(Report by John Cook)

Cevat, Nick, Vaughan and I enjoyed an impromptu mid week ride today. 

After exploring the orchard and farm country beyond the Dandenong Ranges, we rode into fog and climbed up Mount Donna Buang which was invisible from down in the valley.  We took a break and checked out the temperate rain forest on the way up.

After that I was a bit bemused by a driver descending in thick fog in a light grey (perfect mist colour match) car with no lights on at all.  I was riding quite slowly due to the thick fog and the car just appeared when quite close to me.  Much more happily, I also had a lyre bird cross the road in front of me and run off into the woods. We climbed into sunshine near the mountain top, literally had our heads above the clouds and enjoyed great views across the misty valleys to mountain ranges.

After the descent, we then took an assortment of back roads to Hoddles Creek and then enjoyed the road past Kurth Kiln to Gembrook where we enjoyed lunch at a local café.  

We then rode some of the many options around the back of the Dandenongs to Clematis where two of us split off to head home.

Vaughan and I continued through the hills and stopped at Burkes Lookout

to check out the view and check the amount of damage from the recent bushfire near home.  The sky was a bit “murky”, so the fire damage doesn’t show at lot.

Had a great day out riding.  Thanks fellas.