Sunday Short ride to Corio 7/8/22

Ride Leader, Ride Report and photos - Mark Nicoll
Additional photos:  Peter B - "the Lens" 

Despite the bad forecast a few days out, the day dawned in full sunshine.
Quite cool, but when the sun is out, it's a good day!

With 8 riders rocking up for the start and one member to follow in his car, off we went.
As per the briefing, as the group stayed together really well, I only marked the corners when I couldn't see TEC,
so the first half of the ride was a nice steady pace with everyone together. 
Some of the riders at the start:






The route took us out through the Barrabool Hills, up through Bannockburn, a nice run through the Moorabool Valley, 
then into Lovely Banks and the skirted around the Northern edge of Corio. Then out past Geelong Grammar then skirted around the
Corio foreshore, through the industrial areas, and then past the Ford Factory.
This was to get around the roadworks happening in Corio Quay with the development of the new Spirit of Tasmania Terminal. Our little loop around the 
Princes Hwy then took us past to have a closer look at the massive works happening. The first Tassie Ferry sails out of Geelong on 23rd of October!
Somewhere around here a corner marker moved and we lost our tail, but she found her way to the Hotel and all was good.
Then it was straight up Station St and around the block into the Gateway Hotel.
3 more members and partners met us there, and then it started...

The "Feast" began and without giving away too much, I know for a fact that everyone got more than their $22 worth!
Most members had a go at 2 plates, a few had 2.5 or 3, and then there was the 1... 2... 3? desserts???

No names, and everyone's reputations are intact.    What happens at the Feast stays at the Feast.

I really nice day out. Thanks everyone for coming along. Thanks to Patt as TEC.













The photo-bomber was a waitress who liked our name "Ulysses" as her favourite butterfly is the Ulysses Butterfly. 
Hearing we were from 'Geelong', I had to tell her we ride 90km to get here!
So I told her none of us were butterflies, but just ageing bikers who never travel in straight lines.