Recharging.

[HACKLE]

Recharging. No not the bike, but me. Went for an easy 2 days riding in the high country of Victoria. Basically 1155 kms. of pretty well over 75 per cent of nothing but twisty roads. For those that might be interested. Started at home in Trafalgar at 5 am. yesterday and headed east on the Princes Hwy. [only real straight bit] to my old hometown of Bairnsdale.
  Then turned north into the mountains to Omeo [fuel], Anglers Rest. Glen Wills, Mitta Mitta and stopped for lunch at the Dartmouth Hotel. I have organised a FarRide [Australian long distance riding group] to this establishment for the 17th. February and I wanted to meet with the publican.
  From Dartmouth it was continuing on the Omeo Hwy. before right onto the Murray Valley Hwy. and into Corryong for night. About 550 kms. for the day. Nice and easy, recharging started.
  Leaving Corryong this morning I'd planned on more of the same as yesterday, bend on bend on bend. West on the Murray Valley Hwy. before left onto the Upper Gundowring Rd. and south down the east side of the Keiwa River. This road never fails to put a smile on my dial, sorry, face.
   A right at Gundowring then crossing the Keiwa River before a left onto the Keiwa Valley Hwy. before a right onto the Dederang - Yackandandah Rd. Following the power lines uphill it's like an uphill roller coaster ride, great. At the top it was left onto the Tunnel Gap Rd. for the run down through Mudgegonga and into Myrtleford.
   West onto the Great Alpine Rd. before left onto the Snow Rd. and on through Milawa [Brown Brothers Winery home town], Oxley before another left onto the Wangaratta - Whitfield Rd., passing Docker, Moyhu, Edi, King Valley [home to some great cool climate wineries], and finally Whitfield.
    A quick break to let the wife know my whereabouts and I was back into the sinuous uphill smooth bitumen to Tolmie before plunging down the southern side into the bustling holiday town of Mansfield.
    I'd planned on stopping for a quick bite to eat. But I did say it was bustling, maybe I should have said bursting. It was absolutely heaving with holiday makers, so there was no stopping for a sandwich. Out of town on the Maroondah Hwy. before left to Alexandra. Again I considered stopping to ward of the hunger pains but Alexandra was as bad as Mansfield.
   Now I was in get home mode and avoid the holiday traffic as best as I could. South to Healesville before gliding past more Yarra Valley wineries and onto Woori Yallock, Cockatoo, Gembrook, Packenham before turning onto the Old Sale Rd. [my favourite in this area] and on home through Robin Hood, Brandy Creek, Buln Buln, and finally home to Trafalgar.
   Top up the tank and trickle the 1.5 kms. home from the servo. The total for the two days was 1155 kms. Easy, enjoyable, and most of all, my batteries are now fully charged. Oh by the way, I haven't had my seat altered yet, and only need my Airhawk lightly inflated to get me through all my riding, whether it be easy two day jaunts, or longer multi days on the clock.
    Trusting that other members have the same ability to sharpen up their batteries in a  similar way 



 

[nervouswreck]

Nothing like a "pack and go" to make things right with the world.  Sounds like a good ride.

[rvbobby]

So jealous.18 degrees here in the southeast of US.Come on March, get here already.

[HACKLE]

rvbobby, I should have mentioned that I met three couples on Harley [Glides and Road King] at the motel in Corryong. They had a friend from the mid west of USA along on a borrowed Glide. He had two weeks leave from his farm before returning to home. I asked how he was enjoying the "cool" mountain roads. He replied that he was thinking of selling up and moving to Australia, that's how much he was enjoying himself. He also had never seen a Trophy before mine and was mighty impressed. Couldn't work out why Triumph were discontinuing manufacture of it. It just goes to show that if you put it out there, people will respond with their hip pocket. Hope that March isn't too long in arriving.

[rvbobby]

Mr Hackle.I let my buddy ride my Trophy one day and he was blown away.This is a fellow who has 7 bikes and has been riding over 50 years on countless bikes.So i can surely relate to your story. 

[Travelling2bob]

Great narrative mate, along a route I wouldn't mind trying someday.

[Verdun95]

Great report  ; thank you for sharing with us, very inspiring and good for the mood  while stranded into Eleanor remnants

[1675]

I'm not jealous at all. Not one little bit. Cold and raining here with grey skies and salt on the roads. Cant wait for march when the rain gets warmer