We’ve just had a great few days away

which included various branches (Grampians, Central Highlands and Melbourne meeting up along with people who are no longer riding.

Fifteen people on fourteen bikes started at the Melbourne Branch start point on Sunday morning with Terry doing TEC duty.  We rode west, left the freeway and used backroads through to Glenmore

before the spectacular climb up to Mount Wallace and stopped for a cuppa/rest break in Ballan where we were made very welcome at the café. 

We then continued west to Buninyong, where I failed a navigation challenge (an attempt to read the map on my phone without putting spectacles on may have been a factor) and added about a 20 km detour before we arrived at Smythesdale for lunch at the pub. 

We were greeted by members from Grampians and Central Highlands (Ballarat) branches along with Maryanne and Hank plus Cathy and Vince who are no longer riding but were happy to maintain the Ulyssean contact.  We all enjoyed the camaraderie and lunch, and time disappeared all too rapidly.

The Melbourne Branch “day riders”

Big Dave, David, Gary, Jeremy, John, Les & Rob bid us farewell and it was back on the bikes and road as the rest of us set off west along with Deb and John Harkin from Grampians Branch.    After ignoring one fuel station we stopped at Glenthompson for fuel as planned only to discover that 91octane was the only option available.  Several of us filled up while others pushed on to Dunkeld and got the fuel of their choice.  No real issue.

Then it was south and west (setting sun in our eyes was an issue) via backroads to Narrawong where we based ourselves at the caravan park for two nights. 

The park is in a lovely setting.  We enjoyed a lightish dinner at the camp kitchen

and socialised with some German tourists who were also staying at the park.

Monday morning was a short ride into Portland,

where we enjoyed breakfast overlooking the wharf and esplanade. 

   We then rode north to Merino

and enjoyed some lovely views and sweeping roads into Casterton, where we enjoyed a cuppa and a chat. 

Then south-west into SA. Where we stopped and checked out the sinkhole,

spoke to some vintage car users

and checked out the Blue Lake in Mount Gambier. 

We enjoyed fish and chips for lunch at Port MacDonnell.

We returned via Eight Mile Creek Road

and Nelson

to Portland where we fuelled up and got provisions for dinner.

I had encountered kangaroos hopping about as we rode plus some emus into SA and also saw ‘roos on the Sunday!   Happily, they were only sightings and not more serious encounters.  Those wildlife encounters convinced us that dining at the park was wiser than riding home in the dark (possibly dodging ‘roos) after a pub meal and drinks.  Again, it was a very enjoyable evening. 

Deb added that bit extra by preparing dessert for all of us.  Thanks Deb.

On Tuesday morning we set off early (initially through mist) and rode north to Hamilton where we stopped and enjoyed breakfast at a spot recommended by Deb and John

– Great recommendation – Thanks. 

We then rode on, enjoyed views of the Grampians

and stopped briefly at Lake Bellfield where we bid John farewell as he returned home to Stawell.   

Then it was on eastwards with a lunch / rest break at Beaufort

and a farewell chat before hitting the highway back to Melbourne.  Ian did TEC duties for days 2 & 3 -thanks Ian.  

Traffic was generally light and flowed well, at some stages I didn’t even try and overtake B doubles as they were doing a good clip on narrow backroads.  We did get congestion near the junction of the Western Freeway and Ring Road but overall, we had a great run.  The weather was very kind, it was all but freezing when I left the Dandenong Ranges and generally lovely after that apart from riding in some mist on Tuesday morning.      

The Melbourne associated participants were Elfia & Ian, Barry, Gary, Ian, Pat, Terry and me.  We had one late scratching due to bike problems.

Many thanks to all who came along.  Especially great to catch up with branch members from further afield and people no longer riding with us but happy to socialise anyway.     

Cheers

John Cook