If we were a collective of Cruise Missiles then our approach on the defences of Yellingbo would have been a military classic i.e. simultaneous and from 3 different directions ! Sadly though as a former group of 8 cyclists we had all the hallmarks of a riding mission gone terribly wrong !
It was appropriate that with the Nation calling out for effective leadership that one Peter ("I'm still not having a stroke") H stepped up to the plate to lead our group of 8 on a 50km Emerald - Yellingbo Loop.
Admittedly i was a little worried when i asked Pete how familiar he was with the "Monbulk Hills" after Pete's reply was that he knew it like the back of his hands despite not having lived in Monbulk for over 50 years !
Bob Lewis did not help our usual clockwork departure when he found out that he'd left his cycling shoes at home. After ringing his support team (his wife) he also noticed that his helmet was missing. Bob started to pull out his phone again until someone remarked "does your helmet look anything like the helmet that's near your bike" ? And they reckon that cycling helps you to age better !!!
With Pete in impressive control we rode as a group to Monbulk where Bob geared up with his hastily delivered shoes.
On our way again through the back blocks of Monbulk JB's suggestion that we should break up into small groups was taken seriously. Soon the 8 became a 5 when the 3 trailing (me included) failed to bring our thermal imaging / radar glasses to be able to work out which of the 4 or 5 possible turns the group up front had taken at a nearby roundabout.
We (the missing 3) elected to go ahead down Swayles road. With JB (our comms man) sending out distress calls, Karlo and i embraced the euphoria of a 60+km / hr descent down a steep section of road complete with an attitude that said we sure as hell aren't going back up that !
Pete's group of 5 soon became a group of 3 as Jurgen and Crasher bravely set off in search of the missing 3 (us).
Somehow the "now" 2 missing groups headed in the general direction of Yellingbo to reform arriving 20 mins before what was left of the main group who'd not only done more kms (by taking the correct route) but also had to stop for Harald's puncture !
With a long coffee break at Yellingbo to reassemble the missing airborne divisions and to conduct a few hasty court martials, we tracked our way back to Emerald along the Macclesfield road up a steepening series of hills in the now warming and smoky early afternoon.
Luckily for Karlo, Henk's suggested short cut on the way back added just a few more hills enough to now have Karlo well and truly in danger of regurgitating his Tasmanian Xmas Pudding !
As all good rides go we finally made it back to base safe and sound to complete a really enjoyable even if slightly chaotic Hills ride - Many Thx to Pete H for organising
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