A dozen of us gathered at Epping to farewell autumn today and the weather was kinder than some recent days. 

Had a bit of drizzle around Greensborough before the start, the odd bit along the way and some light rain after lunch at Seymour.  

It was great to see returning member Steve join us for his first ride with Ulysses in many years and he was made welcome.  Nick took on TEC duty and once greetings and chats were over, we headed up the Hume to Wallan.   Bridge and roadworks delayed us a bit until we got through Wallan and we then had a good run in light traffic up to Broadford

where we stopped for a cuppa and chat in the bakery – wasn’t exactly warm outside.

We then took backroads to Pyalong and encountered a cycle race going the opposite way, but not real issues and traffic was light.  We confirmed the bridge at Pyalong

is in much worse condition than the one at Noojee, but I think it was nice to stop and have a look.  Then on to Seymour for lunch. 

We also confirmed that there is a serious oversupply of 80 KPH signs as they’re popping up everywhere on roads we used to enjoy safely at 100KPH! 

Some then returned to Melbourne by direct routes and a few of us headed into the hills and made our way to Yea via Highlands.  That was the coldest and wettest part of the ride but still OK as it wasn’t really more than drizzle.   It was sobering to ride through the areas devastated during the “Longford” bushfires earlier this year an also amazing to see the green paddocks and regrowth on the sides of the burnt eucalypts. 

We rode on towards Whittlesea and Paul (on his new R1300RS) bid us farewell as we turned off to Break O Day.  We the returned to the Yarra Valley down the Melba Hwy at a good clip and bid each other farewell as we peeled off on our assorted routes home.   

I had another great day out riding, it was great to have Steve join us and to see members making him welcome.

Cheers  John Cook