Woke up to load bike and gear in the pouring rain, thinking this should be a great day for a ride? The weather report on the radio on the way to pick up Pete, says “that we are to expect rain, hail and snow in the high country“. So heading for the base of Mt Baw Baw was looking like an extreme case of madness.
Pick up Pete and head for the bakery and Fumina, main topic of discussion the weather. Half way between Powelltown and Noojee we see Karl on the side of the road consulting his map. We pull up beside him and asked “if he would like to follow us“. He says “yes, if you know where we are going?” I said, “I hope so as I’m leading the ride?”
With Karl in toe we headed through Noojee where we saw Uncle Phil’s car, but no Phil. “Getting a coffee” we say and head for Fumina. We arrive and are shortly met by everyone but Phil. Everyone geared up and ready, but no Phil. Gets to 9:15 no Phil, “bad weather” guess his pulled the pin, so we get started.
The AMTRA speech and advice about the first track to be tackled and we are under way. We take off down Willow Grove road and I leave my first corner man and head into the bush. Slipping along the first goatee thinking to myself owe this could turn a bit ugly?
? I get to the end of the track and await for a corner man, and await for a corner man. Turn off bike and listen for a corner man, and wait and wait. Think well best see what’s so interesting that’s keeping them from wanting to ride.
Reach the start of the track to find the troops admiring DK’s handy work. After a bit of a discussion about how we are going to retrieve DK’s bike from a mine shaft. YES A MINE SHAFT!!!!! Mark heads back to the cars to get some tie downs so we can retrieve Dk’s bike. What seems a risky and challenging job, actually turned out to be a piece of cake. Troops given a choice to tackle the goatee or meet up the road? Myself, Pete and Matt headed up the Goatee and the rest met us up the road. Thanks to DK for taking charge for the troops getting to the meeting point.
Regroup and we are off and down to the first river crossing. Everyone across the Tanjil West river, with only a couple of close calls. Its then up the Staircase and into a couple of cool little goaties.
We head down Costins Link and across the Tanjil East river and head for the next Goatee. This goatee is very technical with some log hopping at a few interesting positions. I find myself stopping on the other side of a few of these, to check everyone is getting through. Until Mark tells me the fella’s are doing great and I’m putting on a good ride at a good pace. Few rumors are starting about time for a break and food. I tell them we will stop at the end of the track. A tricky little hill with a very awkward log hop at the end catches a few people out. But gave the rest of us a chuckle. We had a short rest and some food, with smiles all round. We then mounted up and headed out on to Firebreak track and a run down to Tanjil Bren road, an open gravel road to rest the body.
Then it’s back into the goaties to get everyone back on their toes. We travel through a few tracks until a fallen tree stops proceedings. But to my surprise no one complains and we all pitch in and slide it out of the way, the consensus is that the effort is worth it for the quality of these tracks. Some more very technical and very twisty stuff and it’s time for lunch and a yarn about the day’s proceedings.
Back on the bikes it a short trip before the first nasty hill climb and a short prop from me, and we are all up. A quick chat about the very tricky downhill about to be faced and the trick to finding the easier goatee on the right. (which still isn’t that easy!) Down I head and watch the fella’s come down, with no probs for anyone.
We then have a quick break and head down to cross the Tanjil East River again. Pete has a small stumble but all is good and with a look of relief on his face, we continue.
It’s then the boring, but necessary run up Rowley Ridge road before heading back into two of the short goaties from the morning. Watching the time for a couple with cur fuse to be home we chat about what’s left and how long? A chat about how good the tracks are, or how much trouble they will be home in if late? The only logical decision is made. Ride now, flowers on the way home.
Then it’s back down the Staircase and across the Tanjil West River again and along the river flats and up and over the mountain one more time. Popping out on Costins road, where we head for the last goatee for the day. This goatee call Goat track (should be called Grouse track) through to Allawara track and back down to Costins road.
Its then into a cool woop filled Kenny Spur for the run home. After the crossing of the Tanjil West for the last time I stopped for my usual, “if you’re sick of been stuck behind me, here’s your chance to cut loose” speech. With that a couple of blokes took off (I must be slow?) and we headed home. I reached the end of Kenny Spur and lead the way down Duggan road to the cars.
Back to the cars for about 3:15, a chat and some talk about upcoming rides and we all headed home.
Thanks to the blokes for the day, and all seem to have a good time and good words to say. Thanks Al.
Ride List….
Al Mason WR 250 (ride leader)
Andrew Petrie WR 250 (arvo tail man)
Doug Dennis KLX 400
Karl Veidis KTM 525 (morning tail man)
Denis Kelly WR 450 (mining consultant)
Mark Salter KTM 300
Peter Levell WR 450
Matt Randle CRF 450
