VMMA Social ride “Ride to give back” to the bushfire community
Sunday 28th June 2009
A VMMA social ride named "Ride to give back" took place on Sunday 28th June with the aim to ride through some of the local communities effected by the bushfires earlier this year and to stop along the route and spend some money in those communities.
The meeting venue was the Mc Donald’s corner Maroondah Hwy and Springvale Road, Nunawading which in the future will be utilised as one of our meeting/departure points for it is central to a good number of members and is linked by the freeways.
L to R: Mark, Cameron, Richo, Bob and Johno at Nunawading prior to ride.
Yes it was foggy and cold when we left home at 9.00 am and on arrival at McDonalds found Dave, Viv and Richo inside hugging their coffee's with two hands.
The following riders braved the weather for this important ride Dave, Viv, Richo, Mark, Bob, Jean, Johno, Cameron, Chris, Sharyn and Gary all the way from Moe.
Cameron made an impressive arrival by waving to us as he flew by the entrance to do a U turn to come back (some think the Vincent brakes would pull him up, that's why it look so impressive).
Viv was not that well and wisely decided to ride back home whilst giving David the green light to continue on the social ride.
Gary Power telephoned to say at 9.20 am he was only at Narnargoon and that he would try and meet us at either Hazeldene or at the Toolangi Tavern.
At 10.00 am it was time to head off for our ride with Chris leading the way with Bob & Jean as tail end Charlie's, Cameron thought he would show us the real VMMA Installation Fire by 3 kicks of the Vincent and Hooray, but it never fails when you have an audience, 3 kicks and nothing our first thought we may need to add a few more kicks to the VMMA fire, but Cameron had enough by this time and simply pushed the electric start.
Our ride took us through Warrandyte, Kangaroo Ground, Saint Andrews, Kinglake and a coffee stop at a little town named Hazeldene and patronised the local general store, our ride was mixed in that at times the fog was that heavy your vision was limited and then blue sky and sun but over the next hill back into the fog.
Cameron trying to save his meat pie at the Hazeldene general store.
Richo and Sharyn supporting the local general store at Hazeldene.
The group managed to stay together traveling around the 90 klms/hr for a majority of the ride, corner marking worked well and everyone arrived safely at our destinations.
It was know 12.15 pm and time for our journey from Hazeldene to Toolangi via Flowerdale, Glenburn and from the top of the slide down into Toolangi, once again we traveled via through fog, blue sunny skies and back into the fog.
This particular ride was very enlightening to the extent the bushfires had traveled and the devastation caused by the fires to the local communities, it was evident that the clean up process was when underway with burnt buildings being replaced by new house foundation ready for the rebuild and you could not miss the Thank You messages and Australian Flags proudly display throughout the region.
Arriving at the Toolangi Tavern at 1.00 pm for lunch.
We rode into Toolangi at 1.00 pm and found Gary standing at the Chum Creek Road intersection beckoning us to turn up for he was not sure if he was at the correct location, Gary does have a lovely big smile!!!!
This was our first visit to the Toolangi Tavern, a booking was made earlier in the week for we were informed that generally if you do not book you are most likely not to be seated and fed.
After having lunch at this little gem of a Tavern it was very clear why you should book, for the place was a full house and a continual stream of people kept arriving to enjoy the value for money $15 meals, yes all meals are $15 each.
This is what we were looking for, a great open fire. The Nicholls clan "just for Jean!!!" enjoying their $15 meal, what value!!!
The open fire was blazing away with many a backside stuck into it for a warm up, remember this Tavern and when passing you will not be disappointed with your meal.
During lunch we were approached by a friendly motorcyclists named Ian who asked who was riding what and he had done his home work and had already looked at each of our motorcycles, Ian then spoke of his England to America motorcycle ride that look some 3 months to complete.
Sadly it was time to depart the Toolangi Tavern and it was decided that we would all ride the top road down into Healesville and then go our own merry ways home.
David, Sharyn and Chris rode with Gary over the hills to Pakenham with Gary turning left to Moe and David going home via Kooweerup and Chris & Sharyn heading back towards Ferntree Gully.
Reported by CW
