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Ride Report Marysville 14th of December 2008 by Brad McDiarmid.

There were 19 starters for the day in conditions which were prior reported by the media as the most rainfall for the year, an average of 40mm of rain since Friday noon to Sunday morning.
As it turned out it rained only once on the day about 11.30 for 15mins, after lunch it was superb on tacky tracks that just flowed.

We headed off at 9am into the Marysville triangle, the going was good as we were lead onto tracks that rode well in the conditions.
No mishaps, we got onto the narrow track with the bog hole and jump where a couple of us raced ahead to film the action, all the guys came through no issues at all, we had a good equal group!

We headed West and South into the Black Range/Toolangi SF alongside the Narbethong Pine Plantation where life became interesting and the riding a challenge. One particular road was so overgrown that it was hard to see 10m in front of you.
Things were going well on the tracks, including those big dippers of up and down red clay until it rained for fifteen minutes.
Traction went backwoods both up hill and down. On one particular uphill the water was running down the track and made it difficult for a few riders, we all helped out and got through. This was just as difficult on a particular down hill a little later where it was like riding on red ‘glass’ OMG!

As we headed to lunch, the hills were taking their toll on man and machine; both were wearing out at an increasing pace. After some extra recovery work we arrived back at the cars and nineteen became seven. We headed to Marysville for lunch and after a short stint as tail man Mat’s WR sprung a leak and headed back.
Lunch was superb at the cake shop, we had a bunch of birds join us for lunch.  After lunch five of us we headed off for some trails in the northern part of the triangle and Rob B headed back to join Mat as they were traveling together.

The afternoon trails were great, they were tacky, smooth and long with some more narrow stuff to keep you on your toes.

In all we covered 108Km and finished around 4pm. On the way home the sun came out, what a day, after all that rain!

Thanks to Paul and Leo for their Leading and Tail man duties and everyone else for the company, it was a great day out!

See the AMTRA web site under Gallery, Ride Pictures for all the pictures I took on the day.


Ride list:
   
Paul Smith      TE550      Ride Leader
Leo Giannini      CRF250X   Morning Tail man
Brad McDiarmid   WR250F   Afternoon Tail man
Justin Trist      DRZ400
Shane Ahchow   KTM360
Darren Loebert   CRF250
Scott Smithy      CRF250X
Jeremy Ward      KLX250
Brett Kneebone   KTM450
Alister Parlby      WR250F
Mat Richmond   WR426F
Rob Copsey      KLX400
Chris Dynes      KTM450
Karl Jones      CRF450
Craig Parker      DRZ400
Glenn McBlane   FE550
Phil Hutchinson   EC300
Kelvyn Bettridge   KTM200
Rob Bromich      YZ250F

An interesting day with some fun trails.  That slippery downhill took its toll on my radiator so that is off to get fixed.

Did anyone pick up a pair of red sleeves at the cake shop? Rob had them in his backpack but they seemed to have got left behind.

Thanks again for another top Marysville ride.

Mat R.

Mat,
The sleves ended up in the other Robs back pack, we picked them up.

Brad

Awesome day! Would loved to have kept going after lunch but had a Chrissy BBQ to get too. Would like to thank Paul and Leo for lead and tail man duties and thanks to Kelvyn for some great tips throughout the day, although my legs are killing me today after making me stand up all the time :P  Looking forward to the next one!

Shane.