AUSTRALIA DAY WEEKEND RIDE REPORT

23^rd – 26^th JANUARY 2010

RIDE LEADER: Alan Hipworth

DESTINATION: Tallangatta 

SATURDAY 23^rd we set off at around 8.15am with 14 bikes & 4 pillions. It was great to have Mina & Mark Zaidman join us on the ride up even though they had to  ride back on the Sunday & stay at the Tallangatta Motel.

Our first stop was at the Beechworth Bakery in Healesville for morning tea. We then set off for Mansfield by the “Black Spur” for lunch. After filling up on food & gas we headed for Myrtleford via the King Valley (what a beautiful ride).

From Myrtleford we headed for Tallangatta (another nice ride), arriving at the Victoria Hotel around 5.00pm. The 2 way radios carried by Alan, Peter & Ron were a  great help.

As we had the hotel booked out, only 8 rooms, we had the run of the house. Our host Jamaal really looked after us for our stay.

Some cool drinks were in order before a nice meal in the pub & a good nights sleep.

SUNDAY 24^th A fine warm morning greeted us, most paid the $5 for the cooked breakfast in lieu of the complimentary continental.

Most of us then went for a ride called “The Murray River Road” the total distance was around 260km. The ride covered a variety of conditions on a very good surface & for a good part followed the Murray. We rode through Old Tallangatta – Bullioh – Granya –Thologolong – Mt Alfred stopping by the Murray for a photo session & then morning tea in Walwa then on through Tintaldra to Corryong for lunch (some of the group just did the ride from Tallangatta to Corryong & back).

As it was pretty hot when we got back to Tallangatta most took advantage of the local pool near the hotel ($1.50 entry) to cool off.

MONDAY 25^th Another fine day, but unfortunately we had to say good bye to Geraldine, Ron & Alan. Not to be discouraged the rest of us took off on a very scenic ride to Dartmouth & Mitta Mitta. The ride was about 175km. We arrived back for lunch & then back to the pool for a game of aqua volley ball – Peter B was the very biased ref & even ended up playing on the opposition team. Another great night back at the hotel.

TUESDAY 26^th An early start with a 7.30 breakfast. Pres Tinny lead us in a rousing rendition of Advance Australia Fair – you should have seen some of the Australia Day hats.

Sadly we left Tallangatta for home around 8.30 am. Our return Journey took us through Wodonga – Benalla – Bonnie Doon & on to Yea for lunch. We then headed to Healesville (afternoon tea) Cockatoo – Pakenham & finished at the BP Thompson’s road for an ice cream provided by the Pres.

In all we travelled around 1,370 km. The weekend can be summed up as – great , riding, company & fun – sorry if you missed out.

Thanks to Alan Hipworth for leading such a good ride. 

Chris Dyball  

 

                                                                                                             Australia Day Weekend 

Eighteen ‘bods’ left Baxter for what should have been a sensible, dry weekend------ Wrong. After meandering up through the hills to Healesville for our first ‘wee’ break the group pressed on for Mansfield for lunch. As we went pass the Benalla turn off some of us noticed a plain unmarked police car anyway as we continued on those of us that have radios just happened to wonder if the police could hear us, well we soon found out because a reply came back quite smartly ‘Yes we can! So be careful.

As we went further north it got warmer and warmer bordering on ‘bloody’ hot must have ‘cos’ we were getting closer to the sun. The best thing to do when you are a bit hot is to keep your fluids up,--so we did again and again and again. Sunday arrived and there were different groups travelling to all points of the compass but very soon arriving back at the hotel for a swim and another drink. During the course of the evening Peter discovered the juke-box so apart from not being able to find  ‘Puff the Magic Dragon’ him and Wolfy were like pigs in muck.

Monday came around all to quickly and three us left for home you guessed it ‘the long way round’. Over Mt Hotham was a great way to go until two us found out that Geraldine does not like heights especially when she is a pillion and is not in control of the speed so Ron being the dutiful husband he is he backed off which allowed me to get used to the S.T through the mountain [great fun]. Mountain riding is now off Geraldine’s Bucket List. Lunch at Bairnsdale and finally arriving home after another brilliant weekend.

Thanks to Alan Hipworth and Chris Dyball for organizing the time away with great people I am not going to carry on about how we get the same people turn up just to say those that don’t go it’s your loss.