Mountain Madness in Context

What is Mountain Madness?

Mountain Madness is a time when a somewhat eclectic group of like-minded motor cyclists from all walks of life head off to the highlands of Victoria and NSW to enjoy their bikes and doing it together. 

The ride is in its 12th year - although in all honesty it is a bit like an old axe that has been around for years.  The head has been replaced a couple of times and a new handle fitted every now and again - but it is still the same axe, sort of.  Check www.mountainmadness2012.blogspot.com for some blurb on how it came about and whatnot (you may need to type it into your browser as I have given up trying to make the link work).

Mad persons - start your engines and come see me in Omeo!

This Year . . .

The task of organising the ride fell to me this year.  It has been a bullet I have been ‘artfully dodging’ for many years as I have seen some grown men cry and others pushed to the limit of their sanity when dealing with the foibles of herding this lot towards the agreed route and destinations - let alone trying to keep everyone happy!

My objective was to keep it as simple as possible and to do just short of the right amount of work to make it work but also to ensure I would receive a FAIL for my efforts as the coordinator so as not to be asked to do it again next year. 

Hence I 'planned' a (sort of) double helix route to Omeo, Cooma and back to Omeo.  And of course I chose hotels of last resort . . . the infamous Hilltop in Omeo and the Royal in Cooma.  Mind you, I did offer everyone the chance to sort better routes, destinations and hotels but no-one stepped forward - so my plan was 'accepted'.

‘Big Picture’ for MM 2013 . . .

It is sort of a double helix if you squint!

• Monday 31st Dec (2012) – depart Melbourne for Omeo via Mansfield, Bright and Mt Hotham

• Tuesday 1st Jan – Omeo to Cooma via Falls Creek, Tallangatta (via Kiewa Valley and others via Omeo ‘Highway’), Corryong, Cabramurra and that still unpronounceable Adaminaby

• Wednesday 2nd Jan – Cooma back to Omeo via Dalgety, Bombala, Cann River, Orbost (others via Delegate), Bruthen and Omeo

• Thursday 3rd Jan – Omeo to Melbourne (or Cape Paterson) – and others to Falls Creek

• Friday 4th Jan – Falls Creek to Melbourne

Insolence in the Camp . . .

I could see no-one was taking my careful planning and detailed administration seriously at all when this rather disrespectful image was sent around . . . this of course was excellent news as someone was already poking fun at my pathetic attempts to plan things and I would be unlikely to be asked to do it again next year!

Mmm . . . looks about right to me!

Dropping Like Flies . . .

Perhaps it had something to do with the terrible organisation and shoddy administration, but regular MM participants started to drop off at an alarming rate as the event became closer.   

For example:

• Loyd – first, and most significantly, our founder, leader, mentor, fountain of knowledge on all things and source of merriment decided to give up motor cycling altogether.  We of course respect his decision and immediately promoted him to the esteemed position of Patron!  There was some talk of him jumping in the car and joining us in his newly found status, but it didn't happen.  Thanks for creating this 'thing' Loyd and for all the memories and fun since last century – it certainly wasn’t the same on our first PL (Post Loyd) MM!

• Rowdy – our quiet friend 'Rowdy' announced that he was heading off to the Philippines for a wedding and could not come.  We really missed Dan's steadying influence and his ability to cut right to the core of any discussion on any subject!  And I particularly wanted for his riding companionship as we somehow always seem to find ourselves riding in tandem on most roads.

• Richard – third, our Pakeha friend sold his bike (for all the right reasons) and could not come - although he did refuse numerous offers of other bikes from quite a few people.  I am afraid that the standard of organisation, food, accommodation and photography was much lower this year, Richard . . . we are just not in your league!

• Roger & Julie – quite unexpectedly, Roger slipped on some Geneva black ice and broke his leg on the day he was due to come home for Christmas and of course MM!  It was quite a serious break and we wish you a speedy recovery Roger.  We also missed Roger being able to tweak a few dials on the master weather machine in the sky - and of course Julie's special 'on-bike camera' work!

• Phil P – he sold his damned bike . . . but luckily it was acquired by Mark E.  Mind you, it was a bit strange following ONYVA knowing that it wasn't Phil sitting on the rider's seat.  We hope the headaches go away now you are not riding . . . were we really that bad company?

• Mark H – the legal fraternity decided not to come.  It is a very complex case - but we hope you can join us next year Mark.  And we were delighted to see you for a while on the first day and we hope your business goes well in 2013.

The Combatants . . .

So, with so many retirements, injuries and non-starters, we were down to the core riders and participants . . . Phil C and Mel on their normal steeds, the enigmatic Tony also on his GS, that newly defined GS rider Mark E and (a much cooler) Josie, the newly 'retired' Ivan and his lovely and talented daughter Alex on the very slippery V-Max, that girl-racer Karen and of course Lorraine and me on our Triumph.

Tony headed up to Omeo from the south and of course last year's 'newby' Alf joined us from his home in Omeo.

'Everyone' in Bright - except for Tony (came the other way . . . as usual!)

Substitutes . . .

Being a resourceful bunch we managed to to pick up three more riders at short notice along the way for various bits of the ride. 

• Tim - Alf's son Tim joined us for the same stages on his brother's Suzuki SV 650 – albeit he was a little late due to his New Year's Eve partying. 

• The 'Stigs' - And there were two 'Stigs' . . . we met 'Stig' Graham for dinner at Omeo and discovered his blistering speed, composure and smoothness on the road the next day.  And his is also good for some stories about the history of the area. The other 'Stig' was the very quiet and unassuming Biker Phil from Byron Bay.  He arrived at the pub in Cooma for dinner and a few drinks (although he doesn't drink alcohol) and caused a lot of merriment when the cops nabbed him as he pulled out of the pub and of course he had a zero reading.  He joined us all the way to Omeo and he and Karen seemed to ride well together.