Fumina 23/6/12
By Al Mason
My day started picking Tim up at 6:30am as I wanted to get there early, but not at just before 8am for 9am kick off! The night before had been a busy one with family stuff, some bike maintenance and a flat tyre on the cruzier to sort out. Ow and a few messages from punters wanting to know if the ride was still on due to Gippsland been under water and rain that had not stopped for over a week. Funny thing was it was only the people who hadn’t met me yet? The ones I ride with a lot were messaging to say how must fun and slick it was going to be!
For a change everyone on the list arrive on time, well except the ones that don’t let you know they’re not coming? You know the ones, the ones the group waits on, in case they are running late? Once on the bikes it was "Mineshaft Track" first up, as I’m a compassionate sole. And the fact my son and I had spent two hours clearing it two weeks earlier. Meant I didn’t care how slick it was! We are going up there damn you. How much of a surprise was to myself and the regulars, when everyone made it up! Think this is about the third time in seven years in the wet this has happened. And it was wet, the water falls coming down it said so. It’s a good sign that the crew for the day were up to what I had planned in some very difficult conditions. (Fun time conditions)
After "mineshaft" it was then in to my new group of unexplored tracks to add to my collection. The wet was a help here as some of the track were boring transport stuff, which isn’t my style. (Giving the punters a rest?) Yet the fact they we as grippy as a ice rink, the fun was a plenty. With many riders rolling into the regroups looking well filled in by their mates and full of smiles. Unlike normal I had a map in hand for this which is a rare day indeed, and usually has regulars cringing as to what I will find and attempt to ride. Luckily today was nothing but gold, and very few u-turns required?
After the new stuff it was back to my play ground and some old favourites. "Telecom Track" was first, I let most of the group go ahead of me and follow Nath down into the valley. Now either traffic was holding him up? Or I was riding like a gun, because I followed him the whole way down. He says "patato", I say "potato"? When we got to the bog hole it was great to see a new member standing alongside an old one helping out, not sure how many they needed to help as I was through and off after Nath again. At the regroup it was decided it was time for an early lunch and smiles all round. Over lunch Lefty asked the question, "had I ever trying riding back up "Telecom Track" the other way? I said, "No, I’ve walked it the other way. And had to climb the hill in on my hands and knees with the chain saw."(remember this) Nath and I headed off first for the final section of the track, yet were soon interrupted by a small wash away. About the size of a small 4wd, but with a narrow and very slick little mud arch over the centre. So with the help of five or six people, we got each bike very carefully across and get back under way. (I blame Lefty!)
With that we headed to one of my favourite hills that I had also recently cleared. I usually enjoy this little hill as I sit at the top and listen to blissful sounds of boiling bikes and potty mouthed rides. Across the steep little gully and creek and straight into it. Well until I rode a rut I normally avoid, but couldn’t due to the wet. The rut was deep enough to grab the foot pegs and stop me. (Bugger) So I rolled back and tried the fine art of riding up a steep hill in a rut and lofting the front wheel at the same time. As I mastered it, my bike found a grippe spot! And it was so happy about it decided to put a romantic move on me. Where it back flipped me and pulverized me into the rut and then came down to give me a big hug! I said sorry and threw her off, luckily the back guard had bent down far enough to stop the rear tyre from turning and allow her to roll down the hill. I tried to get up as quick as I could as I knew the hill was soon going to look like the Monash Fwy at 5pm and try and stop the crew as the hill was a no go zone in these conditions. (Yes I know, I’m getting soft) As I joined the traffic jam getting back across the creek, I couldn’t see the holdup but I could hear the bikes, swearing and laughter.
Once out and a rear pad change for Tim as the others had a breather, we headed into another new loop i had put together. This brought us to cross over the road to go and see what sort of day I could make up without crossing the rivers and only 60k of fuel left. So fairly cool open transport was required, sorry boys and we were back into my idea of heaven. We did need to cross one river, but lucky for use they have almost finished the bridge that crosses it. The river would not have been crossable without it due to the quantity of water and the fact whilst building the bridge, they decided to dig a great big trench down the middle of the river to stop people using the crossing they originally put in?
?? So with a bit of team work and strategic sleeper placement everyone was across and ready to turn the fun switch on.
A quick regroup after the next couple of tracks were I let the group of the leash, had me bouncing a couple ideas of the regulars as fuel was soon going to become a problem. So a shorten loop was cobbled together and off I went, flick the switch and turn on auto pilot. Everyone seems to be having a great time and on these tracks the pressure comes off me and my pace for a bit. Apart from stopping to remove fallen limbs it was going well. Then the short loop was too blocked and the longer loop became our ticket home.
With everyone through and no reports of issues I kept dropping corner men until we were all back over the bridge and retracing the boring transport section towards home. We went in to have a look at the crossing at the bottom of “Kenny’s”, as it always a good blast home! As I had driven the crossing two weeks earlier and my landcrusier was pushed around by the water getting around a fallen tree in the crossing, and the water close to the same level and flowing very hard. I chose not to risk it and was support by the regulars, as they trust my understanding of this place. So a couple more fun and slick tracks and one transport section and the group was soon on the final track home. Once on the track a few of the members got used to what the true definition of a slick track is, and provided many laughs for us all. Also a few people were hitting reserve and starting to panic. I cheered them up by letting them know I had been on reserve for 20 odd ks so far, and I wasn’t worried.
We rolled into the car park around 4pm and I had 119k on the clock, and heard nothing but laughter and thanks which is always a great reward. No injuries, no bike break downs, no sooking and still day light left! Thanks to all that came out for the day I had fun. Woke up with some very impressive bruises Sunday morning and some good chunks scrapped out of the back protector in my armour. And some repair work needed on the Yami, but still felt good about the previous day had.
Cheers Al
Rider list....
1. Al Mason Ride Leader WR250 Memnber
2. Tim Dykes TE510 Member
3. Nathan Stott TE449 Member
4. Chris DePropertis WR450 Member
5. David Miller CRF450 Member
6. Stuart Mackey WR250 Member
7. Nick Nicolaou KTM300 Member
8. Trevor Bastin WR250 Member
9. Mark Clark Tail Man WR300 Member
10. Erich Fangmeier TE300 Member
11. Con Feyen KTM300 Member
12. Ben Haynes TE300 Member
