Snake Valley Sunday 11^th May, 2008

Geoff Jones (leader)	Yamaha R1	Dennis Lindemann	Honda CBR600
Misho Zrakic/Pina Garasi (rear1)	Yamaha R6	Ben Warden	Honda CBR954
Craig Morley	Yamaha WR400 Motard	Renzo Cunico	Ducati 916
David Tarquinio	Suzuki SV1000 (1^st ride)	Paul Southwell	Honda CBR1000
Randal Leacock (rear 2)	Kawasaki ZX9	Nic Jacka	Honda CBR600

Ooohhh… the air was soooo fresh the Sunday morning we left Whittlesea for the ride to Snake Valley. Everyone, except me (and Misho), seemed to know that they needed to have extra thermal layering as our Ballaratish destination would be much colder than Melbourne. I felt that my brain and body were seizing up from the cold and was extremely grateful that I was pillioning with Misho (one bike available between two desperados), as the chill factor was greatly diminished by hanging on tight to another human being who spent most of the time causing me almost to fall off the bike with laughter from his entertaining antics.

You see, Misho had kindly volunteered as rear-rider but the attendance of a first-time club rider, who exercised a conservative riding pace, forced Misho into a very restrained riding pace and consequently tipped him into psycho-hysteria mode as a coping mechanism. Hence many spontaneous wheelies were to be had along the way and the rest of the time was spent imitating various riding styles, such as those of the Moto GP racers, except in slow-motion, and BMW touring riding style, except in fast motion. I’m sure I could hear Misho expressing many colourful adjectives describing his ultimate joy of the ride – NOT!

On the way to our morning break at Lancefield, we rode through Pyalong which presents itself with most captivating scenery and being a pillion meant I could spend a lot of time visually absorbing this strange landscape and letting my mind wander as to the intriguing possibilities of its existence. These hills which are decorated with seemingly ancient, huge sculptured boulders and rocks, resemble a deconstructed Stonehenge site which has been subsequently re-assembled in a random fashion to reflect a more creative and artistic expression of some mighty force … so eerie and yet so fascinating.

Today’s ride was lead by the good-natured Geoff Jones. Having been on a few rides led by him, he has now earned the title with me of “King of the Bumpy Roads” … every time we ride through his favourite roads in the western wilderness, I experience a sensation of having a vertical brain centrifuge.

Despite the bumpy bits, today’s roads were wonderfully isolated and varied and provided us with the required “fix”… well, maybe not quite enough for Misho - his ‘demons’ were not exercised until he was relieved of rear-riding duties (thanks to Randal, and to Ben for suggesting it) for the ride back home from Meredith... made life a little more exciting when we were able to enjoy the remaining great winding roads at speed-Misho.

Thanks Geoff for leading the ride so well.

Pina Garasi

Here is what Ben put on the web about the ride:

Didn't know there were good roads out west? Check this lot out! Whittlesea, Flowerdale, Strath Creek, Broadford, Pyalong and Lancefield for morning tea after 110 km of excellent roads. On to Kyneton, Spring Hill, Daylesford, Creswick and Ballarat for lunch. Continue west to Smythesdale, Snake Valley, Linton, Cape Clear, Dereel, Meredith, Rokewood Junction (2 km of good dirt), Durdidwarrah, Anakie and Werribee to finish. Expect around 380 km for the day. Different roads, different places. Be there.

10 bikes, 11 people, 430 km, 16 deg cold, no rain Randal blew an oil gallery stopper plug (10 mm, near base gasket) at Werribee, 3 minutes before finish, oil everywhere. Bike parked and retrieved later. Probably not tightened after the engine rebuild.