2005 Trip Report - Venturer Mountain Bike Weekend

Friday 1st April - Monday 4th April 2005

Although it happened almost a full year ago, I wanted to let those of you who didn't go the Mountain Bike weekend in the March School Holidays, (run by members of the Bogong Rover Chalet), that you missed out having a great time.

Ready to go, outside the chalet

The three, (that's right, only 3), Venturers that did turn up had a great two and a half days riding. We all arrived on Friday night, (very late as usual, due to the travel distance required to get there), and hit the sack ready for a big days ride on Saturday.

After a hearty breakfast, (Rovers sure know how to do a good feed), the 3 Rovers and three Venturers, along with 1 assistant Scout Leader headed off for a massive ride that was basically all downhill. The remaining Rover and myself drove around late in the day and met them at the bottom of the "hill", and transported them up and back towards the Chalet, and left them to ride the last few K's home.

Sunday's weather was not so kind, but after pumping themselves up, donning the Gortex, and praying for the weather to change for the better, they headed off. Less than 10 minutes later they were back at the Chalet, wet as shags and ready for a hot shower to clean off the mud, and the minute mica particles that they picked up on the short ride, (the bloke who invented Bikes without rear mud guards must have been a masochist).

Luckily, Monday morning was better, and after closing up the Chalet after breakfast, the intrepid group rode back to Falls Creek, via the Aqueduct, about 11 K's in all, and arrived not long after the two vehicles. Unfortunately, the rear hub on Rhys's bike gave out not far from Falls, so after recovering him, and picking up Chris from the bitumen, after one of the most spectacular rear end shunts I've seen, (lesson #1: do not dry to out-brake someone with disc brakes, if you have the standard ones), the remaining bikes headed off down the road from Falls towards the Bogong Village.

The end, Bogong Village

This consisted a consistent, gradual downhill ride of about 10 K's, and ended at the old SEC village, which is now a School Camp. After saying our goodbyes, we all headed off for home, some to Melbourne and for us to Colac, a mere 500K's.

The moral to this story is that a dedicated group of Rovers organised a great activity that was very poorly attended, maybe because nobody knew much about it, or was unsure what to expect, hopefully next year, when you see the promotion in Interchange, you will remember this article, and decide to give it a go. Apart from the great riding available up near the Chalet, just staying at the Chalet is worth the trip, set in a remote valley, with all the comforts of home, great food, (fresh bread baked day), excellent accommodation and good company, what else could you ask for.