With Phil away I led the clubs biggest regular ride again. With the indemnity forms and ride lists signed and Roger from the DSE gave a small talk to the group about the DSE and noise tested any bike put ion front of him.
Roger reminded the guys that this was purely voluntary and that no names or numbers would be taken. I reminded the guys that it would be better to find out that the new race pipe you just spent $900 on is illegal today than at the start of the HCR, Nolan, Kenda Blue light or other such event.
The group had endured yet another explanation of the cornerman system and some of Rob's terrible attempts at humour
and we were about to mount our trusty steeds when Leo turned up with some sob story about driving in from Warragul for the ride. And being out of fuel.
We made arrangements to meet Leo at the Black Spur petrol station one hour later and headed off.
A quick trip up the hill and then back down again then around the back of Narbethong to the Acheron Way via the main gravel road saw us wash most of the adrenaline out of our systems. Before heading around the back of the pub I took the time to warn the guys that the clay here can be very slippery.
When we popped out onto the Black spur just above the servo (where Leo was waiting) it became apparrent that the slippery clay had caugh one bloke and left him with a busted gear lever. Another rider came to the rescue offering his spare from his car.
I sent these fellas down the road back to the cars then told them to head up the Buxton road to Gypsy Lane/Project Road corssover. After a loop in the east of toolangi forrest we met up with the fellas waiting for us at Gypsy lane before heading around the triangle then into Marysville for lunch.
In a scene reminiscent of a Toyota ad one of the guys managed to disturb a wasp nest on the way around a log that a log of people had wheelied over. Unfortunately the 30 guys that followed him were attacked en masse by the swarming devils.
After lunch (and a lot of Stingose for some) half of the group wussed out I noticed that the remaining riders were all very capable. Accordingly I raised the bar a bit and threw out some real challenges. To my delight the guys all responded well and we were having a ball until I managed to run out of cornermen up near the honeypot. After 20 minutes waiting I realised it was time to head back and see what was up.
Sure enough the conerman system had worked a treat and every rider was on a corner all the way back to a fella on (actually beside) and XR whose steed had given up the ghost.
Fortunately he had an 800m downhill push to the road so we sent him on his way while Nyal came with us back to the carse before picking him up on the roadside.
All in all, an eventfull day that importnantly was able to flow and be fun for all. I managed to get some photos in the arvo just before we met up with some horses.
