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 Sunday 24th July 2011 Broadford and Yea
Yes, it was cold and yes, it was wet. That’s why there were only six diehard riders at the start. Well, not to worry, we’re all tough old buggers aren’t we and when all’s said and done it is the middle of winter isn’t it?
So off we went heading up the Yan Yean road on our first leg to our morning tea break at Broadford………and it just got wetter and colder!
As we were dismounting outside our venue, the Clifton’s on High Café, Bill Garner appeared on his silver BM. He had ridden down from ……. wait for it…… his home in Corowa NSW, just a mere 228 klms. And we thought we were mad!
The staff had a table put aside for us for up to fifteen but of course the weather put paid to those numbers and with the two club members in the back up trailer and Bill arriving we were a table of nine. Not bad for a winter cold and wet Sunday morning.
We had a welcome thaw out while downing hot coffee and tea, a pleasant natter and bided our time a little longer than normal.
On the way up to Broadford I had taken note that all the hills north and east of us were shrouded in fog. And that’s where we were headed for the second leg. However I decided that we would now take an alternative route. Instead of riding to Seymour and then up the mountain to Highlands (normally a picturesque run in good weather, but nothing to see in fog) we diverted over to Tallarook and followed the Goulburn River road to Trawool. All fog free.
This is quite an enjoyable motorcycle road with plenty of nice sweeping bends, the winding river on our left and mountains to our right. The weather by now had brightened up a little with the rain easing to some intermittent light showers.
We then turned on to the equally pleasant Goulburn Valley Highway, still following the river, this time with some sharp cliffs towering over us on our right almost up to Kerrisdale. Then an 18klm run through open country to our lunch stop at Yea.
None of us needed to fuel up our bikes so we settled into the smaller Yea bakery (not the large and usually over crowded Gaffney’s). At this one we always get faster service and better value.
After a relaxing lunch we farewelled Bill. I reckon by the time he got home he would have clocked up close to 560klms. Not bad for a Sunday run and well over double the kays we would have ridden. OK Bill wasn’t on a classic but could this be a record for a Sunday run? Good on you marathon man.
Our last leg was down the Melba Highway and very light traffic. Our break up point was just North of Yarra Glen. Four of us headed west through Christmas Hills and on to the Northern suburbs. The others including the back-up trailer continued on through Yarra Glen and Lilydale for the eastern suburbs.
Thanks Peter and Ray for doing back-up and everyone for turning up to what in the end turned out to be a pretty good ride despite the earlier gloomy weather. My total kays 222.
Reg Hammond
Participants List
Reg Hammond (Lead Rider) BMW R75/5 1972
Colin Borthwick BMW R75/5 1971
Graham Boulter BMW R90/6 1975
Jack Youdan BMW R1150 GS 2001
Richard Haughton Moto Guzzi Nevada 2003
Bill Garner BMW RT1150 2002
Ian Roddick Yamaha FJR 2007
Peter Cullen and Ray Isles Back –up trailer |
