Midweek Ride - 13th July - Lara and Bacchus Marsh

by Mark Nicoll Thu Jul 14, 2022 4:04 pm

Ride Leader, Report & Photos: Mark Nicoll

This was scheduled to be a ride to Anglesea and Wye River, but with the wet weather it was decided to head North instead and avoid the rain in the Otway Ranges.

So, a showery day welcomed the six of us to the start, and the back-up option was readily agreed upon.
Midweek Ride - 13th July - Lara and Bacchus Marsh L1bGZqel

Midweek Ride - 13th July - Lara and Bacchus Marsh L1bGZqel

The ride to Lara was still showery and in and out of the wet conditions, but in under an hour, of course taking an indirect route,
we arrived at Millars Café.
Very nice warm conditions welcomed us, and good coffee, and long chats were had.
Mostly about the waterproofness or otherwise of the various gear that we choose to wear.
On departure, I had to tell the waitress that one of the (old) guys had left a puddle under his chair.
I assured her it was just water…

Five of us continued (Phil went home), with the showers seemingly gone, and we took some back roads around the Eastern side of the You Yangs and joined up with the Bacchus Marsh Road. Thinking the roadworks were mostly done, there was some unexpected slow running for a good length of it between Balliang East and Bacchus.
We all agreed that the B M Rd is just a continuing shemozzle!
Years in the (un)making and years still to come…

Pulling into the Avenue of Honour and market garden area, we arrived at the Big Apple Café.
The weather had fined up and was looking good.
Midweek Ride - 13th July - Lara and Bacchus Marsh WY0Qz30m

Midweek Ride - 13th July - Lara and Bacchus Marsh WY0Qz30m

Midweek Ride - 13th July - Lara and Bacchus Marsh AypnYssm

Nice lunches and coffees all done, the remaining four of us (with Raff heading to Werribee) headed back through familiar territory via Bacchus Marsh – Balliang Rd, with a detour to take in the full length of the very scenic and enjoyable Granite Rd.
Then via Anakie, Robbs Rd and Bakers Bridge Rd saw us arrive at the new United Servo in Gheringhap to finish our ride.
We managed to dodge any remaining showers and stayed dry all afternoon.

With such a small group, we managed the whole day without needing to mark a single corner in the 200km or so, with the group smooth and cohesive.
Thanks to the other riders and Rob for going TEC – whom I kept unemployed!