Monday February 06, 2012

Yea Ride Report – Sunday 26^th July

A mild morning greeted nine members as we assembled at Baxter for our obligatory coffee before Ride Leader Ron, led us off through Pearcedale, Five Ways,  Cardinia, Upper Pakenham, and Cockatoo onto Woori Yallock for our morning coffee break.

The sun was out; the temperature rising, the roads dry – perfect conditions for a great ride.  Back on the road and off we went through Healesville, Toolangi, and  Glenburn onto Yea for lunch at the pub.

Ron led us on a terrific riders loop through Break O’Day, on through Glenburn and Toolangi.  Good dry roads bright sunshine, no wind excellent riding conditions….

That is until you meet an oncoming car on your side of the road.  That’s what confronted (Pres) Tiny and (Sec) Mark, both of whom unfortunately came down in their frantic efforts to miss the errant Ute.  Tailend Charlie, Mick Ferran, could only look on as he too worked frantically to avoid the unfolding carnage.  Mick’s efforts in rendering immediate assistance, arranging ambulance, police etc were outstanding.

Meanwhile, for the riders up front the “chain of pearls” came into play as the ride halted when the tailenders did not appear out of the windy, twisty road.  We back    tracked to find two “wounded” riders, two wounded bikes and prompt arrival of emergency services.

Tiny was soon off to the Northern Hospital for examination/observation, while Mark was left to lick his wounds and bruises.  Fortunately, both are OK, as are their bikes  will be after some repairs.

A big thank you to Mick Ferran, for his sterling efforts in the face of this double accident.  Thanks too, for the other riders for their assistance at the scene.

Peter B

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Ride Report 26^th July 2009

What had been a very pleasant day deteriorated rapidly after lunch when Tiny came off her scooter and was taken to hospital. It would appear, at the time of writing, with no major issues as she   was fully conscious with no obvious breaks or bleeding. One hopes that continues to be the case after a thorough hospital check-over.

We, Ron Olsson (Ride leader), Peter Baulch, Alan Lindley, Tiny, Mark Bedford, Rex, George & Mick Ferran (Tail-ender), had started from Baxter in good weather albeit a little on the cold side. We headed up through Cockatoo and Healesville towards Yea for lunch it was a very inauspicious run through the sunshine, stopping en route for coffee and a little light banter. Lunch was at the Pub in Yea and was again enjoyable and everybody filled up both themselves and their bike tanks for the run home. On the way back from Yea after twisties and coming into Chum’s Creek village Ron pulled over as the ride had been reduced to a total of three! The under-written elected to go back and passed Rex and Alan who had both separately pulled over as they too had lost their followers. After some distance, in fact all the way back to the beginning of the twisties, I came across an ambulance with the medico’s attending to Tiny who was stretched out on the side of the road. Her bike had taken a knock or two as had Mark’s. It transpired that as Tiny approached the first of the bends a utility came from the opposite direction hogging the centre line, Tiny in an  effort to avoid a collision braked hard, locking the wheels of the scooter, whereupon Mark who was following struck her scooter, with the result that both ended up on the road. Mark managed some severe bruising and wrecked gear and Tiny, we hope, will get off equally as fortunately. That’s not suggesting Mark’s condition should be treated lightly. The ‘tail-ender’ with great presence   of mind avoided the tangle and pulled up unscathed. Peter B organized the emergency services and called Bill Barton who was going to head out with his trailer to collect the two damaged machines. Peter & Alan were going to wait for this to be done (there was a Pub within walking distance – Oh such hardship) whilst the rest of the small party headed home. Not the best of outcomes to an otherwise well organized ride but again it demonstrates the effectiveness of the ‘string of pearls’ – and ‘always have an accident near a Pub’!

 Nick S