Melbourne weather is truly wonderful. I left my front gate in light drizzle to a grey and foreboding sky. If it hadn't been that I was ride leader I may have given it a miss. It was dripping rain while the adventurous 16 of us were getting dressed and my ride sheet managed to stay dry somehow!!. We had as few delays with one thing and another and blasted off into the triangle in clear and perfect riding conditions. Mind you
the tracks were wet and slippery, but we all seemed to manage them well enough. We looped around a bit up to the top of the triangle, a few did the single lane challenge and had the wet feet to show for it. We crossed across into the bottom end of the Black Range forest for a look at Left Track, always a good one in the wet, a bit like riding on a bar of soap
, then it was time to wind our way back through the triangle to the cake shop.
We had the usual few on rec reg that were not prepared to take the gamble, and a few decided to call it a day. We regrouped at the creek after a great lunch to plan our afternoons assault.
I have not done Strickland Link since before the fires, so it was time to see what the bull dozer had done. Not one of my better decisions, the first rocky uphill corner caused a bit of carnage, I finished up on the ground with the bike on top of me and cramps in both legs, my body was telling me something
. Micheal and myself wimped out and detoured around into the Acheron Way leaving Mark to take the group up and over, we would meet them coming down on the other side of the spur.
Time was marching on, Fishers Creek Track has its moments in the wet, the bog holes have been tidied up, and it did not let us down with a couple of riders doing some unplanned slides.
And so it was back to the cars about 3.00, pack up and get away after a good day. Well I had a good day
.
However the day was not without it low point. On the way in in the morning a group of three riders in a ute with trailer managed to lose their trailer and bikes in the middle of the road right where we turn left down to the carpark. I didn't see what happened but it appears that one of our cars was preparing to do the left turn and they tried to over take ( they claim they were taking avoiding action). They crossed to the other side of the road onto the verge and into the deep gutter. The trailer and ute have done some serious jack knifing, the trailer has left the ute and rolled damaging the bikes. Fortunately there were no physical injuries, two of the bikes were badly damaged and tempers were frayed
. Micheal was nearly in the middle of it and saw more of what happened.
The police were called and various statements were taken.
From my point of view, I think there has been a bit of blame to spread around. A bit of speed and youthful exuberance have been present. However I do think we need to address how we enter the track that leads down to the carpark. I know that I swing wide to get the turn in, and most others do as well. Perhaps we need to be more vigilant when other road users are present and opt to proceed a bit further up the road and "U" turn where it is safer to do so.
Food for thought
Again thankfully no one was hurt,
Phil R.
