3rd February

Dozer met at mine and we headed off around through Hansens Park then a few zigs and Zags around the river through Beckenham Park then around the river again, past the Service Center and then around the river all the way to Worsley Rd.  This was all done into a steady head wind which was a nice way to warm up.  We hooked up with Texas, then Sandals arrived (first ride of the year with me) and shortly thereafter Tinkerbell arrived.  We headed up Worsley Rd which I found easier than in the past.  Still made my heart pound and breathing hard.  We all made a rolling rest before continuing up at a good clip.  A regroup at the road end before a solid climb up the track.  I led off and gave myself a nudge.  Cleaned everything and enjoyed my own challenge.  We regrouped at the normal corner just before the rocky section.  Once evryone was at the regroup I decided to space it out and lead off through the rocks with a gap in between.  Luckily I did cos I immediately dabbed at the first tough rock, cleaned the  next then dabbed again.  From here I cleaned the rest.  The others had varied success but all dabbed somewhere in this section.  I decided to continue straight up the body bag while my mind was in the zone.  Got half way up the steep section then spun a wheel and stopped.  Caught my breath  then restarted which was good and cleaned the rest.  Pretty happy.  Watched  the others as they started up.  Tinkerbell cleaned it all, Dozer made it 3/4s of the way and so did  Sandals.  Good effort by everyone.  Caught our breaths here then headed up Marleys to do the Nun.  We did the nun.  Dozer led off and I stayed on his tail all the way to the Kiwi.  The tuning I did on the rear shock was working well and we flowed down here.  Great run from top to bottom.  Regrouped at The Kiwi.  Had to wait as Texas had punctured. From here I led off down the Old Dyers Track.  Some work has been done on this and the first section is loose (slowest section for me) then some hard pak has been added (got faster) then into untouched old track (let it rip style now) and so much fun.  We cruised around the forest track to the road with everyone arriving pretty much together.  Up  into Vic park where we had a rest stop in the shade by the skidder site.  Decided to do Dazza's (not shazzas).  This was great fun even if sketchy in spots.  Cleaned it all at good speed then had a regroup.  Took the track  across  the face of eastside Bush (Wazzas Thumb track).  I led then Tinkerbell got in front when I balked at one point but overall we enjoyed this in the dry.  From here we headed down and around past hospital corner.  Dusty in here and first time down this in a long while.  This is where I praise myself.  I led across the creek cleaning this ( a first for me) then I cleaned all the haipins from here aswell.  I was on top of the world as I have never done this either.  Regrouped at the top then into  old skool.  A great blast down here with Adrenalin pumping from the climbing success.  Felt good on the bike and the bike was rolling well.  Obviously tuning the shock set up helped heaps.  Even cleaned the little rutty section at the bottom.  From here we went off to the garden center for a bite to eat.  Great ride.  Sorry for all the self praise in the blog.  Just felt great on the ride.