Midweek 9th Feb - Gisborne Early Ride

 
Ride Leader: Mark Nicoll              Report & Photos: Mark Nicoll

As we do at least once every Summer, this ride was an early start, so we get home before the worst of the heat. And despite the forecast of showers, and we could see some around the countryside, not a drop fell on us all day.
11 riders made up the group, with Mal M not making the photo as he just got to the car park as we were pulling out!

Heading out of town via Anakie and Balliang, we turned along Glenmore Rd, and further East this became Nerowie Rd and Exford Rd. 
Turning into Melton South area, it’s amazing just how much development is happening in this region. 
Morning Tea was at a very good and big café called Urban 35, in the suburb of Cobblebank.
Then it was a short hop North-East of Melton through Plumpton, to Holden Rd, Diggers Rest.
This was the first of two sites we visited marking events in our history.
It was at this site on 18^th March 1910, that the world-famous Harry Houdini (yes, the escapologist!) became the first 
to successfully launch a sustained powered flight in Australia.
The photo shows the group at the sight of the flight, with the monument behind them. 
The flight took place in that paddock, with the tree line behind, as in the historical photos.






After a short break and some photos, it was another short run through Diggers Rest and out along Duncans Lane, 
to the site of the Sunbury Pop Festivals back in the 70’s.
Here there is a monument erected to Billy Thorpe.
The photos are at the top of the hill, which looks down over the Festival site.
This year also celebrates the 50^th Anniversary of the first Sunbury Festival in January 1972.






From here it was a great run through Bulla and out along Wildwood Rd through Clarkefield, Riddells Creek and into Gisborne for lunch.
Gisborne was a nice 25degrees and a relaxed lunch was had in the shade.
After lunch, we took in a bit of the old Calder Hwy system to the South of Gisborne, through Toolern Vale, a quick loo stop at Darley, 
skirted around the West of Bacchus Marsh, down to Balliang, then linked up with the Bacchus Marsh Rd and finished 
at the BP Geelong Ring Rd Southbound. 
All done by 2pm! 
But it certainly was a lot warmer down out of the hills.
Some members may have mentioned maybe having a cold beer once home…

Thanks everyone who came along – a really fun day out!

Thanks for a great ride Mark. Visiting the festival site and Billy Thorpe memorial was the icing on the cake!