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 The Rally really started on Friday night at the newly renovated Sportsman’s Club in Maffra with 46 people enjoying some socializing, with the main topic being the rain outside and how green the countryside was looking Also discussed was the way that the GPS Navigation equipment told drivers that they were on the wrong road when traveling on the newly opened Berwick By Pass road.
Things like “Wrong Way“, “Turn Left across paddocks“.
Fancy trusting an electronic device to get you to Maffra.!!!!!
See photos at Gallery/2008/Gippsland Rally 2008
On Sat the 5th Gippsland Classic Rally riding part was started at The Maffra Shed under dismal showery conditions.
All 61 riders were welcomed along & Marshall jackets handed out.
A short moment of silence was held for our late president & friend John Stock.
Polly was at home observing the silence at the same time and she hopes to make the Rally next year.
After the silence, the clouds cleared & the sun came out as if John was controlling the weather for us.
Some riders were heard to say that they would still put on their wet riding gear on, as they did not trust Stocky.
After the formal part of riders briefing, riders headed to the
highway at Stratford as the Avon River had flooded the proposed route
over the Low-level Bridge further upstream.
In showery conditions and a brief regroup near Fernbank before riding up the mountain section to Dargo.
Some heavy showers dulled the visibility along some sections of the road, but other sections of the mountain were quite dry.
Riders were still enjoying the ever twisting road with many uphill & downhill sections.
Arriving in Dargo, Terry had lunch set out at the cricket ground, with more showers during Lunch.
Dargo was fully booked out with a large wedding on, it was supposed
to be down by the river on the nice green grass that was now Mud.
A brief look at the Dargo Museum & a talk by local identity Brian Madigan on the history of Dargo.
Some enjoyed this; others wanted to get back to their Motel & out of the rain.
So a smooth ride down the mountain with again some dry & some
very wet sections, to the Briagolong Quarries for some of Jan’s home
made Anzacs & slices for afternoon tea.
Some riders were that enthusiastic that they got in front of the
marshal’s & headed off back up the dirt road to Dargo again,
retuning some time later.
Back to Maffra to dry out & dinner at the Maffra Sale
Motorcycle clubrooms where a good meal was enjoyed by over 80 people,
along with Ross Noble the Local Poet entertaining everyone with his
Bush Poetry.
The Rally Mementos were given out and all enjoyed much socializing.
Sunday.
The weather looking much brighter as riders assembled at 8.00 am to
start the ride to Rosedale & Gormandale School for a cooked
breakfast where the power went off 20 mins before we arrived, so gas
cooking & heating were then arranged very quickly.
The ladies there did a great job under the conditions that they had to work in.
With the sun out & the roads dry we headed off, up Power Hill
to Callignee & down to Devon which I again missed by one road but
was able to double back before many riders caught up.
Into the narrow windy roads leading to Tarra Falls for a quick look at the falls, with even some water flowing over it.
The road narrowed again, winding through lush tree ferns to the
Tarra National Park, where most did the walk through the park.
The next section saw riders come into a tee intersection with a
very large sign pointing to Bulga Park, but the gravel Rd to the left
attracted some riders as I had mentioned that there was a 20 metre
section of gravel into the Bulga Park Carpark.
So after several klms of gravel most turned around & went the right way to Bulga park car park.
But they were now behind the backup trailer who was shutting down the Corner Marshals duties.
This led to a bit more confusion for these riders.
The road up was all too much for a Vincent & it decided to have a flat tyre.
Several riders enjoyed the walk across the suspension bridge as
others ate the rest of Jan’s Anzac biscuits & slices over a cuppa
tea.
The ride over Mt Tassie in brilliant sunshine gave excellent views
across the Latrobe Valley & its Power stations, before meeting one
of the few traffic lights outside of any town area in Gippsland.
The ride over the Loy Yang Power Station conveyer systems that
delivers the coal into the power stations was an experience for many.
The ride into Rosedale for lunch & departure for most was without a problem.
So until next Feb 7 & 8th 2009 thanks to all that supported the Gippsland Classic. Rally.
Ian & Jan Kennedy.
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