I will quote Rogers’s plan as posted on Facebook,

“Epping to Gisborne, this Sunday at 10.00 am. A shorter ride than most, but a symphony in three movements for the motorcycle soul: suburban, scenic and hills & dales.”

Thanks Roger, you put together a great combination of those things.   As I made my way to Epping from The Dandenong Ranges on quite wet roads, I was happy that I hadn’t washed the bike since I last rode it in June as it would have got filthy before the ride started.  One of those days - blue skies but lots of road spray.   Happily the temperature wasn’t icy and Roger’s optimism regarding the weather was justified and we only got a couple of light sprinkles of rain around Plenty Gorge just after we started riding.

We had a good number of people come out for the ride and Branch president Brian took on TEC duty.

 There were lots of BMWs both GS and RS and Teven came along for his second ride with us on his R1300GS.  Other brands included Honda, Kawasaki, Moto Guzzi, Triumph and Yamaha.  Nice to see new faces joining us regularly.

Once briefings and greetings were completed, we headed east along Cooper Street

and Roger then led us along some roads I’ve never used and smoothly got us though suburban traffic to Plenty Gorge.  We encountered a group of people out doing on road rider training with Armstrongs Rider Training and we exchanged pleasantries with several when we stopped at a light.

I recognised where we were at Nutfield and enjoyed the ride north to Arthurs Creek and Roger then introduced us to some more wonderful back roads which were narrow, tight and technical,

but a joy to ride with great scenery until we popped out on the Whittlesea Kinglake Road above St Andrews.  We were then lucky to enjoy a good ride up the hill at a sensible pace with no “tin tops” disrupting traffic flow.   Lots of cyclist were descending the opposite way.  We continued past “Flying Tarts” (closed) and on to Flour Flower bakery for our cuppa / rest break.  

It was quite busy, but an enjoyable stop and we chatted to other riders and patrons.

 Roger had reminded me to check my tyre pressures before the ride and I did.  The electric pump I always carry did get some use during the break to inflate someone else’s tyre which was a tad soft.

We then descended the lovely sweepers down to Whittlesea, skirted town and rode on via Wallan, Darraweit Guim and Riddells Creek to Gisborne where we stopped for lunch.

Roger’s final effort was showing some of us a back road via Mt Gisborne which provided some great views before we joined the freeway and rode back towards Melbourne.   

 A great ride thanks Roger, your preparation showed.  Thank you and thanks to all who came along to enhance the camaraderie.   I had a great day out riding.

Cheers John Cook