Ducati Monster Forum

So I will be in Melb. on a Wed in January to get my bike Turismo checked.  Then have to be back in Melb Fri night. Rather than going home I've decided on a little ride.  

What I'm looking for is an interesting ride to get me from Melb CBD to Omeo on the Wednesday.  Will be doing Omeo-Falls Creek-Mt Hotham- Omeo on the Thursday (I've been told Omeo-Falls creek is all sealed now) then back down to the city on Friday.

Can anyone help me stay off the Princes hwy on my way to the Great Alpine Road?

Anyone who wants to join in is free to do so.

Jealous.........  You'll love it Heather.
I did the Great Alpine on the way back home from the GP this year Omeo Hotham to Bright on onwards.
I didn't have time to do the Falls road but I was told by the publican at Omeo that it's all sealed now.

Have a great ride. Be extra carefull if venturing out on those roads before 7.30 - 8 am  as a 50 something yr old fellow found out the morning we left Omeo. Wildlife heaven

Which way do you want to go Heather?

Option 1 473km  The Mansfield to Whitfield run is great, as well as Bright to Omeo :)


(http://i288.photobucket.com/albums/ll194/dosverde/option1.jpg)

Option 2 455km  Starts well, then it opens up into flat plains before you go up into the hills again, but you miss most of the Highway.

(http://i288.photobucket.com/albums/ll194/dosverde/option2.jpg)

If you had enough time I'd take option 1, but its a reasonably big ride to do in 1 day.

Thanks for the replies.

Vossy thanks for confirming the road - I've heard from a few now that it's sealed so time to check it out.  I travelled the Great Alpine road on the way to Superbikes with Goldfish, Matty, Doc and Mostro - had such a good time that it deserves a re-visit.

Dos
Option 2 would be the go as I won't be leaving CBD until mid morning.  Have to go camera shopping whilst my bike gets scrutineered at Duc city. Could you send me the details or a more detailed map?

My main problem with finding the good roads is whether they are sealed or not as google doesn't make the distinction. Is there a secret way of knowing someone could let me in on?  pretty please  [roll]

Try this for more detail, I don't think I'm using google maps to it's full potential though.

Attempt 37....
http://maps.google.com.au/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Citylink&daddr=Warburton+Hwy+to:Moe+Willow+Grove+Rd+to:Knotts+Siding+Rd+to:Traralgon+Maffra+Rd+to:Bengworden+Rd+to:-37.096538,147.602005&geocode=FZWSv_0dxZCjCCnnzMc141zWajFUq4NpRNHKiA%3BFYaEv_0dELSsCCnlWMAPU9QpazG0rSO2RYMphQ%3BFfkFuv0d6L-3CA%3BFRjnvP0dqMe5CA%3BFR6-vP0dGGTBCA%3BFbiLvP0d87LJCCnniSlCN3AvazEkvfUZhJyBaw%3B&hl=en&mra=dme&mrcr=4&mrsp=6&sz=12&via=3&sll=-37.06504,147.606812&sspn=0.139169,0.307274&ie=UTF8&ll=-37.409437,147.963867&spn=2.216499,4.916382&z=8 (http://maps.google.com.au/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Citylink&daddr=Warburton+Hwy+to:Moe+Willow+Grove+Rd+to:Knotts+Siding+Rd+to:Traralgon+Maffra+Rd+to:Bengworden+Rd+to:-37.096538,147.602005&geocode=FZWSv_0dxZCjCCnnzMc141zWajFUq4NpRNHKiA%3BFYaEv_0dELSsCCnlWMAPU9QpazG0rSO2RYMphQ%3BFfkFuv0d6L-3CA%3BFRjnvP0dqMe5CA%3BFR6-vP0dGGTBCA%3BFbiLvP0d87LJCCnniSlCN3AvazEkvfUZhJyBaw%3B&hl=en&mra=dme&mrcr=4&mrsp=6&sz=12&via=3&sll=-37.06504,147.606812&sspn=0.139169,0.307274&ie=UTF8&ll=-37.409437,147.963867&spn=2.216499,4.916382&z=8)

You may want to take the hightway direct from Stratford to Bairnsdale, It's a bit plain either way.

Thanks a lot Dos that works well.  [thumbsup]

I recall the trip from Bairnsdale to Melb was dangerously straight and boring, especially at the end of a long day of _great_ roads...

Hi Nick.  That's why I'm asking people how to avoid it. And looks like I've been sucessful.  Omeo here I come. [thumbsup] [moto]

doh, don't mind me! now that I've read your original post.....

You could also try a site called motowhere.com
It can show you (like Google maps) your planned route or you can create your own and print it out.
People post up rides from all over the world as well. (i know it's a bit off topic but........)

Thanks Vossy - it all helps.  And it's not off topic.  Anything to do with maps and travelling (mainly by bike) is all relevant to me.  :-*

It's much easier drawing routes using MotoWhere than Google.  Still doesn't tell me what's sealed and what's dirt though.  :(

motowhere is used in the ozmonsters web site - it's a cool thing!

Hi Heather,

Give us a yell closer to the dates and I'll see what shift I'm on.  Might be able to get out for a bit of  [moto] before work.

Cheers,
Rob (still lurking)

Hello Mr Meister.  The dates I will be doing this is Wed/Thurs 6/7 January.  Seeing a gig in the city Fri night then riding home on the Sat (9th).  Was thinking maybe going up through Mt Macedon on the way home on the Sat.  Let me know how that fits in.   [thumbsup] 

let me know heather what the roads are like and there condition when you get back please ,im interested too know to cheers bazz

Will do Bazz.

What gig are you seeing H?

Seeing two.  On Tuesday night seeing Rodrigo y Gabriela then on the Friday I'm seeing the John Butler trio.  Been hanging out to see Rod & Gab again since I saw them two years ago.  Not everyone's cup of tea but very talented guitar players. Love my live, accoustic music. Why do you ask?

i think daves becoming a groupie  [laugh] dont take any notice of me had too much good cheer love xmas

You're right H, not everyone's cup of tea.
John Butler - booooooring.
The other two, well, I can't say I've heard of them, I might have to you-tube 'em. 

As you know, I've got plenty of time off. I'm just looking for ways to wear out my brand new set of tyres  :P

Yeah I'm not too sure bout JBT but I used to like him years ago and he has some new band members.  And he is sort of West Aussie.  But I do know I will enjoy Rod & Gab.

As for scrubbing in your new boots - well I'm going for a little ride in the Vic high country early January. Duh well it is the subject of this thread. Just the matter of a little bit of ocean in the way for you though.   ;D

You call Bass Straight an Ocean? That's not an Ocean, more like a creek...


And it just so happens - a good friend of mine is the 3rd mate on "The Big Red Bus" (Spirit of Tassie).

I pay the minimum fare, and then get upgraded to one of the many empty cabins  ;)

oohh who got friends in all the right places then. Well where I'm going is only a day ride from Melbourne.

Hope you haven't worn out all the Tassie roads already.  :o

Hi Heather,
I'll be free on the 9th.  You said you might head home through Mt Macedon.  Mind if I tag along for a bit?
Maybe we can get some of the others interested in a bit of a ride. [moto]

Be glad of the company Rob [thumbsup].  I want to get home at a reasonable hour.  Last time I went home this way took 6 hours (but I did take one or two unintended detours! read - got lost [roll])  so maybe ride first then have lunch somewhere rather than breakfast then ride??  Didn't you mention in a previous thread something about an eatery somewhere round the Mt Macedon area?

So shall we make this a new (Melb) ride thread?

Sounds good. [moto]


Yep.  There is a cafe up near the top of the mountain.  Food wasn't too bad at all last time I was up there.

I guess we need to plan a meeting point.  Where will you be leaving from?

+1 on option1.  The Walhalla > Cowwar road was a goat track last time I saw it.....

Thanks Ungeheuer.  When you say goat track do mean not sealed?   I have things to do in Melbourne in the morning so I don't have a full day to get to Omeo and I really don't want to spend any time on the hwy if I can avoid it.

Oops, yeah that is a goat track, my mistake. The was supposed to take you back down to Tyers, then accross to Heyfield. Now that I thought about it, to save some time you can just do the following instead of going all the way up to Rawson and back down. (although is is a nice ride)
(http://i288.photobucket.com/albums/ll194/dosverde/Map3.jpg)

Thanks Ung, I would have felt bad if I sent Heather down a crap road for 50km's, I don't think you can get knobbies to fit a Monster.

I've sent myself down some pretty gnarly goat tracks on the Monster and yes knobbies would have come in handy. But would rather not make a habit of it.  Monster doesn't really like anything but nice tarmac.

Thanks Dos & Ung.

Hi all, having a great time so far. Spent today going up Falls creek and back down the other side, then up Mt Hotham and back down the other side.

Going back to Melb tomorrow via Mt Hotham, Myrtleford, Whitfield-Mansfield (have been told I must do this road), Yea, Whittlesea, city.

Then the Saturday Mount Macedon ride. That's if my back tyre holds out that long. Thought it had another 1000kms in it but turns out it only had 100km!  [bang]

Thanks Dos for the tip about Yarra Junction - Moe what a hoot of a road.
Okay bar is open  [drink] so seeyas on Saturday.  [moto] [thumbsup]

I'm jealous, sounds like a great ride. The Whitfield - Mansfield run is worth it too  [moto]

I have a spare 180 section rear tyre - Pirelli Diablo -  in the shed I can do a good deal on. it's a bit flat-ish in the middle from commuting, but probably still has 6000km to go. I can do a good deal if your interested. Could probably get it fitted tomorrow (Friday) night for $25.

Thanks for the offer Dos but as you know didn't see it until too late.  Got home on it okay.  Still can't see metal yet so should still be good for a while.  ;D

Had a good ride today.

Dos and Nibor you missed out on the best part of the ride up to Mount Macedon.
Ducmeister, Spider and I had a nice relaxing lunch - but don't drink the water!

Nice to meet you Robin and I hope you poor Monster is well enough to join us next time.

Only took a pic or two of the bikes.  Will post up when I've got time to load software for the new camera. And let you know what the other roads were like that I've been trying out for the last five days.

Okay quick report:
Photos (not many) here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/heatherp64/sets/72157623053722129/ (http://www.flickr.com/photos/heatherp64/sets/72157623053722129/)

Left Melbourne two hours later than anticipated  [bang] but still took the suggested route to stay off the Princes hwy.  All the roads I took, except one, were great.
Yarra Junction - Noojee Road [thumbsup] Thanks Dos.

Great Alpine Road from Bruthen to Omeo - still being maintained so I did find a gravel stretch or two but nothing too disturbing.  Lots of this road has now been resurfaced which is good because the bits they haven't got to yet are pretty bad.  Still a great road though.

On the Thursday I did a loop from Omeo, up the Omeo Hwy to just past Anglers' Rest.  It is sealed all the way to here.  Great piece of road.  No traffic. Twisty. Scenic.  The only observation I made was that the corners tend to tighten up on themselves sometimes into a hairpin and none of them are marked  :o (no warning signs or advisory speed signs) so it's ride at your own risk.  The ?newly sealed road (Bogong High Plains road) to Falls Creek appears without warning.  I overshot it as did another rider  whilst I was taking photos.  And he had ridden it previously.  If I was going to ride this road again I would do it in the other direction.  For the first 20kms the road is extremely narrow with no centre line so needless to say the 4WDs drive down the centre.  The road is falling apart.  Potholes, corrugations.  No run off.  One side is a four foot ditch the other is off the mountain.  And to top it off there is loose gravel on the best line through all the corners.  It barely gets any better the closer you get to Falls Creek.  But the scenery is worth it (yeah I know – such a tourist!)  I was wondering if this was still a temporary surface but  a lovely young local man/boy (bulging biceps, big blue eyes, sigh) told me this is the final surface.  So us taxpayers have been ripped off yet again.

I don’t want to put anybody off doing this road.  It is worth it.  Especially once you get to the Omeo Hwy.  It’s just not a ‘bike’ road.  More of a tourist road.  So keep that in mind and ride accordingly.
After Falls it was up to Mt Hotham on the way back to Omeo.  Best ride I’ve had up Hotham.  Sun was shining, no wind.  Magic as the photos show.

Next day was back to Melbourne. I was going to back track but discussions with other riders during previous day’s riding and at the pub that night changed my mind to keep going in a loop.  So it was back over Mt Hotham (sunny and warm at 9.30am), Bright, Myrtleford, back road to take me to the Wangaratta-Whitfield.  This encompassed Whitfield to Mansfield which is in the M/Bike atlas and came highly recommended. Glad I did what I was told as it turned out to be anothergreat road. Then on to Yea,  Kingslake, Whittlsea and city.
Then a little meet up and ride with fellow OzMonsters and home .  All up 1999km travelled. One back tyre used up.  Some much needed practice with new camera.  And toughened up butt ready for Turismo.  [moto]

Nice work Heather, glad you enjoyed yourself ... and congrats on getting some of the Vic boys out for a ride together.

I think we are going to have to talk about our escape from Melbourne following Tousimo.


Dave she means she was toning her buttocks ... so she either hasn't given up hope or she is back on the market [cheeky] :-X :-[

Hey Heather,

I gather you went through Hotham a few days ago?....

I've been up there for the past week exploring by MTB...yes the Hotham to Omeo road looked great....was only wishing I could fit the Duke in & bring it to.

Saw lots of bikes on most days but Fri & Sat there were a few groups of Dukes going though....did you see me waving?? ;D

I was up there on Thursday/Friday.  Yes there were heaps of bikes, motor and push.  Didn't see any pushbike riders waving. They were too busy pedalling up the hills.  Much easier on a Ducati.   [cheeky]

Yes, I did see the blur go by!
....it was hard work going up but great fun going down on some of the long dirt tracks.

Unfortunately to many toys & not enough room to take them all. [moto]