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 It’s interesting how the prospect of being stranded at the side of the road through lack of petrol will moderate your throttle hand when riding. I rode to the start point on the Westernport Highway on reserve at a sedate 80 kmh – but it has advantages such as reduced wind noise, no risk of speeding fines and a generally very relaxed, gaze around sort of experience.
But back to the report – after coffee and conversation at the servo, Ed told us were headed not for the Mornington Peninsula as I expected, but Philip Island. Using back roads he lead us to Koo-Wee-Rup, then a length of the South Gippsland Highway to Nyora, after which we entered the network of local roads inland from the Bass Highway and Westernport.
These were made for motorcycling; well no, probably made for local farm traffic, but we were enjoying the benefits of country landscape, a variety of corners and very few other road users. Through Almurta, Glen Forbes and Woolamai we rode up and down undulating green hills often catching glimpses to the right of distant Westernport Bay. The weather held good with sunny periods increasing, and as we cranked our various machines around the bends and through avenues of large eucalypts I thought on what a joy it was to be away from work and the computer screen and out on the ride. The paddocks were green and damp and I spotted a group of Sacred Ibis probing the soft ground for food.
Soon we were approaching San Remo on the island and our morning break (thebike’s caffiene deficit warning light had been flashing for some time), but first Ed took us to a back street high point from which we had a good view to the north and French Island. After refuelling ourselves in the cafe it was then a short ride to our first feature stop –Miller Cycle & Motor Works, previously known as Omega Specialised Engineering, where we were welcomed by Rob and Jerri-Lee. Their beautifully clean workshop was full of engineering machinery and we were shown some interesting restoration projects. Rob told us that in the past he had worked for Repco including working on Jack Brabham’s car, and had raced a 250 cc Aprila. Crankshaft rebuilding and cylinder boring are among the services his business offers.
Our next visit, also on Philip Island, was the National Vietnam Veterans Museum. After a good lunch in the cafe, Ken Anderson a volunteer guide took us on a tour. The museum is a non government organisation and run by volunteers. It contains about 25,000 items of memorabilia, photographs and artefacts. There is a good audio visual show and some large pieces of military hardware including a tank and helicopter. It’s an involving place on a number of levels and worth a visit.
Ed then led us homeward with a detour to Coronet Bay and Corinella where we paused to take in the view across the water to French Island. The sunny periods continued and with a cool cross-wind we resumed our ride towards Melbourne on the bumpy Bass Highway. Near Cranbourne in traffic I stalled the bike and, call it fatigue or old age, but I pressed the starter button and the bike made loud honking noises. Wrong button! I tried the opposite button, the engine restarted and I rode on in some embarrassment.
Thanks again Ed for a great day out and the interesting visits, and thanks Bill for riding tail end.
Participants
Ian Mair, Yamaha XJ 550, 1980
Adrian Nash, Kawasaki 250, 1981
Bill Weeden, Honda ST 1300, 2003
Ed Sleightholm, Triumph Bonneville T100, 2005
Jack Youdan, Yamaha FZ1, 2006
Philip McArdle, Honda Deauville, 2007
Ian Roddick, Yamaha FJR 1300, 2007
John Best, Suzuki Bandit, 2008.
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