See photos at Gallery, 2007, Main Runs, Switzerland Ranges

The weather was cool & overcast when I left home at 7.15am,but no rain was predicted. From Belgrave to Reg’s place at Yarrambat would be about an hour’s run, I thought, and I had to make a slight detour to pick Gary up at Mooroolbark. Gary was waiting for me with his Suzuki GT750 “Waterbottle” already fired up. This was the first time I had seen this recent acquisition and it was in great condition. Off we went thru Warrandyte, Research and Greensborough arriving at Reg’s in plenty of time to have a coffee & cake & chat. By 9am start time a total of 12 riders headed off.

This time we went via St Andrews and proceeded up the winding road to Kinglake and as luck (bad luck) would have it got stuck behind a ute all the way up to KinglakeFrom here Reg lead us to Kinglake West, deviating along Deviation Rd (really). Back on the main road we passed Adrian and the backup trailer on the side of the road (a bit strange I thought), before stopping opposite the Old Corner Garage at Kinglake West for a pit stop. Somebody noticed that our illustrious Ride co-ordinator, Ross, was missing, so Reg headed back to find him.

 
Back together again we passed a group of Indians (the bike type) between Flowerdale and Strath Creek, then on to the Goulburn Valley Hwy, and then to the Switzerland Ranges. We stopped at mini “Stonehenge” (actually a monument built in memory of the early pioneers to settle in the area) for a stretch of legs & a photo opportunity. The countryside was of rolling hills and some wooded areas, the road was almost deserted and the sun was now out – perfect. On a fairly steep & windy section of road (somewhere around Ruffy) there was some fine gravel across the road and I felt the back end slip a couple of times. (Ray Harrison later told me that he stopped to check his back tyre thinking it might be under inflated before he realised what was happening.) From Ruffy down to Yarck there were some nice sweeping bends & more of that magnificent countryside.

 
By now there were clear blue skies and it was starting to get fairly warm We stopped for lunch at Yark (at the bakery of course) and I had a lamb and vegie pie – it really hit the spot. The flies must think it a good place to stop as well – they were very friendly

 
Back on the road again to Yea for a fuel stop and a final regroup before heading home along the Melba Hwy. The majority of the group turned off at Glenburn to go back to Reg’s via Flowerdale & Whittlesea, but Ross, Ray and myself continued along the Melba Hwy. Ross peeled off at Yarra Glen, Ray at Lilydale airport, while I continued on thru Lilydale, Mt Evelyn, Monbulk and finally home at 4pm

 
My total distance travelled from home and back was 348 kms.

 
Thanks to Reg for organising and leading this great ride – this is the 3^rd time I have been on this ride in the past few years and I always enjoy it.

Thanks also to Adrian for his backup trailer duties, but I’m pleased to say that it wasn’t required.

Graham Boulter

 
Participants:

Tom Myers                  1973 BMW R90S

Gary Moore                 1973 SUZUKI GT750

Warren Blandy             1974 Triumph

Philip McArdle             1975 BMWR90S

Peter Kinleyside           1977 Triumph Bonneville

Richard Haughton         1982 Honda FT500

Reg Hammond              1982 Honda CX500

Kay De Clemente          1986 Honda Rebel

Ross Patrick                 2002 Kawasaki 1200S

Ray Harrison                2002 Honda ST1100

Graham Boulter            2006 Honda CB1300

John and Vicki Best      2007 Yamaha FZ6

Adrian Lynch                Back-up trailer