Mordialloc-Frankston ride, Sunday, 20th August, 2006

Perhaps it's the weather or perhaps we're all starting to think we should work off some winter fat, as some of the recent B-Spon rides have been particularly well attended. The 20th September ride from Mordialloc Station to Frankston and back was no exception, with 9 machines and 11 riders completing the leisurely trip.

The 10am departure from Mordialloc was delayed as yet more riders rolled into the car park, and as we ratted around in the rubbish looking for a bit of wire that Robert W. could use to replace the pin he left at home to hold his seat on. A flat tyre also needed changing. Eventually everyone was ready and the convoy headed off.

Peter's tyre had to be patched......

The route follows the bike path running up the drain reserve and wetlands that lie to the east of the beach road and railway strip, with a short stretch along beach road from Seaford and through the back streets of Frankston to the beach. It's very flat apart from the ups and downs of the embankment and bridge over the Patterson River.

Trikes dominated this ride, with George, Chis, Peter, Rodney and John K (with Kommett riding serenely on his lap) all spinning along at low altitude. Robert in his low rider and John R on the maiden ride of the Blue Meanie represented the conventional 2-wheeler recumbent, while Ludo and Renild on their hybrid tandem and Ruth on a standard wedgie completed the crowd.

John K and Kommett with Robert W and George D behind.

A blowey northerly provided a helpful tailwind down to Frankston, but the trip was rather slow, thanks to more flat tyres, the temporary loss of George and Chris near Carrum after taking a wrong turn, and John K stopping to give a tipsy woman a trial ride on his trike. Only one bike barrier posed a problem with 3 of the trikes having to be lifted over the fence.

Chris in front leads Ruth (upright), John R (on Blue Meanie) while Ludo and Renild on the tandem bring up the rear.

Lunch in the park was a welcome break despite John K and Georges's appalling puns, but thanks to delays and the headwind we decided to make the return trip a simple backtrack rather than a diversion to Baxter. We enjoyed a superb cup of coffee at Seaford before pushing against the (much abated) headwind back to Mordialloc. Thanks everybody!

Robert and John K cross the Patterson River bridge.

The photos are courtesy of Rodney.