Ten of us met at the BP servo in Deer Park to somewhat cool and blustery conditions and after a briefing by Ed we were off right on the button at 9am.
The first leg of the run was Melton east then up to Gisborne, over to Bullengarook and back down to Bacchus Marsh via Parwan for morning tea. We then headed out to Rowsley diverting out along the Yaloak Vale valley (great motorcycling along here) before ascending one of the steepest and winding hills you’ll ever come across. We’ve traveled this hill a few times now and great care has to be taken every time. I would be very nervous riding down here in the wet. Ray was telling me he has ridden it a few times before it was sealed….strewth!  Great views from the top though.

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From the Yaloak hill it was very much a zig zag route riding on minor sealed roads with bumpy surfaces allowing us to fully evaluate our suspensions, rear ends, shoulders, backs and oh yes, our bikes too!
 In this region south east of Ballarat, we rode through Mnt Wallace, Rosebank, Bungal, Morrisons, Elaine, Cargerie, Mnt Mercer, Woodbourne and stopping at Meredith for our lunch and for some, a welcome break from playing suspension testers.
The food at the general store/café was excellent and at the best prices I’ve seen anywhere with fast friendly service so if your looking for a feed in Meredith, that’s the place.
Our last leg out of Meredith was across to Durdidwarrah with a brief photo shoot at the seriously depleted Upper Stony Creek Reservoir. Then down to Anakie Junction, along the Brisbane Ranges north of the You Yangs and finally to Werribee where most of us split up for the ride home. Weather was somewhat cool and mostly overcast, a bit blowy here and there but no rain.
 Again quite an enjoyable and invigorating ride over many interesting and fairly remote minor roads, well done Ed.
My total kays from home and return 345.

Reg Hammond

Participants

1) JOHN BEST      SUZUKI BANDIT 1250S   2008
2) ED SLEIGHTHOLM   TRIUMPH BONNEVILLE T100 2005
3) PHIL McARDLE    HONDA DEUVILLE NT 700V   2007
4) BILL WEEDON     HONDA ST1300   2003
5) ADRIAN NASH    KAWASAKI 250C 1981
6) BURGER DRAKE HONDA ST1100   1999
7) RAY ISLES   BMW R80   1995
8) IAN RODDICK YAMAHA FJR 1300   2007
9) DEREK PICKARD BMW R80 ST  1983
10) REG HAMMOND HONDA TRANSALP XL650V 2006