Glen & Debbie offered their continued support of VMMA members in gaining extra road skills by offering to run this on the road skills ride, they organised for another motorcycle instructor David and Amanda to assist with the observation and instruction to those participating in the actual skills ride.
What a turn out at Montrose for a day that promised to be very cold and wet with Dennis and Grandson Dillon, Anita, Dave, Viv, Chris, Sharyn, Dean, Terri, Glenn, Debbie, Cliff, Mal, David, Amanda and David Wells turning up to see us off.
We split into two groups for one group was participating in the road skills ride up and down Mt Dandenong whilst the group was off for a leisurely ride and to meet up at Gembrook Ranges Hotel at 12.30 p.m. for lunch.
Glenn and David introduced themselves to Viv, Anita, Cliff and Terri and discussed what they hope to achieve by riding up and down the Mt Dandenong Road several times, whilst Dean led Sharyn, Chris, Mal, David, Dennis and Grandson Dillon for a ride to Gembrook via Olinda, Monbulk, Seville, Yellingbo, Worri Yallock, Hoddles Creek and finally to the Ranges Hotel.
The route Dean took us was outstanding with very little traffic and plenty undulating country side with lots of easy corners to navigate and some how we managed to dodge the rain even through the wind was cold at times, it was Dillon’s first big ride with Granddad and his fingers got cold and he found out very quickly if you lift you head up the cold wind comes gushing into the helmet.
The social ride group arrived at Gembrook at 11.30 a.m., time for a coffee and to warm up whilst waiting for the skills riding group.
Still no sign of the skills riding group so off to the Ranges Hotel to order lunch and await their arrival, still no sign of them at 12.30 p.m. so we ordered our lunches and enjoyed the warmth of the hotel with good friends, Bob & Jean Nicholls joined us for lunch.
Alas 1.10 p.m. and the ride skills group finally arrived and gathered around the fire, their skills session was very successful with both Glenn and David debriefing the members whilst waiting for their lunch.
Glenn, Debbie, David and Amanda were thanked for giving their time to provide members with on the road riding skills of which those who participated were very grateful.
Around 3.30 p.m. we had finished lunch (highly recommend the Ranges Hotel for a meal), socialising and it was time to depart in our various directions.
Reported by CW
