Northern Region midweek ride report, 16 Mar

DESTINATION :  YEA

Today we are greeted by an overcast and dull morning, with a clear afternoon of sunshine with 23 degree forecast. 13 bikes turn up at the Caltex Service Station in Greensborough with all participants keen to have a great days riding and socializing after been locked away due to Covid 19. I also had a phone call from Mark Hosking a member until today hasn’t been on a ride with the classic club saying he would wait for us to pass his house in Kinglake West, then join our ride to the Flying Tarts for our morning tea stop on his Honda 4.  We welcome you Mark I hope you enjoy the ride.

Our ride starts well with us heading North on Yan Yean Road towards the mountains of Kinglake that have a low cloud cover hanging over them. Rain, Fog, Mist we may see the lot as we approach the climb up to Kinglake West. It slowly gets dimmer then darker as wet roads greet us near the approach to our morning tea stop. We then pass Mark sitting at his front gate and I acknowledge him with a wave, 300 mts down the car park of the Flying Tarts greet us, where good food, drinks and chit chat awaits.

Soon we are back on our steeds travelling back to Kinglake West where we turn right towards Flowerdale, suddenly the sun pops out, the roads are dry, and a new day has greeted us. I notice that no one is pushing me along as we travel along the Breakoday Road towards Glenburn, everybody must be enjoying the sights too much to worry about speed, so I back off slightly. Soon we turn right on the magic road to Murrindindi, where the peaceful hills roll along tranquil pastureland where the Murrindinidi River weaves its way North towards Yea.

Its not too long and the busy township of Yea comes into view. Food, petrol, toilet stop and sunshine, what else can we ask for. With lots of catching up to do there is plenty of banter spreading around. We share the street parking with the Whittlesea Ulysses Club which left an impressive sight on the locals of about 25 motor bikes of different color and looks.  Leaving the township of Yea and heading West we travelled towards Seymour and then turned left on the meandering road to Strath Creek.  With a tinge of green still evident the countryside hasn’t been ravaged by the heat of a long hot summer, it is still quite pleasant to look at.  Once we reach Strath Creek we can pick up the pace slightly on the smooth, open road to Flowerdale.  Riding through Kinglake West we see the boys in blue sitting on the roadside, then at the base of the mountain another police car sitting roadside. Did they time us heading down the mountain hhhhmmmmm!  I didn’t go 1km over the speed limit coming down the mountain towards Whittlesea (I think).

Great day, great roads, great company, 14 bikes attended and travelled with us.

Thank you all for a great, enjoyable day and to my TEC John Killingsworth.

 

A great journey of approx. 220kms

Until next time stay upright Wally Walsh

 

NORTHERN REGION MIDWEEK RIDERS PARTICIPANTS LIST 16/03/21:

 

Rider Bike Year                     
Franco Trento HRD A Rapide 1938
Martyn Goodwin Vincent Comet 1951
Ray Harrison Norton Commando 1969
Steve Inman Honda CB750 1972
Wally Walsh (Ride Leader) Kawasaki Z1A 900 1974
Mark Hosking Honda CB750 1975
Damian Lewer Honda VFR750 1992
Gary Moore Yamaha XJR1200 1997
John Killingsworth BMW R1200  GS 2011
Richard Haughton Kawasaki W800 2012
Reg Hammond Triumph Bonneville 2016
David & Mez McLennan Triumph Thruxton 2016
Colin Borthwick Triumph Bonneville T120 2017
Ian Young Triumph STR 2020