MERTON 1000 - CUP WEEKEND

      MERTON 1000       2010
        THE BEEN TO HELL & BACK TOUR!!

   Only once a year does a ride such as the “Merton 1000” come around, and for good reason to. 1000ks in four days, with set points and targets for fuel, food and accomadation come rain, hail, obsticles, snow, brakedowns, etc.
   After a few hectic weeks of getting bikes and riders ready for this adventuer (tourcher test), the Friday night before arrives. And at 6:30 Dave and Row Smith stop at my place to pick me and my stuff up. The trailer was already quite full with Row’s virgin DR650 taking up prime (and most) place on trailer. Flanked by Dave’s new Berg and my well used WR, we started on the task of craming gear bags, swags and travel bags in Dave’s ute. Yet whilst this was going on, Row’s phone was full of action. It seems Amtra’s own David Knight (Denis Kelly) had run into a few trailer dramas on his way to Al Whites place at Merton?
   The report that one of the trailer wheels had parted company with trailer and some assistance would be required to secuire the recovered wheel. A quick rumage through the shed to locate some wheel nuts of different breeds and tools and we were under way. We met up with DK and Anthony, who had already stopped and loaded DK’s bike onto his trailer. It was decided that DK’s trailer would be dropped off at a local kennal and picked up at a later date. Was good to see the Amtra spirit had already started, even for DK!
   A hour or so later car by car we dribbled into Al’s place at Merton, to unload bikes and gear. And start the BS and sledging. It wasn’t long before the whole group was there, except for our support car driver Aaron who was to arrive in the morning. As the night progessed, I soon remembered some, heard some and reheard some of the stories about Shane’s prevous Merton rides. I did notice a couple of very common traits to nearly all the stories. One, that they were about some very hard tacks, hills or rivers. Two, that a lot of people don’t finish the ride. (some big names of Amtra) Three, that how the ride group had pulled together to get the job done. And lastly, that most of the odder stories involved DK?
   After a not so early night (nor quite), every one was up on time for breakfast, gearing up and the very important and traditional name plate sticker fitting. Every year Shane goes to the trouble to get stubby holders and stickers printed up with your issued number, nick name and ride list details. As I placed the name place sticker on my bike, it was really beginning to sink in how special this ride is and was going to be.
   We had our group photo taken and we were off, straight into Al’s single track on the farm. And here I realised all the extra weight I was carring with extra spares and supplies. Yet, I think Row would be questioning his decision to bring the DR over the Kato a lot more? We were soon over the highway and into the Strath Boggies. It was here I got my false sense of where I was going to fit into the ride group. With the tight technical trails I was flying and keeping the ride leader in sight. We all were travel very well, even Row on the DR.(dam good effort) With plenty of log hopping and tight trails it wasn’t long before the decision to wear enduro jackets was questioned? With sleeves removed and few quick bike tweeks done we were soon back under way, with the tracks opening up as we headed for or lunch and fuel stop at Tolmie. As we blasted along these more open trails, I soon realised the true place I fitted into the ride group! (the blunt end)
   About 2/3’s of the way into our first stint the weather decided to show us what was install. Enduro jackets with rain jackets over the top was the order of the day. Then it happened! The first real river crossing. What is normaly a simple crossing had already risen enough to make it a off and push trough crossing.(wet boots already) With every one across we soon popped out on to the black top just outside Tolmie with a 100 odd k’s on the clock and full boots we cracked the throttles and blasted into town. (very cold)
   Shane and Aaron had set up in a shelter shed on the way out of Tolmie with our lunch and fuel. As we all squeezed into the shed to eat our lunch and shiver, the topic of the rivers still to cross arose. We Dave and Shane discussing which tracks to use.
   After lunch and fuel we headed back to the black top for a short run up to the dirt and some more fun. It wasn’t long before we were tackling some nice slippery rock climbs, with rock dodging a priority for me! Some how I managed to get to close to the back of DK, yet I couldn’t back off so not to loose momentum to get up the hill. All ended well, and Row made it up with realitve ease on the big girl.
   As we ate away at the ks till our next fuel stop at Buffalo Dam, the weather seemed to be here to stay. Thinking a lot about how many ks there would be to go and how wet and cold I was getting my first thoughts about had I bitten off more than I can chew? (I thought I was ready?) As we closed in on the dam, more and more water seemed to be streaming out the hills along the edge of the road. We were all wet, but travelling well as a group as we rolled in to Shane and Aaron for another round of fuel and food. And time for Anthony to borrow a rain jacket from Shane. (he was a drowned rat)
   It was then off to Bright and the start of the real high country! This is where the riding that so many love begins (not me, not a fan), and the real hills and woops start. How ever not long after getting going we struck our first river that was not crossable with out the use of large bridge? It was then time for Dave to put his navigation skills to the test and find an alterante route. Once decided we started to find out how much damage the rain had done to the tracks. The first supprise to arrive as the pace picked up for me, was Dave launching off a woop followed very closely by me. As I watched Dave land in the knee deep fast flowing rock filled river, were you could only hope the bikes landed square as you dial the throttle on hard on landing. Luckly we both pulled off the feat un scathed and sent up big enough splashes to alert the rest of the boys to button off. The second arrived soon after (and I should have known better?), when I lunched skyward off a big woop and realised that the water had washed what should have been the landing zone away. Leaving a two foot deep trench and that split second decision to be made about what action to take? The panic rev was used and luckily lifted the front wheel clear. However the rear wheel and bash plate were going to have to attend to the huge impact they were about to encounter. With my sphinker muscle well puckered the bike landed with a noise I hope never to hear again! I waited for the repercussions and after some very intense and heart stopping corections, I managed to remove my man bits from my throat courtesy of the fuel tank. I came out alive, just a couple of octaves higher. With the hills and rocks growing and the oiled logs and branches become the order of the day, my pace fell. Never been good at the high speed stuff and this was showing as I struggled to keep the tail man at bay. With no other real issues and the little day light left failing, we popped out in the civelizaton of Bright. With 270 odd ks on the clock, the thought of hot food and a hot shower was almost enough to make one turn religious?(almost)
   After room jugling, stories, showers and a wait for a table at the pub. Dinner and a cold drinks were had, and weather reports consulted. One by one the crew headed off to bed. Giving me my first real thoughts about not being able to complete this ride.
   With some teasing sun to greet us in the morning, I talked myself (with the help and support of the boys) into another day on the bike. After fueling up and a visit to the bakery for breakfast. And the days ride leader Dave Angalini arrived (stories of horror from his last years track? Selection) to tack us around his neigbourhood. Around 9:30am we were heading out through the back streats of Bright to our first tracks of the day. As we headed into the bush I was glad I had stuck around as the tracks were right up my ally, very slick and greasy. We soon arrive on Dave’s first real challendge for us. Dave had just got under a fall tree and was about to attempt a very intresting hill climb, and from a dead start to help. As we sat and watched him have a crack, the feeling of the group was “hope he don’t make it!” cause we will have to get up it as well. Luckily he didn’t and we were saved. It was then back down the slick stuff and a change of plans. In no time we were back in the bush and hills began. Unlike most people I hate going up them, but love coming down. Dave lead us along some tracks that had very little use and were riddled with fallen trees and branches. I think everyone had a taste of the local dirt as well, with some very intresting moments. Mine came in the form of a very unexpected superman in front of Dave (Smith) doing tail man duties. Neither he or I could see what I had hit, but I could feel where I had landed! A few quick tweaks’ of the bike and we are back underway. Dave had us popping out in the back of farms and all over the place on our way to Mt Beauty for fuel and lunch. After hitting reserve we were soon at the servo for fuel and a few repairs and heading to the backery in town.
   Over lunch we disgust what was intail for the arvo on the way to Hariet Ville. With over 110k on the clock most of our draws dropped when Dave said he had another 100k of harder stuff for us before he left us in Hariet Ville for our climb up to Mt Hotham up to Dinner Plain. It was here I knew I was introuble, however I felt a little better knowing some of the others weren’t thrilled in the idea either. After Dave (Smith) made a phone call to Shane to see where he and Aaron were locate? (Riding up Mt Hothom on their push bikes) the support car was at Hariet Ville. I chose to hang in there till Hariet Ville and then would catch a free ride in the support car up to Dinner Plain.
   As we rode out of Mt Beauty bound for Hariet Ville I was feeling odd, with the relief of the day being over soon. Yet very disappointed that I had failed! The tracks soon started to flow, and the more we did the more I felt that I would change my mind. With the tracks becoming more technical and slicker, I was scooting alone quite well and even making it to corner man a couple of times. Then as the tracks really tightened up and a total lack of any grip, I was having a ball. We then hit a very overgrown track, that had a very short and steep hill climb with only one rut to follow. It had already brought Al and DK undone, and as they worked on getting turned around and heading down it was disgust how long the track was and how difficult? I addmit I was happy to give it ago as I love this stuff, and it was then my go. I made it about half way up, and needed little air taken out the rear tyre and I was up. Then the rest of the boys made their way up, some with and some without assistance. As Dave headed off with me is close pursuit the obsticles started to arrive thick and fast. We went under and over more fallen trees and logs all on the side of a cliff to spice things up. Once we had been at this game for just over an hour and had covered just over a k? So with the clock showing 4:25 and the rain falling hard, the crew had lost sight of the fun and wanted a quick trip into Hariet Ville (me included), tyres were pumped up and headed for the main rd.
   Once on the main road I cracked the throttle and hunted down Dave who had slipped into the far off distance. As my body and mind arrived in Harriet Ville in sepertate time zones, I was very glad to see Shane and Aaron. I was so stuffed I needed assistance to get of the bike (thanks DK) and fall to my knees to catch my breath after the 100k stint.
   Shane then gave me the options and it was decided and ordered (thanks Dave) that I pull the pin. So as I got changed, Shane geared up to take charge of Yami for the 60k run up to Dinner Plain. It was then into the car with Aaron as Shane led the boys off for the comfortable, dry and warm ride to the top. As Aaron I neared the top of Mt Hothom the weather really closed in, with Aaron and I almost needing blind persons cains out each window to define the edge of the road. Once at Dinner Plain we found our accomidation and unloaded the bags and went in search of Damo and Row at Mt Hotham, who had riden up from Bright earlier in the day. As we headed to the village of Hotham we met the boys on their way up the last bit of black top to Dinner Plain.
   With hot showers all round and wet gear stowed in the drying room (Abbeyard needs one) we unwound before taking the dark walk up to the pub for dinner. I say dark walk as ten blokes who all bought touches for Abbeyard forgot to grab them from our bags. (even funnier on the way back after a few cold ones?) After food, stories and refreshments some very weary souls headed back to our chalet for more of the same.
   When I woke in the morning I realised that I could no longer contiune on the ride without been a danger to my self and others, I made the call to pull the pin. And the call home to get Shaz to head to Myrtleford and pick me up, as I didn’t want to take up space in the support car if it was needed by any of the other boys. And as everyone ate breakfast and prepared for the weather and ride. I gather my gear and prepared to take the ride down the mountain in the support car to Bright to meet the boys for their fuel and lunch stop.
   In Bright we met the group as they refuelled and checked to make sure all was good before heading off to Myrtlford for supllies before Shane and Aaron headed off Abbeyard. Once in Myrtleford we fueled the support car and jerry cans Shaz pulled into the servo. And the time had come to say goodbye to Shane and Aaron as they headed to support the remaining legs of the ride.
   That being the end of the four day ride for me I cant coment on how the last two days panned out for the boys? However I can comment on how well Shane plans these rides and the quilaty of the team he gets to lead and support the ride. The ride I knew was going to be a challedge but in fact it was even more difficult than I thought. It still reminded me why I’m a Amtra member! To Shane thanks for the opportunity to tackle such a great and challenging ride and all the support given. To Dave for leading us through all the challedges and conditions they could through at us. To Aaron for been there to help pick up the pieces and giving his time and car for us to enjoy this ride. To the ride group who travelled so well and helped everyone at one time or another on the journey. The ride is listed as a big ride with big days and big ks. It’s a challedge and a hard sloge that got the better of me this time, but a ride to be proud of even giving a go. So those thinking they want a challedge to rival climbing Everast? (may not be true) give it a go! Cheers Al

RIDE LIST....
ROBBO    SHANE ROBERTS        RIDE DIRECTOR
GUMBY    AARON ROWE        SUPPORT DRIVER
BUCKWEET DAVID SMITH    TE250 BERG RIDE LEADER
CLEETUS    ROWEN SMITH    DR650     TAIL MAN
TOMMO    ANTHONY THOMAS WR450     TAIL MAN
PENIS    DENIS KELLY    WR450 (JUST DENIS?)
AL1    AL MASON    WR250
AL2    AL CLARKE    CRF450
DAMO    DAMIAN ?    DR250 DAY 1 COMPANY

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