Milk Run Ride - 2 days
This is a repeat of the ride we did two years ago, but this time without the rain. Gippsland produces a quarter of the nation's milk supply. We'll learn more about Victoria's dairy industry on this two-day weekend ride as we wander through the rich dairy country of South Gippsland on the rural back roads used by milk trucks to pick up fresh supplies twice a day from various milking sheds in the district. The genteel pace set by a classic Vespa will allow us to enjoy the rolling green hills. The route includes a section of the Grand Ridge Road with glorious views both sides of the ridge and South to the sea. There are some scattered bits of dirt road to add spice to the ride which help make it very scenic. We'll have a look at factories where milk is processed as well as old dairy farmers co-ops that have long closed and perhaps visit a cheese factory and meet lots of black and white Friesian cows named Daisy. We'll have stops for photography, explore some townships and have time to enjoy a beer, wine or coffee along the way. Our overnight stay will be at McCartin's Hotel, an old pub in Leongatha. On day two we'll visit Poowong, a hill-top hamlet North of Korumburra. Our route then wiggles along the picturesque Bass Valley Highway to Bena, dipping down South as far as Innverloch, Cape Patterson and Wonthaggi for a bit of coastal riding. Then we'll climb back into the hills past the charming village of Loch. The total route is 515kms. Map and more details posted soon.
Meeting points and maps for the Milk Run Ride:
1) For Melbournites:
The Alley Cat Cafe in Theatre Place, just off the main Mailing Road shopping strip in Canterbury. Be ready to leave around 8.30-9am.
2) For South Suburbanites:
Ride direct to Bunyip. We'll meet you at the cafe on the corner of Main Road and High Street, Bunyip. The Melbourne mob should arrive around 10.15am
So dairy queens, this could be the last big ride before Christmas and I'm sure it will be a very enjoyable and memorable one. Some pics below taken along this truly beautiful route of the kind of country we'll be riding through. Just like a vanilla buttermilk double dollop of ice cream... yummy!
To put you in the mood and for those too young to remember, milk used to be delivered to our doorstep... by horse and cart. Here is a sound recording I made outside our house at 5.30am in 1965 of the milk man. Best heard with stereo headphones:
http://members.iinet.net.au/~david_imam/milk_man.html
Comments
Thank you for your comments everyone and for making the weekend so enjoyable with your good humour. Among other things dairy related, learnt about bottom coughs via a practical demonstration of this phenomenon. The rolling green hills of Gippsland were the heroes of the weekend and we were lucky to get some sun at the end of each day. Its an amazing corner of Victoria where every twist and turn comes with its own view. It was a big two day 530km ride and an initiation for our first time rider with the club, Jo. Well done. My apologies for the detour down McNaughtons Road. That's a road!!?? When we stopped to pose our scooters in front of a view, a very nice local in the van we blocked suggested we take this road as it dropped down through some interesting rocky outcrops. I asked him if we could get our scooters down there and he said yes. He owns a motorcycle and has ridden down this road often. Well, as we know, it turned into a goat track. Perhaps he wanted to lead us into a death trap. Oh well. There's always room to improve rides so if we ever do the Milk Run Ride again, I'll make a better balance between each day and move the overnight stop to Korumburra or Inverloch and we'll ditch my mad romantic obsession with Aussie pubs for a motel. Thank you to Pete, Julie and Pam for putting on the yellow tail rider vest. Excellent corner marking throughout kept the ride flowing along. My particular appreciation to the Geelong crew for making the amazing effort to come all the way across the bay. Thank you everyone, oh, and of course, daisy the cow and all her friends too. Moo moo.
Thank you David and fellow rides for a wonderful weekend of riding, good fun, good company, good food, excellent planning and beautiful scenery... and we made the ferry! Enjoyed myself very much.
echoing the comments - a fantastic weekend, great company, laughs and terrific scenery. Could not have asked for anything better. Thanks to everyone, but especially David - the planning, accommodation, the routes, the photo stops, so well arranged. Thanks
Thank you David. Just a wonderful ride again. How green is that valley? Well planned, and all too easy for everyone following. You've had a big year. Thanks again.
Fabulous weekend David and all that joined in. Beautiful countryside, perfect weather, fantastic company and so many laughs, delicious treats thanks to Imam, and oh so many cows...500+ amazing kms ridden and congrats Jo on your induction into the club what a great ride for your first time with us and well done.
Sounds fantastic David, so thoroughly planned. See you all in the morning for a fab weekend away.. Sorry you can't make it Ang..
Cheers Julie
See you tomorrow fellows riders
Hello MRR riders. Last minute check before tomorrow. I gather this will be the start/meeting places for various riders. Please correct me if I am wrong.
Starting at Canterbury 8:30am:
David, Imam, Greg, Julie, Lisa, Leonie, Noelene, Jo, Dom,
Pete (Saturday only)
Meeting at Bunyip 10am:
Pam, Sheryl, John, Bren, Tufan, Anthony (who will catch up en route if late). Angela has withdrawn.
There has been a spill over from McCartins Hotel into Leongatha Motel. Based on RSVPs dates, Dom and Anthony will be in the motel. I booked the family room there but now we are one rider short so it may be possible to get a room with two single beds. If we split the total accommodation bill between 15 riders, it will be about $48 each.
We will dine together at the bistro at McCartins on Saturday night. If Dom and Anthony could ride up ready to go and meet us for breakfast in town, that would be great. Sunday is the longer part of the ride but it is simply stunning scenery. So I would like to get away early. Can we do an 8am Sunday breakfast for an 8:30am departure??
Bayles will be the farewell point on Sunday for the Geelongers, Frangers, and South suburbanites. From there its a short ride to Koo Wee Rup and places south west. You'll have to tell me when the last ferry departs in case we have to shorten the ride.
Please start the ride with a full tank. Midway fuel stop will be at Drouin about 103kms from start. The next fuel before Leongatha if you need it is at Mirboo North.
Until tomorrow, Moo moo
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