Over a dozen people assembled at Lilydale to join the loop ride to Euroa and the weather was great – perhaps a bit warm in the afternoon.

As the photos show, we always seem to get a great diversity of bikes

on the Melbourne Branch rides, and we also get a great diversity of people.  Examples.  On Friday Reece rode to Strathbogie, but not satisfied with that, he rode over from Drouin to Lilydale in time to join today’s ride to Euroa and Strathbogie.   Graeme (a neighbour from Montrose)

got up a bit early and instead of the 10 minute tootle to Lilydale, he went via the Reefton and Black Spurs before looping back to join us at Lilydale!  Hi only regret was a contribution to State Revenue while coming back over the Black Spur.

Once greetings and lies were exchanged we set off with Sam once again doing TEC duty.  We took the simple route to Yarra Glen via Coldstream and the newish 70 KPH speed limit on the Melba to Yarra Glen was discussed in a non complimentary manner.

After that we left the traffic behind and used back road to St Andrews (one of our members is not keen on the road we used) and had zero issues with traffic apart from more than usual oncoming traffic.  In view of all the complaints about Victorian pothole we must not complain about actual roadworks, but the loose stones atop new bitumen near Cottles Bridge did give us some “moments” with lost grip.  We regrouped north of Nutfield

and after a bit of traffic around Whittlesea, we had a good run up the curves to Kinglake West and on to Flowerdale where we stopped and enjoyed a cuppa / rest break at “Boots n Bobs”. 

Very friendly service.

Then it was on to Strath Creek while I pondered the reason for an 80 KPH zone on open good quality roads.   In the interests of licence and funds preservation, we took it easier than the road warrants.   It was then a good run back to the Goulburn Valley Highway and on to Seymour with no real traffic issues.   We then got onto the old highways and stopped briefly and checked out Hughes Creek Bridge

at Avenel and

rode on through Longwood before a small bit of Freeway and our lunch stop at Euroa.    

After lunch we rode south and climbed up through Kelvin View and Strathbogie (Reece insisted on visiting again) and past Polly McQuinns

before

joining the highway home at Merton.   Traffic was moderately heavy, but despite that, we got along at a good clip.  Most of us broke off at Yea to make our separate ways home.  Several of us enjoyed the climb up Junction Hill, the ride through Break O Day and a final stop for refreshment at Yarra Glen.

Riding through areas recently impacted by bushfires was sobering.

Thanks to all who came along.  Cheers John Cook