Very hot weather predicted for Xmax Day tomorrow. That's why we leave early and enjoy cooler conditions and traffic free riding. You need to arrive at 7.00am and we are leaving 7.30am SHARP. Heading into the Yarra Valley area back roads and we'll be home before the heat becomes too oppressive and the traffic continues to grow. One of the best days to take a ride with the very empty roads simply adding greatly to the enjoyment. Bring some water and a snack.

Be fully fuelled and apply the sun tan lotion.

A perfect morning. Everyone was on time and the weather could not have been better. A cool breeze and 24C at 7.34am when we left the McDonalds. Riders were Sol, Mark, Matti, Simon Rad, David D, Sam S, Volvi, Howie, Daniel J and myself. Thank you all for coming considering the hot temperatures were to creep in fairly quickly. The Yarra Valley area however offers some very cool sheltered back road areas where the riding is brilliant and the traffic today was almost non existent on the way up to Healesville via Emerald, Yellingbo and Woori Yallock. There were no real places open to get refreshments but we had a break in Healseville and made our return journey via the same route. Volvi left the group early and the rest of the group headed back after Cockatoo via Packenham. The return ride was already seeing large volumes of traffic as people were out to visit families for Christmas lunch. In fact the M1 traffic was abysmal. Several riders went the fastest way while Mark, myself, David D, Sam S and Daniel left the freeway to ride through Dandenong and eventually into Braeside and home by 12.00pm

Total distance for me was 211 kms