Motoguzzimackers' Moto Guzzi Diaries

Cloudy but the forecast was for a sunny arvo.  Out through the forest and into Daylesford for my first brew and a warm up.  Then on to Creswick and the Addington Road, past the wind turbines and dodging galahs, errant sheep and loose cattle.

The Waubra Windfarm wasn’t working, as usual.  When it is, the coal-fired power stations have to keep burning coal, anyway.  Free wind energy being subsidised by the rest of us.

Stopped at Beaufort for another brew.

Then north to Talbot and across to Newstead via the Tullaroop Reservoir.

See this idiot!  He must have seen me coming behind him as we crossed the dam wall, but chucked a U-ee on a bend and below a crest.  Jeesus!  It was worse than it looks.

Roadworks gave me 10 kays on loose dirt – no fun on road tyres – but thems the joys of taking backroads.

Finally back on the bitumen and through the Avenue of Honour into Newstead for lunch.  There’s a lot of these avenues in Australia, commemorating those who died in the Great War.

I don’t eat much on the road, so settled for soup.

Then out through Yandoit and Franklinford to Daylesford and home.

Mt Franklin on the horizon.

Covered 350kays.  The Breva now has over 39,000kms on the clock, so a couple more trips will see her ready for a service.  Here’s the run up the valley to Mt Franklin, near Daylesford:

It dawned fine and beaut, just that sort of lazy Spring day:

So we set out on a run for Murchison for lunch, via Nagambie:

Out through Pyalong:

We had lunch in the sun at Wagner’s:

Fired up the Cali for a longish run out through the area between Maryborough and Castlemaine.  Dropped into one of my favourites for a coffee – the Dig at Newstead.  Headed west and turned off for the Tullaroop Reservoir.  Water was pouring over the spillway after the recent heavy rain we’ve had.  Then proceeded to the ghost town of Majorca;

Once there were 15, 000 miners here. Now old, abandoned buildings line the main street.  Either side of the road, as you pass through the area, the paddocks show evidence of old mines and tailings.

Motored on past Talbot and into Clunes, then the backway through Smeaton to Daylesford.

It snowed through the Daylesford,-Trentham area a few days ago but it was all gone now.  Stopped at Glenlyon for another coffee before cruising on back home.

Some afternoon sunshine so took a run up to Lake Eppalock via Tooborac and Heathcote.

Running down tin-tops like dogs:

Into the curves between Lancefield and Tooborac:

Wattles coming into bloom signal the end of winter:

Over the dam wall at lake Eppalock:

The roundabout near Redesdale – in the middle of nowhere:

Approaching the curves near Kyneton:

Crankin’ her over:

Final blast for home:

The welcome home committee:

Went for a fang with Jane (Ducati GT1000)and Heidi (Triumph 600) in winter sunshine.

Jane movin’ it along…

Out past Kyneton aerodrome:

..and towards Malmsbury…

Up the hill to Werona…

Turning towards Blampied…

Mounted the camera on the clutch fluid reservoir and went for a fang.  No wind noise but a bit of clattering, so I’ll have to adjust the mount.  Took a series of stills, too:

I’ve always liked looking at maps; that “searching for that rainbow’s end, waiting ’round the bend” feeling.  Previously I’d spied a road, on the western side of the St Arnaud Range, that had been a touch too far to reach before and decided to do it.  According to Wikipedia, St Arnaud is named after French marshal Jacques Leroy de Saint Arnaud, commander-in-chief of the army of the East and one of quite a number of towns, streets and localities in the area named after people and places of the Crimean War.

I covered some early distance by sticking to the freeway before turning off to Newbridge and St Arnaud.  Here I joined a 30km throng of vintage and veteran bikes out for a club run – Harleys, Indians, Enfields, BSAs, Triumphs, and so on.  Lovely sounds and smells before they turned off for Dunolly and I had the road to myself.  Fueled up at St Arnaud and had an excellent “muggachino” at the bakery, just up from the roundabout.

Headed out on the Wimmera Highway before taking a left turn to run down the range.

This is a very pleasant tree-lined road as it curves along the range.  The countryside was at its best – green and plenty of sheep, yum yum.  Here I came across Paradise:

I turned at Navarre and this provided an excellent run over the range through evocatively named places such as Frenchmans and Black Mares Lane.  The countryside reminded me of the times I’d walked the hills with my .22, bunny bustin’.  A few turns, and I cut across to Natte Wollock (“small plain, big water”) and Bealiba. These were roads with sweepers, good surfaces and no traffic, so I let the pony have her head – if you know what I mean – the rev limiter light flashing furiously at me a couple of times.  Nice!

Had another brew at Dunolly

before heading for home on well-known roads to feed the menagerie.  450 kays in 5 1/2  hours.

Hadn’t ridden for a fortnight due to the cold; coldest I remember here in 33 years.  It was 8C when I set off and struggled to 10C a few hours later.

Blueberry muffin and a “muggachino” for a break.

In the boonies between Newstead and Blampied.