Mid-week ride report, Tuesday 17 July 2018

Three regular Midweek riders phoned me on Monday evening to let me know that, due to various circumstances, they couldn’t attend the ride. Thanks for letting me know guys. Somewhat nervously that evening I had been checking the weather forecast where the message seemed to be – Tuesday morning ok but windy, late afternoon all bad news. So in bright sunlight and strong northwesterly wind gusts I arrived at the Calder Park servo, parked the BM and hastened inside for a hot drink and a read of the paper.

8.50 am and still no customers! And then, Len arrived, and after discussing the possible weather and lack of other riders we decided to ride to Ballan for morning coffee as planned, and then reassess.

After Toolern Vale and Bacchus Marsh, and having taken the Pentland Hills exit from the short section of M8 Freeway, we rode through Myriong, Korobeit to Greendale by narrow rural back roads, the countryside looking attractive in the slanting rays of the early morning sunlight. On the ridges or more exposed areas we encountered strong cross winds sufficient to push us around, but we enjoyed the empty roads and the scenery. Soon we were parking in the main street of Ballan and walking into the Tin Plate Cafe where I can recommend the coffee and the carrot and walnut cake, especially if you ask for a little extra cream with it.

After yarning as motorcyclists do about bikes past and present, and walking outside, we decided to call it a day as the wind strength seemed to be increasing. We opted to take the M8 back to town, and with the wind behind us this time it was an effortless ride back to Melbourne, traffic jam capital of the Southern hemisphere. Still in sunny conditions I was back home by lunchtime. By 4pm the rain hit. I’ll file the uncompleted part of the ride plan away for another day.

John Best.

Riders:

John Best, BMW R80 1986

Len Barry, CF Moto TK650 2014.