A good sized group of over a dozen of us arrived at Ardeer for Roger's winter ride up into the cold hills to the west. It was surprisingly warm considering we had been worried about black ice earlier in the week.

It seems there is a roadmaking festival going on in the western suburbs and Roger, with Sam looking after our rear, took us for a tour of some of them in an endeavour to dodge as much traffic as possible considering the number of closed roads. All was well however and after what felt like a ten minute wait to turn right into Ballan Road (I think) we were on the way.

As usual Roger took us up some delightful roads, some straightish and some winding, some narrow and some wide, and even a short section of freeway, but all fun to ride. Some of the roads we knew, and some were new to us including a lovely run through the forest on a single lane road. The black ice did not materialise and we made it to Blackwood for morning tea on a wet but not icy road. I was rather glad that I had put on lots of layers, heated grips, seat and gloves as it really was cold up there.

Morning tea was in a nice little cafe Roger had advised we were coming so we sat inside and ate nice warm food.

Then it was off to Bacchus Marsh for lunch. Again some familiar roads but often in the opposite direction to what we are used to so it was another lovely sector. After a light lunch we all headed home our own ways. Mike, Colin and I headed down some back roads Mike knew through Keilor and onto Bell Street which took us all home to Ivanhoe, Camberwell and Surrey Hills without having to cross the Westgate Bridge and the slow freeway.

Thanks again to Roger Foot and Sam Sun for leading and T.E.C.ing the ride.