General Meeting Weekend in Euroa
Saturday 22nd & Sunday 23rd May 2010
The meeting point and accommodation for the weekend was the Castle Creek Motel in Euroa. Most members had arrived around 1145 and we didn’t have to wait long for the last few stragglers to arrive. Gary Power’s arrived on his Yamaha 1600 Roadstar with a loud and very worrying noise coming from the area of the clutch. Gary wisely decided not to ride any further and arranged for his son in law in Mansfield to trailer the bike back to Moe.
Cameron warming his hands on the Waterbottle at Yarra Glen on Saturday morning.
After settling into our rooms and catching up with each others news we rode off to the Euroa Croquet Club for our lunch and meeting. Many thanks to Sue van Lunenburg and the club ladies for use of their clubrooms and the lovely lunch.
Good turn out at the Euroa Croquet Club for lunch and General Meeting. Euroa Croquet Club provided lunch for the VMMA prior to the General meeting, thank you ladies.
The meeting started around 1300 and finished about 1430.
General meeting was held at the Euroa Croquet Club.
Dave and Viv departed for Winton to attend a Debutante Ball that night while the remainder of us returned to the motel to change and don appropriate riding gear for the afternoon ride.
The Baron led us on a casual and scenic ride through Longwood to the Ruffy Produce Store, where he had organised a tasting of locally produced Antcliff’s Chase wine.
Fortunately we were accompanied by some members in cars who transported our wine purchases back to the motel.
After the General Meeting we rode to Ruffy Store winery for wine tasting.
Peter and Pam departed for Mansfield as Pam had to report for her newspaper on a Cystic Fibrosis function being conducted in Mansfield that night.
With setting westerly sun in our faces we rode back to our ’digs’. Some of the ladies who had not gone on the Ruffy excursion had prepared bar snacks and refreshments on our return from the ride. These were enjoyed before preparing for dinner at the local Chinese Restaurant.
Back at the Castle Motel at Euroa for a relaxing time prior to heading up to the Euroa Chinese for tea.
Once again the car transport was appreciated as it saved most of us from a 3km walk.
The 23 members assembled on the long table enjoyed a variety of Chinese delicacies.
Even though the service was slow, all but one person enjoyed the banquet. Mind you, the first entrée of one dim sim didn’t go far, and neither did the second small entrée offering. We looked forward with anticipation to a more substantial main course. Glancing down the table I noticed that everyone was talking, joking, and having what appeared to me to be a good time. I have to say however that due to the noisy chatter there was probably a good deal of lip reading, head nodding, and sign language going on.
Saturday night dinner was at the Euroa Chinese.
It was pleasing also to see our ladies sitting down and being waited on for a change as they do so much for us on most of our trips. After a fairly long wait the main course was served, and probably only held up by the large crowd in the restaurant. Feed the locals before the ‘blow in’ punters might have been the cook’s decision – who knows. There were a number of positive comments about the food which proved the quality and quantity was OK. While Jean and Tracy decided to return to the motel early the rest of us tucked into the final main course dish which surprised most of us even having been warned that the plates were hot. Of course some members don’t listen and found out just how hot the plates were. Just as most of us had thought we had enough to eat the staff brought out yet another plate. I had consumed quite enough and decided it was time to head for bed. Tracy very kindly came back and picked three of us up in the car. I was later told that desert was served and nearly all members commented on having full bellies.
It is the normal VMMA practice to go back and party on for a while. On this occasion I went straight to bed and the others on their return to the motel felt it was far too cold to be outside. So an early night was had by all.
Sunday dawned crisp but clear and sunny. Those of us from Central and Northern Victoria assured the shivering Melbournians’ that it would turn out to be a beautiful day – it did and they weren’t disappointed.
Sunday morning a cook breakfast was provided at the Castle Hill Motel.
A full cooked BBQ breakfast provided by the motel owners was taken next to our rooms.
The Baron had organised another ride; this time to Wangaratta for lunch via Merton, Mansfield and Whitfield. He had invited other local Euroa riders to attend also, so our numbers swelled to 21 bikes, 1 trike and 2 cars.
Sunday morning gathering of VMMA members and local motorcyclists for the motorcycle awareness ride through the district.
With the Baron leading and me ‘tail gunning’ we headed off around 0945. We made a brief roadside stop at Merton so Cameron could make some adjustments to his newly acquired, near mint condition 1971 Suzuki GT 750.
On the way to Mansfield we passed Peter and Pam’s place in Maindample, and waived to Pam who was checking the pumpkins in the front garden. We stopped in Mansfield for a coffee break, where Dave and Viv rejoined the crew after their somewhat cold night at Winton raceway in one of the sheds where the Debutante Ball was held.
Sunday morning gathering of VMMA members and local motorcyclists for the motorcycle awareness ride through the district. Media photo shoot to mark the motorcycle awareness ride through the district.
Some VMMA members departed here for the ride home and the rest of us, plus visiting riders continued on to Whitfield. Les, a local Mansfield Mason and businessman, suggested we try a different route to Wangaratta via Edi; assuring us the road was sealed. Hm, yeah right Les, when did you ride it last? About 5km’s down we struck a good gravel road. The pace slowed and slowed until I, as tail gunner, came across a Euroa rider on a rather smart Ducati who was crawling along at 25kph. Pulling alongside him to assess his situation he stopped and proceeded to communicate in explicit and profane terms what he thought of this well maintained gravel road and more particularly the person who chose the route. Hey, you can’t please everyone all the time.
Baron led the motorcycle awareness ride and Pedro was tail end Charlie.
The remainder of the ride to Wang was, thankfully, uneventful. Even though we were an hour late, some of us decided to stick with the booking to have lunch at the Hollywood Café.
Others deciding they weren’t happy with the ‘split bill' policy went next door to have fish and chips. So, by 1500 we were refreshed and ready for the homeward journey. Dave and Viv decided to head straight down the Hume while Baron, Chris, Sharyn and I took the opportunity to enjoy a ride through the Warby Ranges, the on to Thoona and then Benalla for much need petrol for my Beemer.
We said our farewells to Chris and Sharyn who were heading off to Swanpool, Yea and home. The Baron and I rode down to Violet Town and on to the Murchison Road where Rob turned off to Miepoll and I continued westward. In the fading afternoon light I was lucky to spot a Police 4WD parked up the road just out of Colbinabbin.
Final destination for the motorcycle awareness ride was Wangaratta for lunch at 1.00 pm.
Fortunately I was sitting on the speed limit. I turned off the main Bendigo road and headed down the Heathcote road to Mt. Camel, Toolleen, and Axedale and reaching home at 1730, just 30 minutes before Chris and Sharyn got to Mooroolbark.
Yet another great weekend was had by all who attended. Special thanks to The Red Baron for his organisation of events and rides over the weekend. And of course thanks also to his wife Sue and the other ladies from the Euroa Croquet Club for providing lunch and the meeting room.
VMMA members who attended the weekend:
Dave & Viv Cash, Colin & Beryl Fletcher, Robert & Sue van Lunenburg, Bob, Jean and John Nicholls, Dean Lugton & Tracy Brown, Chris & Sharyn Wells, David Wells, Gary & Glenda Power, Richard Griffiths, Barry & Rhonda Forster, Ian & Kerry Goddard, Peter Mahoney & Pam Zerk Mahoney, Dennis Setterfield, Pedro Eberbach, Cameron MacMahon, Keith Fulstow, and Graham McPherson.
Once again this weekend was an absolute pleasure to enjoy and attend. The weather was great, the company warm and friendly, the riding excellent, and all the rest brilliant. I guess we each make a social event enjoyable by what we bring to it. It seems to continually be the case that the VMMA do this very well and frequently. If you would also like to experience it then please come along and join our merry band.
Until next we meet, Ciao and best wishes to you all.
Reported by Pedro
