Santa’s ride and after-party
by Michael (Scooter)
This ride report was originally published in the January 2009 issue of the Motorcycle Tourers club magazine, ‘Chain Lube’.
This is the Foxtel Weather Channel bringing you hourly updates of the significant rain and wind event streaming down from the northern tropics to the eastern states. We will bring you flood alerts and have people on the ground bringing you all the breaking news as it happens.
And so it was that the MMCT crew had been recruited to traverse the state and ride in search of the most hostile weather conditions they could find.
The annual MMCT Christmas ride is always a joyous event lead by Santa and his crew usually in heat wave conditions to spread cheer across the state. However this year it was even too wet and windy for that brave soul Santa to venture outside. So it was left to Santa’s helper Scooter to brave the elements and lead the brave and fool hardy on a journey to spread the Christmas spirit around Victoria.
The ride started as normal at South Yarra where 8 brave members assembled before heading to the second pick up point at Sunbury. Travelling on City Link, Westgate Freeway and behind the Airport we arrived at the Service station in Sunbury to be met by Brett and John. Now our group had swelled to 10. We bravely looked to the sky for any chance of a break in the weather but to little avail.
At 10.30 we set off into the storm heading towards Romsey and Lancefield before turning off the main drag and onto the Burke and Wills track to Baynton and the town of Redesdale. This is such a great road, narrow, twisty and hilly. On a sunny day it can be fast and fun but today we all had to take our time and be on alert for tree branches and leaf litter on the road.
A report from the Weather Channel had advised us that the weather conditions were not as severe once we crossed the Great Dividing Range heading north. As usual they were spot on. The closer we got to Redesdale the rain had stopped and the roads started to dry out. For Darren B it was an ideal opportunity to try out his new bike in such harsh conditions. He has recently purchased a Kawasaki KLR-650, an all terrain bike, and Darren was having a ball crashing through the puddles and rubbish on the roads.
From Redesdale we turned off towards the hills and gorges of Sutton Grange and Faraday before riding through the hamlet of Chewton. It was somewhere along this section of road that Keegan (who had joined us for the day) had a bit of an ooops coming off on a slippery bend in the road. Thankfully it was a low speed drop, and the only damage to his new bike was a scuffed panel and his pride. This ride was going to be a real baptism of fire for young Keegan on his first ride with the club.
We had a quick regroup at the Highway in Chewton to consul and inspect the damage to Keegan’s bike and also hoping to be met by the mayor of the town Gary. But he didn’t bless us with an audience and a message received from him explained it was too wet and muddy to come down from his mayoral office and he would meet us at the Christmas after party. Little did he know that his town was the only place in Victoria that was bathed in sunlight and had no wind.
We were all starting to get a little peckish after battling the elements so off we headed to our lunch stop in historic Maldon. After a relaxing lunch and a wander around town it was time to head off into the unknown and travel to Daylesford for a quick refuel of the bikes and to the Christmas party at Nigel’s house in Point Cook. Our course would take us back over the Great Dividing Range at Ballan and through Anakie and the back of Werribee.
As soon as we got near Ballan and the mountain range we rode straight into the storm again only this time it was more intense than earlier in the day. I have never experienced such heavy rain and buffeting winds, even Darren B on the all terrain KLR was struggling to ride up right and not at 45 deg to the road. We made our final regroup at Anakie and rode across the flat plains of Little River and the bad lands of Werribee while constantly being buffeted by the elements. Finally we where insight of Point Cook and the Christmas festivities that waited for the weary riders.
On our arrival at Point Cook, Nigel was already waiting with his camera to take photos of the wet and weary riders before we were ushered into a specially prepared drying room so we could put on something dry and comfortable before joining the rest of the club members that had arrived earlier and were already well into the party groove. It was good to be inside and out of the elements, after a few stiff drinks the events of the day had all but been forgotten. Nigel and friends had laid out a beautiful spread of food and the room was festooned with Christmas bunting and cheer.
The music played, the BBQ was fired up and we all sat down and recounted the days events. Before long we heard a familiar HO HO HO, it was Santa and his over sized sack full of gifts. One by one we were called up to sit on Santa’s lap and receive our special Christmas gifts. What a gay event it was. After many hours had passed a few of us started to make our ways home with a few members staying on to party into the wee small hours. I’m sure over the next few months we will hear snippets of what went on in the early hours.
I would like to thank Nigel on behalf of MMCT for allowing us to hold the Christmas party at his home and for organising the food and entertainment. Also to all the riders that braved the ride, thank you. And to all the club members I hope you had a joyous Christmas with your family and loved ones and I wish everyone a safe and prosperous new year.
Ride Photos:
