Midweek Ride Nov 2017
Midweek Ride Report, 1st 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