20 January - Warburton

SMS'd Marcus last night to see if he was riding today. Got a quick response which said "Why not", so we agreed to meet at 12:00 for lunch. The ride over, through Noojee and Powelltown was a bit chilly but it started to warm up by noon. Had a very nice lunch at "Three Sugars" and a leisurely catchup. The ride home was leisurely and most enjoyable.

Total Distance 285 km.

10, 11 , 12 January - Bright and Wandiligong

Departed Traralgon around 10:30 on Tuesday on the KLX250 to spend a couple of nights with John and Marie in Wandiligong. Took the KLX to try out the 50km of dirt road between Dargo and Hotham Heights. Stopped for lunch and fuel at the General Store in Dargo - quite a few cars and motorcycles about. The dirt road to Hotham Heights is a good quality road although corrugated and a bit narrow in some spots. Arrived in Wandiligong around 3:45 pm - quite a good run and only about 280 km from home. Wednesday was a cold and quite miserable day - no bike rides and instead joined the family for lunch at the Beechworth Bakery. Headed towards home this morning at 7:30 and started with breakfast at Beanz (in Bright) before heading up to Mt Beauty and the Bogong High Plains. The weather in the valley was bright and sunny and no wind but by the time I got to Falls Creek it was icy cold and I was riding through clouds a lot of the time. Just as well I was wearing thermals. The grip heaters were running flat out.  After about 30 km of this the descent into Omeo commences and the temperature increased a bit but even Omeo is quite elevated and still quite cold. It didn't really warm up until Swifts Creek. Had lunch at the bakery in Bruthen and made the final fuel (and toilet) stop in Bairnsdale. It was a very windy run from Bairnsdale back to Traralgon via Maffra and Heyfield. Reached home at 2:45 pm. Quite an adventure and the KLX performed faultlessly.

Total Distance 680km.

31 December - Agnes Falls

Another brilliant day today and too good to pass up. Took the KLX to Agnes Falls located near Toora on the South Gippsland Highway. I've passed the sign to the falls numerous times but never had the opportunity check out what turned out to be a spectacular location. Definitely worth a visit and a nice spot for a picnic. Return journey via Yarram and Tarra Valley.

Total Distance 240 km.

30 December - Olinda, Dandenongs

                                                          (Photo Panoramia.com)


Zane (KLX250) and I (Honda) decided to take advantage of a promised warm and sunny day to finish 2011 with an all day ride to the Dandenongs. First stop was for coffee and muffins at Coco's in Yarragon. The next stop was Pakenham for fuel before we headed into the hills via Cockatoo, Emerald and then through Sassafras to Olinda. On the road between Sassafras and Olinda there are a lot of interesting buildings including this beautiful old guest house Rostrevor. Thought I would use this photo which shows the place after snow in 2008. Had lunch at the Olinda Cafe before heading towards Monbulk, Silvan and then to Yarra Junction and Powelltown. One more fuel stop in Yarragon and then home into quite a strong headwind. Altoghether a great ride and a memorable day - a fine finish to another riding year.

Total Distance 332 km.

16 December - Bayswater and Warburton

Rode the back way (Noojee, Powelltown and Yarra Junction) to Bayswater. Zane, who had travelled down by train, was picking up his Harley after some repairs and the idea was to ride to Warburton together and then home also through the bush. Beautiful day today and sitting outside a cafe in Warburton and enjoying an excellent lunch was very pleasant. The ride through the forests and the hills was also spectacular as usual even though it was the second time in a week or so.

Total Distance 355 km.

9 December - Warburton and Yarra Ranges

Left Traralgon at 10:00 this morning on the KLX. I had arranged to meet my friend Marcus in Warburton for lunch and a catchup. The weather was glorious, blue sky, no wind and around the 30 degC.
Arrived in Warburton right on noon and had a very relaxed lunch of toasted sandwiches and coffee. After lunch I followed Marcus up the Reefton Spur road to visit the Upper Yarra reservoir, around a 50km round trip. Riding on a weekday is great because most people are at work, or school and there's hardly anyone around. After the ride to the reservoir it was time to top up the tank at the Shell station in Warburton which seems to be the only one around for quite a distance. After leaving Marcus to return to Melbourne my return trip was back through Yarra Junction, Powelltown. Noojee and Willow Grove. Arrived home at 4:30 after a great day on the bike.

Total Distance 315 km.

2 - December - Up the South Face (of Mt Baw Baw)

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Good weather promised by the BOM so out with the Kawasaki to explore a road I haven't been game to try on the Honda - the South Face Rd from Rawson to Mt Baw Baw. It's quite a spectacular and well maintained road (some 25 km) but all gravel and after recent maintenance the gravel is quite thick in some places. The KLX handled it all OK. Although it was quite sunny, and mild in Traralgon, the temperature at the top of the mountain was decidedly chilly. Had coffee and a toasted sandwich at Kelly's Bar and Cafe before heading down the Baw Baw/Noojee Road. This is of course the main access road and sealed, but very twisty and requires a good deal of caution due to the tight turns, pot holes and wrinkles in the road which emerge once the snow clears. About halfway down I encountered a guy who didn't take enough care because he was standing in the middle in the road, and his cruiser was lying in a ditch at the side. He'd come around a corner too fast and was suddenly confronted with a steep ridge in the middle in the road which threw him to the outside of the bend and into the ditch. We chatted for a bit (he was OK) and would have tried to help him get the bike out of the ditch but apparently he'd already contacted someone who was coming up to help.

The rest of the return trip through Noojee, Neerim South etc was very pleasant and much warmer. Althogether a great ride.

Total Distance 230km.