Fumina Level 2/Clubman+
13/8/11 by Al Mason
With rain all week and melting snow I knew this was going to be a great day out with some new Amtra members and some ever reliable ones as well? After picking Dave up we headed to Fumina through Neerim for a change for me. Saw all the Harden up boys having their latte's at the BP at the Neerim turn off when we stopped in for supplies and a quick hello.
8:15am and Dave and I arrive at Costins road follow by Rob, as he in counted my Land cruzier rolling road block up the hill on the way in. As we unloaded the rest of the days group rolled in. I was expecting 10 riders and seem to have them all we a ute flew in. “Are you Al from Amtra?” ,”Yep”. 10 o’clock Friday night this bloke had found my ride on the net and thought he would see if he could tag along? He had driven like a demon from Essedon to get there. (Still can’t remember his name, sorry)
A bit of a slow start with people not sure about what 130k’s of fuel meant. On the bikes for 9:20am and we are blasting down the grave to the slick stuff. Found a really nice set of matching 4ft deep sink holes at the bottom of a slick down hill, which had a foot wide mud bridge in the centre to cross. Loft the front wheel and hope for the best? We were soon at the first river crossing, no biggy. 6 inch deep flowing rappid, well normally! Instead a foot and half very fast flowing crossing. Once I was across, I headed back to the waters edge to help with line selection and any problems to arise. One by one they came across with a few tense moments until Buckerooni's stalled his Yamaha. So in I went to help out, so much for dry boot’s. The water was quite nice, with just a hint of unfrozen snow to it.
With no harm done we headed up Kenny Spur, a very cool and well loved track. Made it about half way before Nath court me, his still a bit slow on the 449. It was then down to river number two, wide crossing that is relatively shallow. Nath was on the other side and pointing out the line when I entered. I had to dismount half way across as the current started to turn my bike. Everyone made it across by bike or on foot, until Buckerooni had his turn. He took some advice from Angus and attempted his second river crossing; he found a common mistake of trying to ride to fast. Splashed the water up and stalled the engine and dunk him self under. After retrieving him and his bike Dave, Nath and I started work on his bike and took questions from an interested crew.
It was then back out to Simpson’s Quarry where some tired trees where having a nap for us to negotiate. We also checked Buckerooni’s oil and explained the grey milkshake was not good, and we would getting him back to Costin's rd and the cars.
It was then down through the links to the river that I knew was going to be interesting, but necessary to cross. I got off the bike a powered the bike across with no real problems other than floatation. With everyone across I let the crew know we could now start having some fun! I soon let the boy’s off the leash and did tail man down one of my favourite tracks, until I court up to the group accessing some more sleeping trees. There was a small track up the embankment and around, and when you have Angus with you. You use him and send him to find out if it’s doable or not? “Yes” was the word, but “yes” to Angus and “yes” to the rest of us me mortals? With a team effort everyone was around and we headed for the lunch stop.
The smiles on the new members were good to see, as this day was a testing one! After a quick check with everyone on the crew to make sure this day wasn’t getting out of hand? “More” was the order of the day. So more and more is what I gave them, and smiles and more smiles was what I got back. I had a good run with Nath up Lady Sutton, with Nath not getting past for ages. (Some very good borking by me) The day rolled on until Garth and Mr. Ktm, let the stress of fuel get to them. I don’t know what they were stressing about, as I wasn’t going to run out? After making sure they made it across the river for the run home, the rest of us set out for some more of my favorite trails. Everyone was traveling well. There were lots of stories of people laying in the mud. I had a ride on Angus’s new gasser down a track I was surprised how light the bike felt. Didn’t love the handling, and was weird how different the Yamaha motor felt in the gasser. Angus and I suggested that as the gasser was newer, and felt like a high class prostitute. We my 13,000k Yamaha felt more like one from Doveton.
With fuel becoming a problem and so many good tracks to miss, a meeting was held in regards to home or push our luck a little more. So getting home becomes the secondary objective and we headed out for a couple more tracks. These were so worth the effort and really pushed a few to their limits, and made some of the boy’s from my up coming two day Fumina ride question why they had said yes? With the clock at 2:45pm it was time to limp home, with just one crossing to go. The hope was as such a wide crossing, that it had not become too deep. As I arrived I went the safe option and walked my bike across the shallowest line. It was flowing and was going to be a little deep and cold, but our only option home. Not so bad I thought as my knees got wet. Oww, its cold as my family jewels got wet. Christ, its cold as my belly button had its lint removed. Then f#$k, it’s cold and now my bike is stuck rocking on it bash plate with a stalled engine and I couldn’t find the strength to push it up the hill out. After getting angry I got the bike and myself out and caught my breath. As I looked over at the boy’s arriving at the river on the other side, I could see the thoughts of “what the hell has Al got us into this time” Angus was next to have a try, and fell victim to the same rock. But with me in the water to give him a hand they were both out. As each one crossed four of us would wade out into the river and with the help of a tow rope we got the bikes and riders across.
With campers on the hill spectating we got to dewatering two bikes, checking the others and drain fuel bowls the light was fading fast. Some fuel swapping and a tow start for Angus’s gasser, it was a few very cold and wet kilometers back to the cars. As I got to three corners before the cars, I saw Nath sitting stationary. (Which is a bit slower than normal?) Out of fuel, attach the tow rope and we were back at the cars for around 5:30pm. Everyone said they had a great day; the boy’s who left early missed the good stuff. But proubly were a little warmer than us?
Big thanks to everyone on the day!! It was good to have a group were no one winded or sat idle, with everyone putting in to get the group through. And was great to hear people eager to overcome an obstacle to ride good trails, rather the back down and say it’s too hard. I had a good (cold) day, and enjoyed the company. Till the next ride, cheers Al
Ride List......
1.Al Mason Member WR250 Ride Leader
2.Nathan Stott Member TE449
3.David Smith Member TE250 Arvo Tailman
4.Garth Jacobs Member YZ450
5.Angus Boud Member Gas Gas 250 Morning Tailman
6.David Stanhope Member WR250
7.Cam Morton Member WR250
8.Stuart Mackey Member WR250 Camera Man
9.Rob Copsey Member FE390
10.Rob Cecelse Member WR450
11.
Non Member KTM525
