Events

Four days of riding exploring old gold towns like Tarnagulla, and beautiful roads including the historic 'Golden Triangle' North East of Bendigo and even into the Wimmera. Highlights include the amazing Stick Shed, some beautiful art silos (including the first ever in Brim), and some eclectic venues along the way (you have to have a beer at the Logan Pub, and we'll work through some prize winning vanilla slices). And a couple of surprises. We'll be mainly off-highway and the ride will be led by PX so it should be good for most. We've structured the four days of riding, but there's opportunity for you to break out and choose your own adventure.

Accommodation:La Cochon Rose, St Arnaud. It's a long weekend and accom is in short supply around Vic so we'll use the town of St Arnaud  >MAP< as our base, staying at one venue to ride out and return each day. And what a treat. Formerly the Victoria Hotel (1871), La Cochon Rose operates as a boutique hotel, country motel, and art gallery on the main street in the town. They don't serve food, there isn't a bar, and there's no late night music. So it's a quiet peaceful place to rest after a ride. We've booked out the whole venue, so it's excusively ours for the three days - and this means we have negotiated some excellent prices for you.  We can take up to 25 people here and there are various configurations and prices. Overflow - if we fill all these rooms we may have the option of 1 extra room becoming available now under renovation, or we can expand into the old bank over the road. Reserve your room by selecting the one you want and contacting us as a comment below. We'll confirm and give you bank details to pay in advance. Sharing a room makes it even cheaper. Prices below are 'all up' for 3 nights accom - Sat, Sun, & Mon.

La Cochon Rose Rooms- Choose your room and confirm. 

 = Paid Confirmation

1. 'The Residence' - 6 rooms. Upstairs. Shared bathroom, large shared kitchen & dining. $280 per couple or $150 single occupancy. Prices are 'all up' for the three nights.

B1	Queen	$280 $150	Jodie Lake
B2	Queen	$280 or $150	Patricia Clark
B3	Queen	$280 or $150	Gary Bell
B4	Queen + Single	$280 or $150	Matt Thomson & Philip McMullan
B5	Single	$150	David Atkinson
B6	Queen	$280 or $150	Anthony Cusinato

2. "Couples Rooms" - 2 rooms. Upstairs. $280 per couple. Prices are 'all up' for the 3 nights.

F1	Queen with ensuite	$280	Julie Pond   & Greg Pond
F2	Queen with kitchenette, shared bathroom	$280	Suzette Cameron  & Ray Cassar

2. More Upstairs. Shared bathrooms. Prices are 'all up' for the three nights.

F3	Queen	$280 or $150	Paul Jones
F4	Queen	$280 or $150	Belinda Dalli
F5	Queen	$280 or $150	Athena Katopodis  & Chris Katopodis
F6	Queen	$280 or $150	NA. Currently under renovation but may soon become available.

3. Motel Units. Located Rear. 60's retro. Full ensuite, kettle, microwave, fridge, toaster. $350 all up for the 3 nights.

U1	King	$350	Mark Agar
U3	Queen + Single	$350	Sheryl Towsnend & Maria Todaro
U4	Queen + Single	$350	Leo Wings  & Anthony Bottegal
U5	Queen + Single	$350	Sharon Montalto  & Peter Schwellinger

There's a communal Laundry on site, as well as an antique shop to browse! The rear yard has plenty of space for all to park.(It's the old Cobb and Co depot)

4. The 'Old Bank'. Beautiful old building across the road. Shared bathroom, kitchen facilities. $280- $300 per couple or $150-$170 single occupancy. Prices are 'all up' for the three nights. (See the picture below)

We'll fill these only after Le Cochon Rose is full. We can only confirm a room here if the waiting list is full.

Eating

Like many towns in the region, behind the grand street facades there are tough times. Many hotels have closed, the biggest and most popular (The Royal) only recently. Fotunately a new breed of entrepeneur is hitting the area. The Dancing Kelpie Splendid Restaurant has now expanded into the old Commonwealth Hotel, just a block away from where we are staying. There's a diverse menu, and we've made a booking for 20 for Saturday and Monday evenings (leaving Sunday for a free evening). Here's a recent photo of the Specials Board. Breakfast will be based at the Shire Cafe (menu). All ride-outs will leave from here after breakfast.

Ride Information

There'll be many nice stops along the way, and hopefully places you've never been before. Being a long weekend we'll be avoiding the heavily touristed towns like Daylesford, Maldon, Castlemaine.

Day 1 - Saturday 1 November. Melbourne to St Arnaud 270 kms

Meeting: Assembly Ground Cafe, 104 Fletcher St, Essendon (Map: Right on the big Essendon roundabout) You'll need to arrive by 8.30 AM if you want a coffee before we head off, or earlier if you are thinking of breakfast. (The cafe opens from 7 AM) Departure is at 9.00 am.  Then Kyneton, Malmsbury, Chewton, Vaughan Springs diversion, Newstead, Maldon, Eddie's Garage in Eddington for lunch, Dunnolly, St Arnaud. All backroads. Fuel top ups - Taradale 118 Kms. Maldon 175 Kms - no fuel beyond until St Arnaud 270 kms.

View / Download the Route Map: https://www.plotaroute.com/route/3020602

Day 2 - Sunday 2 November. Cathedrals of the Wimmera 270 Kms

We're in the wide open Wimmera and that beautiful flat golden wheatscape. (Julie's home territory). The roads are long and straight but the rewards are great. The Murtoa Stick Shed is unforgettable, Rupanyip Art silo, Minyip, Sheep Hill Art Silo, Brim Art Silo. Lunch in Warracknabeal. We're backtracking a bit to keep the kms down to under 300.

View/ Download the Draft Route Map: https://www.plotaroute.com/route/3020643

The Murtoa Stick Shed, aka "The Cathedral of the Wimmera. We're booked in, and the entry fee will be paid as 'ride support' compliments of the Club. We also have agreed permission to move our Vespas inside the shed for a photo shoot. Enjoy!

Day 3 - Monday 3 November. David's Golden Discovery

Day 4 - Tuesday 4 November Home Direct

Avoca, Talbot, Creswick

With the usual provisos: 

There will be some long roads, and some long days in the saddle. Rural roads of variable quality. Many roads will be 100 kmh. There won't be a Vespa mechanic within cooee. So this is for experienced riders only. We're happy to talk it over with you, but we'll let you know if we don't think you should do it.

You are an independent rider. Your bike is recently Major serviced, well maintained, and roadworthy. Your tyres have plenty of tread or are new. You carry your own tools and parts to do minor repairs, including tyre puncture.  You are insured, and have emergency roadside assist if you seriously break down and need to leave the ride.