Day 1 - Saturday 31st December

Melbourne to Omeo

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Starting from anywhere . . .

In many past years there have been some rather large and formal departures – like all meeting at Garry’s place (and nearly falling off the loaded bikes in his driveway) or having a cup of tea and snacks at Tony and Joan’s place.  By contrast, this year’s departure was almost a non-event.

Lorraine and I met the 2012 lead rider Richard at his place in Doncaster and rode together until he decided to go a back way – so we were down to one even before we got to Mansfield!  Ivan and Phil P were late cancellations – Ivan due to his hassled domestic arrangements and Phil P due to yet another headache! 

Danny and Mark met up somewhere in the north of the city travelled to the Jamieson road and assembled with the already ‘up there’ MMs of Phil, Mel, Roger and Julie. 

Roger trialling smoke signals to communicate with the other MMs

Just what are they up to?

Karen and Mark were somewhere ahead on the road to Omeo. And Loyd had put his DRZ 400 (!) on his trailer and was heading to Bright in the Land Rover.

Mansfield rendezvous . . .

So those who were planning to meet did so at Mansfield.  After some fuel and coffee we all headed off towards Whitfield together.  After a brief stop the ‘off-roaders’ headed the off road way to Bright and the rest of us took the normal way.   Loyd also joined us at Bright.
The day was warming up quite a bit by the time we got to Bright and we were keen to get to some higher ground as soon as possible.  In general terms it was a variable speed expanding motorcade up the hill through Falls Creek and Anglers Rest . . . the fast ones went fast and then waited for us slow ones – and then it all happened again and again.

Our 'dear leader' making a suitably regal arrival in Mansfield . . .

. . . and is mobbed by his grateful flock of Mountainers looking for directions!

That probably hurt . . .

The main bit of excitement was when Lorraine and I came across a crashed cyclist between two blind corners.  She was sprawled across the road and in quite a bit pain and discomfort – her right arm was a bloody grazed mess and I am sure something was broken in her shoulder. 

We activated our already trialled and approved ‘emergency management plan’ – Lorraine and another bloke directed traffic while I attended to the patient and organised for her husband to collect her in their car.  We reasoned this would be much quicker than getting an ambulance to this relatively remote spot on the road.  They were well organised and we supported her arm with a sling before they headed off.

Thanks for coming back to look for us Richard and Phil . . . it was very much appreciated.

Tony doing a re-enactment of the crash for the cameras!

Across the top . . .

We all assembled at Falls Creek to reassess the situation – and reasoned that there was only one way to go and that was further along the road.  The views between Falls and Anglers Rest are quite breathtaking and the road is in reasonable shape – except Melissa doesn’t like the look of the surface as it always appears loose.  This is excellent news for me because it was one of the few occasions that I arrived before her – we were a good 45 seconds in front at Anglers Rest!

Still in the lead across the top!

Pretty close to the top of Oz

I know who might live down there!

Cold Omeo beer . . .

The temperature had not abated much by the time we all safely arrived in Omeo.  So we naturally did the obvious thing and headed straight for the bar!  Tony had come up to Omeo from the south and was already well lubricated and on his 8^th beer – so he made an early start to his New Year celebrations. 

After a little while some of us fuelled up ready for the next day and put our bikes around the back of the pub in the enclosed yard that they kindly lock each night. That is, all except the ageing Loyd who was looked after by Phil, as usual. Loyd came out to find his bike stolen...!!! Luckily Phil had hidden it where it should have been.

There is a crack in everything - that's how the light gets in! (Leonard Cohen)

Happy mountaineers . . .

Note to self - don't mess with this lot!

Alf - I don't know where to start telling you about Tony!

Hey - who pinched my camera!

Would you believe 37 years?

Goodbye 2011 . . .

And so the New Year celebrations began . . . we were all pretty hungry and ready for a meal by about 6:30pm.  Alf and Narelle joined us for the evening (Alf lives near Swifts Creek) and they fitted in without even making a splash – I can’t wait to see Alf’s violin making gear one day!

Dinner came and went, the cigars came out and a copious amount of alcohol was consumed – and of course we caught up with the year’s comings and goings of our fellow madmen and madettes.  And we also heard nearly all the old favourite stories – yet again!  Consumption had finally got the better of Tony and he made an early retreat. 

I think we have even sat at this table before!

You were a what!

I predict an apparition of Julie will appear from behind the curtain . . .

. . . I just wish I could predict when I was going to run out of fuel!

I am going to eat up quick before these old geezers pinch my food!

Who ate someone else's chips then?

Jeez - these guys can talk some crap!

In my considered opinion . . .

The most and least vocal . . .

Are you sure it is safe here Alf?

Dearly beloved we are gathered . . .

Same place, same people, same stories . . . practicing for old age!

Us men are good at simulanteous conversations - just listen to me!

OK - it's Oz v NZ at finger sword fighting!

Who is that annoying kid in the background?

He doesn't say much - but the point is always very clear!

Quiet retreats . . . for some!

We noticed that the Halses also headed back to their luxury motel reasonably early and Alf and Narelle made a timely and graceful exit at a sensible hour.  Lorraine and I also crashed out well before the midnight hour at around 11:00pm – and interestingly we saw Tony making his way downstairs for a second round of festivities as we were heading up to our room to go to bed!  That guy knows how to live on the edge!

The special window into the Land of Loyd!

My numbers . . .

For the record, my ‘statistics’ for the day were”:

Fuel Consumption – 6.2litres/100km

Distance – 517km

Time on Bike – 6 hours 51 minutes

Average Speed – 75 kph

Factorised Terminal Velocity – 3*7*7