Warburton... if it was good enough for the young Queen Elizabeth in 1954, then its good enough for the Royal Vespa Club of Melbourne in 2011.
Destination
Warburton is an attractive country town nestled between mountains in the upper valley of the Yarra River some 75 Kms East of Melbourne. In days gone by grand guest houses provided a retreat in fresh mountain air as an escape from the grimy city. The town still retains its 'health resort' reputation. Pretty houses set in lovely English gardens with wood smoke drifting from their chimneys make Warby a very picturesque town.
Ride Description
Except for a few kilometres, this ride to avoids the main highway as we ply some delightful little-used back roads that meander through picturesque rural scenery. Throughout the trip, mountains form a constant backdrop to rolling pastoral landscapes, farmhouses, vineyards, orchards, creeks and rivers. At times the road provides an intimate experience where the forest and its canopy cocoon us, at others, the road presents a open vista as grand as a Wagner Opera. These are great roads for two wheels and for those who enjoy the the unfolding narrative of a winding road.
One of the joys of the route is watching the bulk of Mt Donna Buang brooding behind the township loom ever larger as you ride towards it along the Yarra Valley. Just before the Warburton, the road hugs the hillside while below runs the Yarra's clear sparkling energetic waters - a far cry from the lazy mud laden thing we love that flows through Melbourne.
Lots to do here. We can have lunch at the fabulous Wild Thyme Cafe. Their cakes are sensational. Behind the row of old timber shops that sell incense, crystals, tarrot readings and hippy beads - in case the scenery doesn't do it for you - is a delightful picnic ground along the banks of the Yarra where you will find rocks, dogs, ducks, and kids splashing in the water. There are a couple of suspension bridges and a river walk. In the old days, steam trains used to bring in flour and wheat for the Sanitarium Health Food Factory, built in 1925. For those Vespa owners who carry chains, we can ride up to the top of Mt Donna Buang and do donuts in the snow. For the more sensible, about a third of the way up is the Rainforest Skywalk Gallery which juts out amongst the tree tops 17 metres above the lush forest floor.
Keeping off major roads, this will be a lazy meandering ride to take in the wonderful scenery. The plan is to go to Warburton via Park Orchards, Wonga Park, Coldstream, returning via Yellingbo, Wandin East and Mount Evelyn where hopefully the orchard fruit trees will be in full bloom.
The ride will be lead by a nervous first time leader, David. In the unlikely event that you can't keep up, just follow the pleasantly aromatic plume of blue 2-stroke smoke hanging in the crisp springtime air.
Meeting Point and Departure Time
Abbotsford Convent Bakery for coffee from 8am for a 9.30am departure.
http://www.abbotsfordconvent.com.au/visitor-information
Route Map
http://www.motowhere.com/maps/route/Abbotsford-Convent-Warburton
Comments
Remember that little pedestrian bridge we negotiated on our Warburton ride? Well it appears to be an everyday occurrence in Vietnam:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ZT2KNm7Gso
Hi everyone. Thank you for your comments about the Warburton ride. It was fun to map out and lead - although my apologies for all the riders I lost on the way home. Just as well we weren't going to Mars! I was very impressed that nobody piked out on that bit of mud track and the narrow pedestrian bridge. Well done. It was also great to see our little scooters making inroads into the land of the big capacity bikes. Gee those curves were fun - sorry Tony if I was slowing you down. Thanks for your company and support - I always think that VCoM members are the nicest people, David
Really sorry I missed it, but I had to put the good weather to better use - washing Stephanie's doona and cover and mattress protector and assorted towels used to mop up after the new puppy. Also Paul refused to go on a long ride until after he's had the first service on his Vespa 300. Finally it is now run in. The first service has been booked for 31st August. But more importantly, Paul and I spent our honeymoon in Warburton at a grand old guesthouse and since then we have always returned 'together'. It wouldn't have been appropriate for me to go there without him. David's description romanticises Warburton and the planning for the ride was meticulous. Congratlulations on a very successful event and I look forward to it running again, now that Paul's Vespa is run in and hopefully the new puppy will also be 'run in' and house trained by then too. And don't forget to add your training tips to the discussion - 'How to Vesparise a new puppy'.
Great ride David...
Let's do it again in even better weather.
Why not re post it? Pick a date and put it up again. It can become an 'annual'
Greg
David what a fantastic ride you took us on today....planning was done to a tee....well it wasn't your fault that some of us beat you back to the finishing spot..lol..... and the weather was exceptionally favourable. This will definitely be revisited in the warmer weather for those who couldn't make it today to also enjoy. Just beautiful scenery and great back roads especially the pedestrian gate across the little bridge and onto a very fogotten bitumen road.....wish we had have photographed that....
Great day had by all and a great bunch of people as well including Phil on his first ride with us, David's friend Greg and we also welcomed Simon who caught up with us at the top of Mt Donna Buang....glad to see you back on the harley.....
Til our next ride.... take care and we wish the Sydney 6 a safe and memorable ride in a couple of weeks.
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