Justins Yarra Bendsss Ride
16th February 2024
By Justin

JUSTIN'S YARRA BENDSSS Ride
Date: Friday 26th January 2024
By: Justin
Justin put the word out via the Member Jungle for a jolly over the Dandenongs and around the Yarra Valley foothills. Garret, Barend and Tony Jarvis responded and we organised ourselves for Tuesday the 23rd to meet in The Basin. Andrew, a friend of mine came along on his FZ8 also. The weather was going to be amazing with a top of about 30.
Garrett was waiting for us at the rendezvous at 9am and Barend rolled in shortly after. Unfortunately Tony had to cancel due to a dead battery he discovered the night before.
We took off up Mountain Hwy through Sassafras (as a warm up). Then through Gembrook, Yellingbo, Woori Yallock, Yarra Junction then via Old Warburton Rd.
In Warburton we wrangled a picnic table and drank some delicious coffee from Silva Coffee Roasters where a prime parking position was waiting for us out the front. Unfortunately, over the road was a worker hanging off a concrete cutter and another on a high pressure cleaner working on the footpath - ahh the serenity!
Headed east out of Warburton, a regroup and threw ourselves at the Reefton Spur. I think I only crossed one or two vehicles heading down the spur, so it was a lovely run up the hill.
A bit of a breather with everyone at the top and then across to Marysville for lunch. We thought we’d try the Keppel Cafe.
The cook looked like he was of Japanese heritage and they had a few nice Asian inspired dishes - I had Japanese Karaage Chicken salad (yummo). After lunch headed down the Black Spur (another almost car free run in our direction).
Barend shot through after Healesville and then the 3 of us went up through Chum Creek and Toolangi to Kinglake where Garrett left for Riddells Creek.
Andrew and I then headed to St Andrews, Arthus Creek, Nuffield and Broad Gully Road to Diamond Creek.
Overall, this was a lovely relaxed trundle through the hills, almost car free, with beautiful scenery and some super fun roads…Gotta love midweek riding ;-).
Justin