Mountain Madness 2012: Day 7 - Friday 6th January

Another missive from our 'special reporter' Mel . . .

Back Eildon Rd karma . . .

It was the perfect day for a run home down the back Eildon Rd, Phil having the usual race avec Phil, had been waiting at least long enough to post his lap time on the Bikeme forum and we all started to worry about why Roger and Mark hadn’t arrived.

Richard was our good Sheppard went back to once again round up the stragglers , Phil, Tony and Mel (in no particular order) quickly fuelled up to join the reconnaissance – was a good excuse to do that last bit again we clearly hadn’t had enough.

We were delighted to encounter the oncoming Roger and Mark after yet another tyre repair. See, had our Weather God not been so at one with the universe and helped out Gene with his puncture, he wouldn’t have got the good glue from the nice ranger guy – MM good Karma hey!

Oh no - but he had to make an appearance somewhere!

Mel' said "Tony with his bolts out this time" - I know she meant this nicely too!

Is that all there is . . .

Actually Mark and Josie hadn’t had enough and stayed on the road until Monday – we believe othing else fell of his bike, including his lovely Italian rear, but he did run out of fuel. Yes Mark, the flashing thing is the fuel light – the danger of being riding as part of a collective I’ve discovered– follow the leader doesn’t require too much initiative, but flying solo....!)

And our other very special guest reporter Julie . . .

Auto direction finding GS . . .

Roger and I had decided we were going to head home the more direct route but the bike seemed to have a mind of its own (Ed – now that explains a lot!). Somehow we followed the others out of Mansfield and although taking it easy because of the state of our tyres we got a flat!

Mark E was behind us and of course he stopped to help. The others had gone ahead - I think some refuelled at Eildon but came back in search of us.

We split up with Phil, Mel and Tony who took the Reefton way down the hill. Rich, Roger and I took the Black Spur (Ed –or Black’s Spur as some would have it). Mark headed back to Mansfield where he and Josie were spending an extra night before visiting friends in Shepparton the following day.