Ride for the Hills

Ride Report - Sunday 5th April - RIDE FOR THE HILLS.

This ride had all the ingredients...... a good cause (Bush Fire Relief), excellent promotion, open to ALL motorcyclist and bike club members, and for Two Bays, we had new Ride Coordinator - Chris Dyball - to lead us. All that needed to be added was us...!!!

About 30 riders and pillions left Baxter promptly at 9-00am led by Chris, with Pres Tiny riding Tailend Charlie, to ride to main departure point at St Kilda. We travelled in light drizzling rain via Frankston Freeway to Springvale Rd, Edithvale Rd, Nepean Hwy and Beach Rd, with corner markers working well, and we all arrived in a group. After refreshments, Bacon and Egg Rolls or Sausage, Egg and Onions, along with coffee, etc, we were all fuelled for the main ride which departed at 11-15 with excellent police escort and controlled intersection assistance from Ride Marshalls and Vic Police. Organisers estimates, based on registrations, that approx 5,500 participants were on these grand Ride for the Hills. Our ride took us via The Esplanade, Albert Rd, Kingsway, Westgate Freeway, Bolte Bridge, Tulla Freeway, Western Ring Rd and the new Hume Freeway to Donnybrook where we left the freeway for Whittlesea Rd and our ultimate destination at Whittlesea Park. The scenes along the way as the enormous "snake" of bikes stretched for many kilometres, were simply amazing. All along the way on the roadsides were many well wishers just there to see a huge "fundraising" bike ride underway. Fortunately the weather threatened, but remained dry for the main ride.

On arrival in Whittlesea we were greeted with numerous food, drink and ice-cream stands, along with music and a brief speech or two. Everyone enjoyed the lunch break and the opportunity to mix with riders of all age groups and an assortment of bike clubs, not to mention a huge assortment of bikes of all brands, shapes, sizes and ages.

After lunch, our Two Bays group reassembled with Chris Dyball again leading us.... this time up the mountain to the fire devastated communities of Kinglake West, Kinglake and Toolangi. The destruction from fires of Black Saturday just has to be seen to be believed. It is just shattering, heartbreaking, beyond belief. And possibly the saddest and most frightening aspect of it all is the sickening random nature of when and where the fire strikes. Whilst lots of homes, sheds, etc have been lost, many have not, and remain undamaged by the random carnage of the fires. A house lost here, then a few standing, then another string of homes gone. No rhyme or reason, just the wildly random nature of wildfires on the rampage. It was obvious, despite the fact that the weather had turned nasty and we were now riding in rain, that we were all moved by the sheer magnitude of the devastation throughout the area. On through Yarra Glen, (where a few took the shortcut home), then on to Healesville, Yellingbo, Cockatoo, Upper Beaconsfield and Berwick for warming coffee at Macca's before final farewells and then on home....about 5-30 for most.

A great ride for a truly worthwhile cause, well led by Chris, and enjoyed by all despite our first taste of Winter riding for this year.

Monday February 06, 2012