It was a very warm, sunny and also very blustery spring day in Melbourne today and about 20 people came out to Officer

to join the Branch ride exploring the Mornington Peninsula.  Jeff took on Tail End Duties.  It was great to see more of the newer faces becoming regular riders and Christian joined us for his first ride with Ulysses Club members today.

Once greetings, bike examinations and briefings were completed, we rode south through flat farmlands to Dalmore and then west to Devon Meadows and happily had very little traffic to deal with.  Then we skirted Westernport Bay to Somerville and used Bungower Road to Mornington where we got to see Port Phillip Bay.  It was very windy as we rode onto the Esplanade and there were lots of “white horses” on the water and the wind gusts toyed with us. The school holidays started this weekend, and I was concerned that traffic would delay us as we passed the end of Main Street as there is a pedestrian crossing complicating the roundabout. We got through much better than I anticipated and we then enjoyed the views and rode the Esplanade through to Safety Beach where members got to briefly ride below sea level as we went under the yacht channel between Martha Cove and Shark Bay.   Dromana was extremely busy as we rode through but didn’t really hold us up.   We then enjoyed the climb up to Arthurs Seat at a sedate pace which is to be anticipated on weekends.  Still a lovely ride.

We took a break at the top and it was very busy including other groups of riders. 

The wind was still in full force too.     We the rode towards Red Hill and south through Main Ridge, included a loop via Fingal and rode the coast road past Cape Schanck to our lunch break by the water at Flinders.  

I was concerned about traffic before the ride and I think it went better than I anticipated over all.

The picnic tables at our lunch stop provided views across to Phillip Island and the Nobbies.  After a leisurely break many of us rode off together back up to Red Hill and joined Peninsula Link before the traffic got too busy. 

A relatively short day, but I enjoyed it.  Many thanks to all who came along. 

Cheers

John Cook