18^th Colac Weekend Ride - 1^st & 2^nd May 2010
The weather was cool and fine for the start of our Saturday ride.
After greeting everyone and a rundown of today’s ride, we headed out of Colac to the south over Simons Hill, through Irrewillipe and on to Simpson for a short rest stop. After a few more kms we arrived at Apostle Whey Cheese for morning tea. Everyone enjoyed tasting the different varieties of cheeses with their cuppas. Refreshed, we rode onwards to the Great Ocean Road at Princetown. We soon arrived at Lavers Hill for a rest / petrol stop. Our next stop was the Otway NouriShed, located at Ferguson, for a light lunch. This country store was once a potato shed, and we ate our lunch in front of the wood fire, surrounded by historical displays of the local area.

After lunch we rode to Beech Forest and continued through Turtons Track. Even travelling at 20kph, it was not easy to look at the lovely tree fern scenery because I had to concentrate on the twisty road, and stay on line in the wheel marks to avoid a light sprinkling of gravel on the bitumen. Our club secretary, Elaine, was on her first outing on her Honda, and got through without any dramas. Well done!

With another short rest stop at Forrest, it was back to Colac and scones and jam at my place. Thanks to my mum Betty for cooking the scones.

Dinner tonight was at the Colac Central Hotel and was a nice end to a great day.

Sunday was once again a fine day. Just before we were due to leave, a journalist from the local Colac Herald wanted a photo for the paper. Shots of Ross, Maurice and Stan were taken, with Stan ending up in print in Monday’s issue. With the start now a little late, we rode out of town to the west. We headed to Cororooke, to the edge of Lake Corangamite, across to Ondit, and eastwards to Birregurra for a rest stop.

Morning tea was at Blakes Winery, near Deans Marsh, with hosts Roger and Rosie Blake. Chris’s Anzac biscuits and Leonie’s muffins tasted great.

After a talk by Roger on the production of their Pinot Noir wines, our now much depleted group headed back to Colac. After lunch at the Austral Hotel, we said our goodbyes to everyone.

Thank you, to my son Daniel and his girlfriend Leah, for driving the back up trailer, to Keith for tail end Charlie duties, those members who corner marshalled, and every one who attended to make it another enjoyable Colac Weekend of classic motorcycling.

Malcolm Wilson

Participants

Stan Rhook                                        1938  Triumph T80

N. Blandy                                            1951  AJS 500

J. Ronald                                            1954  AJS Mod.20

Ross Patrick                                       1956  Norton 500

Graeme Wright                                   1956  Triumph T110

Ed Sleighthom                                    1957  Ariel VH 500

Reg Hammond                                   1957  BSA  Gold Flash

Malcolm Wilson                                  1963  BMW  R60/2

Ray Harrison                                       1969  Norton Commando

Burger Drake                                       1970  Triumph  650

Stan Rogers                                        1972  Triumph  TR6

Colin & Julie Sullivan                          1972  Norton Commando

Elaine Watson                                     1975  Honda Hawke

Bill Garner                                            1976  BMW  R75/6

Tom Myers                                           1981  BMW  R100CS

Chris Wilson                                         1982  BMW R65LS

Michael Simpson                                 1983  Ducati  900

Noel Wills                                             1983  BMW  R100

Alan & Val Smith                                  1984  BMW  R65LS

Harold George                                     1985  BMW  K75C

Adrian Robinson                                  1987  BMW

Keith & Belle Emmett                           1997  Yamaha Virago

Ed & Sandra Lauder                             2000  Honda  Hornet

Bruce Armfield                                      2001  Kawasaki

Rob King                                               2007 Honda  Hornet

Phil McArdle                                         2007  Honda  Deuville

Graham Boulter                                    2008  Triumph  Bonnieville

Maurice Turner                                     2010  Spyder  1000

Bob Lee                                                 1970  MG

Daniel Wilson & Leah Ryan                 1989 Holden VN  Back up trailer