Northern Region Midweek ride report, 21 Dec 2021

DESTINATION : NOOJEE
Hi everybody Merry Xmas to all out there and your families. We saved the best ride till last with great accompanying weather for 2021. Seventeen members joined us to travel to Noojee through the Bunyip State Park.
We left Greensborough cruising slowly through Yarrambat, Hurstbridge, Wattle Glen and onto the Kangaroo Grounds-Yarra Glen Road. Here we encountered a slow moving truck which made the ride to our morning tea stop VERY PAINFUL. At least there is no traffic lights on this road so its keeps moving along, albeit rather slowly.
On arrival at the Yarra Flats Baking Co. we met other members there to have our full contingent for the day. After a hot cuppa and refreshments we headed off towards those majestic hills in the distance.
This time of year is the best for riding, not too hot, evergreen trees around you and a beautiful splash of greenery in all the paddocks. “Oops” don’t forget that refreshing smell of mountain air, a godsend for our lungs. It’s not long when we hit Launching Place, Yarra Junction and onto the Noojee Road. Now we can get lost between the mountains and in the green valley’s passing through Three Bridges, Gilderory and Powelltown. Just keep your eye out for log trucks in this area as they appear very quickly as I found out. To join us in on this mayhem was a biker on my side of the road attempting to pass the log truck with both heading right at me. #@*+! a few choice words where yelled inside my helmet accompanied by a hand gesture at the biker. I stayed far left as I could and he accelerated passed safely (ya mug).
Enjoying the dream ride we soon approached the Noojee Hotel where we joined a group of Harley riders for lunch. We sat outside under the shade of a tree with great views of the La Trobe River. This great day along with past rides for 2021 where being discussed with few accompanying frothy ones which kept the taste buds happy. Ah! What a day it was.
Then we repeated it all on the way home including a fuel stop at Healsville then riders turned off for home where needed.
Thank you all for a great enjoyable day and to my TEC Keith McCraken.
A great journey of approx. 230kms
Have a safe and Happy New Year.
Thank you for joining Keith and myself over the past few years for this is our last ride as ride leaders for the Classic Club.
See you in 2022, stay upright Wally Walsh
NORTHERN REGION MIDWEEK RIDERS PARTICIPANTS LIST 21/12/21:
Rider
Bike
Year
Mike Walker
Triumph T150
1971
Wally Walsh (Ride Leader)
Kawasaki Z1A 900
1974
Ian Snadden
Yamaha FJ1200
1990
Richard Sommerville
Honda VFR750
1995
Keith McCraken
Honda ST1300
2002
Janet Walker
Honda VTR250
2004
Michael Thompson
Triumph America
2012
Richard Houghton
Kawasaki W800
2012
Steve Inman
Triumph Bonneville T100
2013
Paul Clayton
Honda VFR800
2014
Robert Mucuns
BMW S1000R
2015
Arthur Hampson
Triumph T120
2016
Reg Hammond
Triumph T100
2016
Colin Borthwick
Triumph Bonneville T120
2017
Graham Boulter
BMW R1200RS
2017
Peter Hansen
Triumph Street Twin
2017
Damian Lewer
Yamaha MTO9SP
2021