When I came across Dave Baker’s weekend event I called Reg and the two of us agreed it was a ride not to be missed. 
We left Yarrambat on Friday afternoon and the rain started on the other side of the Devide and accompanied us all the way to Bright.  Not too much of a worry as my Aldi Jacket and pants has proven to be wonderfully waterproof.  We arrived at our motel, got settled, had dinner and were ready for the next days start at 9:30 at the junction of B500 and C536 10 minutes outside of Bright.
The weather, Reg announced was due to be simply terrible so the next morning I rugged up with as many layers I could fit.  The morning was absolutely magnificent.  An electric sign at the junction announced that the road was to be closed tomorrow, Sunday, for the bicycle race.  So today was well planned by Dave who rode up with the rest of the group on his “not running too well” AJS which was trailered and off we went to Mt Beauty for morning Tea.  It took a bit of looking until a parking area for the bikes in a reserve was located and our morning tea stop began.  Then it was off to Bogong, a small village named after Humphrey Bogong, the discoverer of the moth and then on to Falls Creek, the town named after Ralph and Shirley Falls who settled the town and were later found buried in an avalanche.  All this history weighed heavily on us as we proceeded to Anglers Rest with the candle in the Pub Window burning for Ross Patrick who apparently coined the town motto “There are Anglers and there are Danglers”. And now it gets interesting.  At Mt Beauty Dave discovered a faulty spark plug as the cause of the AJS “Lack of Speed Syndrome” and resumed the roll of Lead rider. The road between Anglers Rest and Omeo was intensely interesting and the Fang lead by the 50 year old AJS was very remarkable and heeps of fun.
Lunch in Omeo for the riders and the bikes and then off to Dinner Plain and Mt Hot Ham.  At this stage I have now stripped down to my tee shirt and linerless jacket and consumed two litres of water. 
Dave apparently likes to take little diversionary trips on the ride to allow us to enjoy special scenery and attractions and today was no exception.  I did think it a bit odd that the road appeared to be going down hill and Mt Hot Ham was a mountain after all!  We turned around and went back to the intersection and Reg and I took off for some Ad Hoc performance tests of the Trans Alp and the Deauville.  At Mt Hot Ham we joined other motorcycle enthusiasts in a pleasant afternoon break.  Never saw Dave and the group until the evening get-together that night in Bright.  Which was very nice and we got to meet a bunch of new like-minded friends.   
Next day we meet at the town center in Bright for a ride to Yakandanda and it is pouring down rain (also pouring sideways) not to worry with my Aldi outfit.  Morning tea – Lunch in the bakery.  Cappuccino was $4 a cup and the Pastie was $8.10.  So far the dearest food on the trip.  We then said our farewells and Reg and I headed to Porepungah and the local Junque-at-high-prices-shop where Reg found a treasure of some sort.  I tried to talk him into a socket set suitable for locomotive repair but as he pointed out it was missing a few bits so we gave it a miss.  I was thinking of all the push bikers riding the 95 K loop in the pouring rain from Mt Beauty to Harrietville, remembering the many times I have been stuck behind them on the road and thinking what goes around, comes around.
Another good meal in the Pub and next day off to Melbourne, this time through King Valley.  Good weather until up into the mountain between Whitfield and Mansfield where the rain started shortly after the Powerline Curve.  I’m a coward when it comes to wet roads and we slowed down into Mansfield for lunch and then home via Yea and Whittlesea, 
Great weekend with many thanks to Dave Baker for organizing a fantastic Ride.

Phillip McArdle