Yarra Ranges Dustbowl Polka

[glitch]

What a difference a fortnight makes...
Sweet ride and moseying around in the Yarra Hills after an early start to avoid the looming heat later in the day...
Ant must've known what was coming and overslept
Goodie made a guest-appearance
Mitch showed that where a little Thumper can go, a 1250 on near-road hoops can be just as comfy
Apart from the dust, it often turned marbley and squirrely and/ or thumpy-rocky
Doug looses his virginity (and the XT some paint...nothing real serious, methinks)
...and Observation Rd. is a definite no-go, gates locked.

From neat, cool and "tacky" tracks two weeks ago... to some bone-dry, powdery skating-chutes with the ever-present fist-sized rocks and deep, soft center-hump gravel trying to grab the front hoop
to flip the apple-cart on its bum.

 

[glitch]

7.30am....and the white glare of the early sun sure promises a HOT one

Welcome cool in the Toolangi "fernery"

Skating the floury gravel towards Narbethong

Uncle Bob's shack?...yesteryear's' pride and joy.
Now leaning towards....the South, maybe ?

 

[glitch]

So...where the fark are we going?

 

[glitch]

Finally got him... in the clear!

"billowing" towards the Acheron Way

Acheron River at Feiglins Rd.

Mt. Strickland delights (now, there's a bloody magazine shot, methinks)

Oi, Doug...there's a 5ft. Brown Snake exactly to your right, mate (I nearly ran over it by a hair's width before it decided to bail on the DR)

 

[glitch]

Gem of the day for me...Paradise Plains (again!)

Tommys Bend proved as loose, rocky and sorta rough as ever... but happy to see the bush finally re-generating after the fires years ago up here.
Still a lot of dead trees around, but the green stuff is coming back in force (also blocking out all those glorious views we used to get, damn!).

Never seen the Doug-ster go down in all those years on all those rides around Vic, OZ, NZ, Europe...
Luckily it was just a minor.
Heal quick + heal well, mate...we need you back!!



That's it from this corner....thanks for another great days' riding out there, folks

 

[Squizzy]

A few from me.
Early in the day on Blowhard Rd, weather was perfect. We won't say who was doing all the talking when 2 carloads of tourists pulled up and wanted directions. Where did you send them Doug?




We were all meerkatting today. A bit easier to miss the bumps, a bit cooler as well.



The big 1250 always sounded nice as it went past.



Usually he is behind the camera, good to catch a few with Pete in them.



Paradise plains road towards Lake Mountain, no snow today.











Apart from Doug's mishap, a great day. Hopefully he will be back on board quickly. Good to see a new face, and some old ones too. Cheers.

 

[SalmonAUS]

Great day out today! Was thankful for the cool breeze in the morning, but with the sun shining that bright was bound to heat up quickly


I spent a lot of today eating Ian and Doug's dust, but arguably Doug ate the most dust at the end (hope you're ok mate!)


Despite having been raised in Warburton, I really never explored out this part of the valley - I have to say, the Toolangi state forest is quite beautiful

Definitely left most of the photo taking to Pete (my efforts were pretty poor... too much dust methinks) but the 360 camera is always a fun thing, here's a small clip from today (drag around on your screen to change your perspective!)

Thanks again for a great ride guys!

 

[Squizzy]

I like that camera view. Very cool how you can pan around. Love the dash view on the 1250 as well.

 

[glitch]

Where did you send them Doug?

The big 1250 always sounded nice as it went past.

Did it ever!

Usually he is behind the camera, good to catch a few with Pete in them

Cheers

 

[STOOKIE]

Great spot out that way, used to be right on my doorstep too.
I used to like Strickland spur up the back of the Acheron road which took you up to the Marysville road. That’s was a ball buster.
I really miss that area you guys are lucky it’s all within reach. I’m still struggling to get a ride buddy up here (or somebody to call the ambos when I eat dirt )

nice pix , I miss Victoria.