28 June - South Gippsland

After a long period of wet weather, today promised to be fine, although somewhat cool. The fog cleared around 10am and I set off along the Highland Way to Yarram. The temperature gauge on the Beemer read 3.5 degrees! It warmed steadily and by the time I reached the Yarram Bakery for coffee and apricot crumble, the temperature had climbed to 12 deg. As I reached the South Gippsland highway heading towards Inverloch the temperature was 15.5 degrees, and the sun was streaming down - very pleasant. Had a leisurely lunch in Inverloch followed by a cigar, before returning via Leongatha and Mirboo North. Stopped briefly for a photo just outside of Mirboo Nth. and then continued on home and arrived at 3:30pm.

Total Distance 267 km.

15 June - Loch Sport

Woke this morning to the first day of my 69th year. While the sky was a bit grey, the temperature was mild and no sign of rain. Fired up the Beemer and rode to Loch Sport on the Gippsland Lakes and arrived there at 11:30. I haven't been to Loch Sport for over 40 years and in recent year have heard lots of reports of its popularity and growth, and so I was quite hopeful of finding the an interesting place to eat. Well, Loch Sport has definitely grown into a large town and the road which was once a sandy track is now sealed. There is now a large marina with an adjacent hotel overlooking Lake Victoria. Drove around for a while to check out cafes or bakeries but in the end did not find anything which looked appetising and decided to have lunch in Sale instead. Much better luck this time and by now the sky cleared completely producing a great day. The return trip was via Maffra (coffee at the bakery), Glenmaggie and Cowarr. A very enjoyable ride.

Total Distance 250 km.

11 June - Warburton, Reefton Spur, Marysville and Healesville

(Photo - Courtesy The Age)

Today was the first day with forecast sunshine, for quite a while. Zane and I had planned to meet in Morwell and ride to Warburton. At 10 am the fog was quite thick and the temperature was only 5.5 degrees. But - no rain! Headed west along the Princes Highway and the fog didn't clear completely until we reached Trafalgar. Left the highway at Nilma and cut through Neerim to top up Zane's KLX250 at Neerim Junction. Continued on our way through Powelltown and Yarra Junction and reached Warburton exactly at noon. By then the sky was clear and the sun was shining but the temperature had not progressed much above 8 degrees. Had coffee and a great lunch at "Three Sugars" in the main street of Warburton and thawed out to the point where we were ready to ride again. Instead of turning for home we decided to do the extra leg through Reefton Spur and Marysville. What a wonderful ride this was. The views were breathtaking but with the additional altitude the temperature bottomed out at 4.5 degrees. The BMW's grip heaters really come in handy in these conditions. Stopped at the Marysville bakery for another coffee and fuelled both bikes. The return trip was through the Black Spur, Healesville, Cockatoo and Pakenham. Home at 5pm.

Total Distance 390 km.

31 May - Metung and Lakes Entrance

Today, the last day of autumn, was a beauty. Clear skies, no wind and everything seemed to sparkle. Left home around 10:00 am and rode east, with the first coffee stop in Stratford. Sitting in the park in the sun, sipping my latte and chatting with a fellow traveller was just the perfect start to the day. The next segment was Stratford to Metung. Once again, sitting at the water's edge, sharing my lunch with some very aggressive seagulls and watching a few people mucking about in boats - as good as it gets. After lunch a quick trip into Lakes Entrance where conditions were just as brilliant.

Being a week day, Lakes was almost abandoned. After stopping for a photo of the entrance I commenced the homeward journey, still in perfect conditions. No wind and the temperature gauge reading 16.5˚.
As I rode through Stratford I noticed a Dutch coffee shop. Had to check that out of course and so afternoon tea consisted of Dutch Apple Cake and another coffee. Very nice !

Total Distance 333 km.

27 May - Ulysses Club Ride to Inverloch

After the appalling weather of the last few days I was not hopeful for the monthly Ulysses club ride today but despite a heavy overcast sky, the radar showed no rain. We left the Ice Creamery at 10:00 this morning and rode to Mirboo Nth via Boollara and Boolarra South. An interesting mix of bikes including a couple of Gold Wings. Morning coffee at a nice little cafe in the main street of Mirboo Nth before heading off to Leongatha along a road I had never used before - interesting. The area surrounding Leongatha was showing signs of extensive flooding and thankfully none of our roads were affected. Carried on straight through Leongatha to Inverloch which was the planned break for lunch. After a very pleasant lunch break the sky had darkened a lot when we emerged and many riders, including myself opted to don the wet weather gear for the return trip. This worked like magic - never saw a drop all the way home. Not a great day but still a terrific ride.

Total Distance 255 km.

23 May - Tidal River - Wilsons Prom

A bright sunny day today and decided to ride the BMW to Wilsons Prom. Rode nonstop through Mirboo Nth, Meenyian, Fish Creek and Yanakie and turned the video camera on in Yanakie to capture the beautiful ride down the prom and into Tidal River. The prom and the Tidal river area were badly affected by floods last year and some parts are still closed to visitors. But the camping area around Tidal River looks fantastic. The caravan park has nice grassy sites and some of them are powered now - will try the caravan down there soon. Had lunch at the General Store and as soon I sat down to my hamburger I was joined by a dozen or so very colourful rosellas which are obviously quite accustomed to humans. In no time they were on my shoulders and down my arms trying to take the food out of my hands. I switched on my camera and caught these cheeky guys in action. Rode home the same way with a coffee stop in Mirboo North.

Total Distance 395km.

17 May - Warburton, Reefton Spur, Marysville, Black Spur and Healesville

An unusually sunny day today and the forecast looked good. Headed up through Nilma, Neerim and Powelltown with the first stop - for fuel - in Warburton. I wanted to visit Marysville which was almost totally destroyed in the 2009 fires - only 11 buildings remained standing. Riding down into Marysville from Reefton Spur is an amazing experience. The bush, which is obviously fire affected is now cloaked in green regrowth and as you enter the town the only sign of the utter devastation is the fact that nearly every building is brand new. Fortunately, one of the survivors is the Bakery Cafe which was a welcome stop for lunch, and for once, not very busy.

Many parks and gardens have been fully restored and many of the old deciduous trees along the main street seem to have survived as well. Many shops, cafes and a new petrol station are all in full swing and there seems to be no shortage of visitors, and as you sit here basking in the sun it is difficult to imagine the inferno and the destruction suffered here such a short time ago.

After leaving Marysville the return trip was down the Black Spur into Healesville and then back to the Princes Highway via Cockatoo, Gembrook and Pakenham.

Altogether a most enjoyable ride.

Total Distance 390 km.