SADSAC: Briagolong - Maffra 01 June.

Back on deck at last.

Despite the threatening weather conditions around fourteen riders made their way to Briagolong.
The route itself was actually the same as the Saturday Morning Briag group's standard ride. While the speedsters from the Saturday group do it as a nice morning exercise, we chose to use the whole day.
The ride is generally flat with the odd hill thrown in. We had one new? rider with Max, a seasoned local, choosing to share his day with us.
 Due to the cool conditions it suited most of the group to wear their weatherproof gear for the duration. Fortunately these garments were only needed for temperature control and not precipitation. We had not gone that far on the ride before we noticed a couple in the distance that looked somewhat familiar. Bridie and Graham had ridden out to meet us and stayed with us till lunch at Maffra. The rest of the run to lunch was generally uneventful apart from Ted losing his tail light near the hill climb circuit. Approaching Maffra I tend to use the rail trail access track for the challenge. On this occasion I had some company,this never happens with the Wednesday group. We also had three of our number take a short cut via the trail from Tinamba. I had much difficulty restraining Denis who felt obliged to beat them. We had a tip off that something was on at our usual lunch venue so planned an alternate just in case. While the shed was set up, it was empty, but we decided to use the facilities at the nearby playground instead. Despite some money being spent on the shed in recent times some felt the venue chosen was better. Our backup, Lorraine, had provided us with some home cooked treats to raise the occasion even more.
As we were about to leave the ride leader, myself, noticed the rear tyre was flat. The onlookers made every attempt to destroy my confidence, but I was having none of it. Once on the way we took the back streets and the cemetery to make our way to the Boisdale Road. Along the Back Boisdale Road we met up the informative Phil who rode with us a bit. Spirits must have been high as some chose to conduct a run out towards the end. The leader was even overtaken by Alister approaching the outskirts of town. As we packed up the rain started, luckily the local coffee house was watertight. All agreed the day  was most enjoyable.

More like mild mannered Max

Tail light war stories

Denis with latest boxing gloves

Lorraine checks on riders

Crossing Banana Bridge

Leaving Tinamba

TRAMPS: Trafalgar - Warragul 25 May.

Due to my absence Vance has kindly provided report and photos.

A small amount of hydraulic sunshine during the starting set up disturbed some riders, however that was last we saw of it.
Although two new riders, Mark and Eileen, turned up it was a sad start as our friend Jim would never be riding with us again.
Eileen expressed the difficulty of remembering everyone's name, so we told her that to make it easy for her we had, two Daryls, two Bruces, two Janets and three Richards.
One of the riders who usually addresses everyone at the start, brought his bike and a dose of the flu and spent the day in the car. This left eighteen riders for the day.  With the brilliant leadership of Janet, the ride sauntered along Waterloo Road to Yarragon for a toilet break, then onto the Darnum - Shady Creek Road. As Number One Road was closed we continued along Bloomfield Road to enter Warragul via Queen Street. Warragul's Civic Park is a beautiful place for lunch and we all enjoyed it.
Trevor's truck has a lot of clutch shudder and behaved like an angry animal on the hill starts. The return journey, after leaving the town, was to the north along Nilma-Shady Creek Road, then Yarragon Shady Creek Road, we then descended to the plains of Yarragon and back to Traf. for the Cappuccinos.  It was a perfect day, everyone was happy; a very successful ride

Awesome view

Wot's so funny?

Great day so far

I WON"T have my foto took

Resting in natural beauty

Gorgeous chicks

SADSAC: Maffra - Heyfield 18 May.

Due to my absence Liz has provided both report and photos, thanks Liz.

A small group of Sadsacs left Maffra for Heyfield exactly at 1000 hrs with Jim reminding us that "we are the lucky ones". Mild weather and only a gentle breeze made for very pleasant cycling through the lush dairy farmland. Soon we were at the lunch stop enjoying Dave's famous carrot cake and Heather's yummy biscuits. Graham enjoyed showing us the Rotary History Pavement and the Keene family bricks in this paved area of the Heyfield park. The ride home took us over  Blores Hill with Dave's speedo registering 33 km/ hr as he crested the top of the hill after powering up the rise. Ken clocked 64 km/hr on the descent with the remaining riders in hot pursuit. The ride calendar advised us the total distance would be 65 km however we were back at the Port of Maffra in 50 km ( I think we followed the right route). No one was in any hurry to go home so we moved on to afternoon tea at one of the local Maffra cafés.
Next ride is from Briagolong on the first day of winter.

Catching up over lunch

Some of your finest, waiter

It is written, that's why.

The tablet in question

Homeward bound

The main bunch

TRAMPS: Traralgon - Tyers 11 May Note: Route Change

As I was not in attendance for the ride Vance has very nicely provided me with a report on the day.

15 riders overcame most of Mothers' Day to ride to Glengarry for the opening of the Gippsland Plains Rail Trail.
The normal route out of Traralgon needed to be changed as Marshals Road was supposed to be closed.
It didn't look too closed when viewed from Glengarry Road.
The park at Glengarry was filled with many people and very loud music.
Some past riding acquaintances were scattered though the crowd as well as Bruce.
With a jumping castle, Koko the clown to entertain and a sausage sizzle on option, I chose the food.
The speeches began.  With all the congratulating and thanking everyone, it seemed like the member for small businesses etc. Russell Northe, seemed to forget to actually open the Trail.
However Tramps got a special mention early in the ceremonies.
The riders quietly withdrew and facing a head wind, rode on to Tyers for lunch.
Janet did a great job driving the support vehicle onto the grass in the park, thinking at any moment she would sink to the hubs, but it didn't happen.
The return journey took us over Toms Bridge and ably lead by Richard Jeffery, through the winding roads around The Mill, to approach Traralgon from the west.
Tony thought his tires had stayed inflated long enough and must have ridden though some glass and let one of them down.  He then cleverly conned the support to drive him and his bike home so he could go to a soccer match.
With such perfect weather for bike riding and a successful day, everyone who could ended up enjoying a coffee at Maccas.

Just to add that while not in attendance for the ride I did put in an appearance at the opening for Sadsacs. I noted that the crowd was considerable, boosted no doubt by the Mothers Day Fun Run. The Briagalong Bush Band provided the atmosphere and the mood was also lifted by the former Sale Town Crier, now Councillor, Darren McCubbin. I also noted that the Latrobe City Mayor seemed to only want to open her bit to Traralgon. Also chairman Helen reminded us that there were still three bridges missing, so some work left for a final product. I am looking forward to doing the full length, but perhaps not over 3 days.
The photos are a mix of Vance's and mine, as per usual.

Action figures (plus Hobbit)

Local riders at the opening

Crossing the bridge

Daryl you tell some beauties

Lunch finished

Nice winter? afternoon