Midweek Ride Nov 2017

Midweek Ride Report, 1^st November  2017

Tooradin/Korumburra

Through a somewhat wet and cool morning I was carefully making my way to our meeting point in Tooradin when, buzzing along like two wasps, Reg and Richard zoomed past in the fast lane. I felt some relief that there were other riders optimistic about the weather, and I also appreciated the escort as they led the way across the highway into the servo.

After fuelling, chat and a briefing, we headed down the Bass highway on a drying road, and then onto quieter roads through Lang Lang and Nyora. Briefly we rode the South Gippsland highway before a right turn took us towards Almurta. As we climbed the ridge we had glimpses across to Western Port Bay; when finally at the top we could clearly see the outline of French Island beyond the mainland. We wove our way through hill and dale, passing through Glen Forbes and Archies Creek en route to Glen Alvie, Kilcunda Road, Moyarra and Jumbunna before a welcome lunch stop at Kelly’s Bakery in Korumburra.

The smells and sights of this dairy country always add to my enjoyment of a ride: picturesque hillsides, the many Friesian dairy cattle, the cut hay drying in the fields and even the wayside grasses each having their own scent and beauty, including my favourite Yorkshire Fog grass with grey/pink seed heads, all confirming that we were in late spring in the rich dairy country of South Gippsland. (This western part of South Gippsland was cleared from dense mountain ash and other eucalypt forest in the 20 years to 1890, and soon became, and has continued, a successful and prosperous dairy district.)

Ed kept us to the mark, and we were soon departing Korumburra, blasting down the South Gippsland highway before turning off to Bena and the great backroads towards Poowong and beyond. After Athlone we turned west and enjoyed a nice fast run back through Yannathan to Bayles and our farewell. We had again enjoyed the delights of motorcycling on challenging roads whilst travelling through beautiful countryside. Even roadworks were fun, with stoppages allowing time for extra chats, and the warning poles providing a tempting slalom course (Colin!). As I made my way onto the freeway home, I reflected on another great ride. I turned on my “CARdar” and reflected on how good it would be to live out of the city, making nice rides anytime, free of the grinding traffic.

Thanks to Ed for another well executed ride, Ian for his tireless and patient work as Tail End Charlie, and to all participants whose company make the rides so enjoyable.

“Bike of the day” : the 1982 Honda FT 500! (though I’d gladly have any of the bikes on the ride!)

Bill Washington

Midweek Riders Participants List 1/11/17

Ian Snadden (Tail-end-Charlie)                   Suzuki GSX1100 outfit                    1980

Ed Sleightholme (Ride Leader)                    Honda FT500                                      1982

Norm Wills                                                          Moto Guzzi Le Mans  850              1982

Bill Washington                                                 BMW K75S 750                                  1986

Jack Youdan                                                       Triumph Sprint  ST 955                   2002

Laurie John                                                         Yamaha FJR1300                               2003

Ray Isles                                                               BMW F650                                          2004

Reg Hammond                                                  Honda Integra 700                           2005

Greg Costello                                                     BMW F800S                                        2007

John Best                                                             Suzuki Bandit 1250                           2008

Colin Sullivan                                                      BMW R1200R                                     2009

Graham Boulter                                                BMWR1200 GS                                 2011

Richard Haughton                                            Kawasaki  W800                                2012

Paul Clayton                                                       Honda VFR 800                                  2014

Tony Hoare                                                         Honda VFR 800                                  2014

Paul Woods                                                        Suzuki V-Strom 650                         2014

Paul White                                                          Triumph T100 Bonneville              2015

Sam Panettieri                                                  Suzuki GSX 1000F                              2016

Conor Murphy                                                   Triumph T100                                     2017