Reefton Pub Lunch Sunday 4^th May, 2008

Ian Payne	Honda CBR1000	Dave Ward (leader)	Honda CBR600
Ken Goederee	Honda CBR1000	Bruce Fleming	Kawasaki GPz900RA
Rick Whitehead	Yamaha R1	Nic Jacka	Honda CBR600
Randal Leacock	Kawasaki ZX9	Dennis Lindemann	Honda CBR600
Darryn Webster	Triumph 675	Bron Manifold (rear)	Kawasaki Z750
Clint Vertigan	Suzuki GSXR750	Misho Zrakic/Pina Garasi	Yamaha R6
Ben Warden	Honda CBR954		13 bikes, 12 people

It was a brisk morning when I arrived at Yarra Glen but the blue sky offered the promise of a warmer day and rocking up and seeing numerous bikes ready to go, the promise of a good ride ahead.

After meeting and saying “Hello” to everyone we headed off via Healesville over the Black Spur to Marysville for morning tea. When arriving in Marysville there where bikes everywhere as there was a Honda shop ride there stopping for morning tea. It was quite a spectacle with lots of shiny Ducatis and various makes of bikes to ogle over. As I already felt that I was freezing to death (I couldn’t feel my legs) I couldn’t help but think we where all a bunch of idiots. But I took some comfort from the fact that I was not alone. It would seem that wearing the right gear to save your skin doesn’t do much for your thermal protection.

After a warm cuppa and a smoke it was off again towards the Reefton Spur with a detour to Lake Mountain for a quick stop and a photo. By the time we got there I know I was not alone in feeling the cold (it was bloody freezing) and I found it quite humorous that most of us wanted to hold Bronwyn’s heated handgrips before they cooled down. At this stage I put on my light weight wet weather gear over my leathers to break the wind before we headed of towards the Reefton Pub.

The roads were wet and I was so cold I had no connection with the bike, being ever more cautious as I went, for fear of binning it. I think I was holding up Bronwyn who was riding rear. To top it off, my wet weather gear was so slippery when I braked for the corners I slid forward and knackered myself on the tank and conversely nearly flew off the back when accelerating. I thought to myself that this was not fun!

I was quite amazed at the pace some of our riders took the corners in the wet and was almost expecting to find a crash scene around every corner.

Once we were on the Reefton Spur the road started to get drier and I found myself getting a little more enthused and picking up the pace. It was weird for me as the last time I rode over the Reefton Spur was some 28 years ago with my lunatic mates when I was 18. I couldn’t help thinking here I am doing the same stuff all over again.

I guess our kids grow up, relationships change, we get fatter, older, more responsible etc but we still crave excitement and there are few outlets in life that can even come close to blasting around on a street legal ballistic missile! (Well, maybe group sex, but I’m dreaming!)

While at the Reefton Pub for lunch I bumped into to my sister’s old boyfriend and introduced him to the Club. I think he will come along to a ride soon. I have been telling heaps of people about the Club and think it would be great to have some business cards with the web address etc that we can give out to people.

My lesson learned! (Be prepared and rug up like a bloody Eskimo cause once you start to shiver ya can’t ride for shit and it’s becomes a torturous exercise.)

Ken Goederee