Reg Hammond (leader)  Triumph  T100        2016
Paul White                       Triumph  T 100         2016
Graham Boulter              Triumph  Thruxton   2016
David Hine                       Yamaha MT 07         2017
Colin Borthwick              Triumph T120           2017
Ed Sleightholm  (TEC)  Triumph Street Twin  2017
Peter Cullen                      Tin top