Impromptu Tuesday Ride 7 March 2023

The weather forecast was favourable so Brian, Vaughan and I met up at Lilydale for an impromptu mid-week ride.  We rode off out the highway past Coldstream and turned off at St Huberts and checked out the scenery as we passed some lovely looking vineyards and orchards on our way to Yarra Glen.  We then bypassed town, crossed the aqueduct and climbed up past Christmas Hills.  We turned off at Watsons Creek and rode some tight back roads via Panton Hills and Hurstbridge to Nutfield where we met by a road closed sign.  We then took a road I’ve never ridden before

(which was lovely)
and found our way to Arthurs Creek before stopping for a refreshment break at Toorourrong Reservoir where we also visited the memorial to the victims of the Black Saturday Fires of 7 February 2009. 

It was nice to be able to take the time to visit it properly.
After that we enjoyed riding the lovely climb up to Kinglake West and continued through Flowerdale and Strath Creek before stopping briefly atop Murchison Gap.
 
 
The new speed limits along that section have made it less enjoyable than it once was.  Sitting on 80 KPH on a good surface highway with excellent visibility in zero traffic was more than a bit frustrating, especially as soon after that we were in a 100 KPH zone on a rough poorly marked goat track which wasn’t even two lanes wide!  I had a grumble or two to myself pondering the authorities’ decision making processes. 
From Broadford we rode a short section of freeway and then back roads via Tallarook and Hilldene to Seymour where we stopped for lunch and also visited the Vietnam Veterans Commemorative Walk and Park.

  We then rode more back roads via Highlands to Yea and on via Break O Day to Glenburn where we joined the Melba Hwy.
 
We parted company around Yarra Glen.  Traffic was generally light and the weather despite being a bit cool in the morning was good.   Brian and Vaughan - thanks for coming along and making it another very enjoyable mid-week ride despite the short notice.  

John Cook