The big head turner was Brian/5's new RnineT/5. What a brilliant match for a person who has held a torch for the BMW /5 for decades.
The ride route was between a thunderstorm and a wet place until detailed analysis of the BOM radar showed a window of opportunity for a dry ride. DFS, Firey Ross, Survey Ross, Wightman, Nannup Nick, Sophie, Just John, Swampy and Bozo headed up the scarp to Pickering Brook where Wightman and Survey Ross switched allegiances to a more mature group. A glorious ride through Repatriation Road, Walnut Road, and Mundaring Weir Road with dry roads, patches of sun, and limited detritus. Where detritus threatened us was through rapidly climbing temperatures on one of the sports bikes but a swab for COVID-19 proved negative with fluids showing no sign of dehydration and exercise of the throttle removing the elevated temperature.
Peter Bee boosted numbers at Mundaring as we took Yarra Road, Talbot West Road, Talbot Road and Cut Hill Road to get to York. We were very fortunate that two overwidth vehicles passed us on the turn on to Great Southern Highway and not during the limited seal width on Cut Hill Road. Through a packed York for the second time in two weeks we passed through Spencers Brook before taking Trimmer Road to get to the Great Eastern Highway. Turning back towards Clackline we took the winding Eadine Road (the old Great Eastern Highway) to get on to the Clackline Toodyay Road. At Hoddy Well Road, Peter Bee led us on the impressive scenic route to Toodyay that emerged on the Racecourse Road after taking Salt Valley Road, Sandplain Road, Drummond Drive and Stirlingia Drive (apparently a Brian/5 imparted run). Arriving in Toodyay we took over a table in a COVID-19 safe corner of the Coca Cola Café to talk about railways and travel. Peter Bee led the remnants of the ride along River Road and then back to Sandplain Road, Salt Valley Road and Fernie Road. We took a deviation to Bailup Road where a deviate was bailed up polluting the road side verge. On to Chidlow and Mount Helena where the ride ended.
The day was magic with stunning weather despite BOM's multicoloured radar images. It was accompanied by green paddocks, little traffic, cyclists that moved to single file as we passed and dry roads. Thanks to Swampy and Nannup Nick for tail end Charlie duties and to Peter Bee for leading us through the scenic roads around Toodyay.
Bozo
