7 Traveller Victoria Ea Ca Easy riders Robert Upe saddles up for a motorbike tour into the country. hat as got into me? It may bbe a midlife crisis or just the buze but for some reason Tm on ahefty BMW tmatorcyele leaning into. a righthand comer as the cafes, vineyards and paddocks ofthe Yarta Valley fash by W's a sunny day and the smells ofthe country ae crisp. There's the smell of cut grass .. and ‘here seems tobe «hint of chardonnay wafting from a winery shed “After dacades of iting i acar Ym finally on the road with the proverbial wind ia the hat. Td like to say I'm riding with the poise of Stove McQueen in The Great Escape, waring through the countryside and_ jumping farm fences, but T'm not within touching distance of the throtle. This i 2 chauffeured tour with dlichan bikles Steven and Martin Craig who have the metto “A Different Way Around” for ‘hele tour company Viemoto Motorcycle Tours The: Crags are not the grease stained leather jacket, lng bearded type of bikers but lean cut, ‘courteous and professional riders who ~ unlike Te metry nies wh sib areata feng sfeunde theless nd fa ang oa = cng boots an loves ~ that are provided The bikes are_masive tnachines tnd thee Bulk. provides confience thay sek to the oad and woo' be Bows over in the nes wind Boa Calg have bon ding fr yee, “We love motoring dus oe feeds provides 2s you rely fel like you have valle ch the envooment 2 oppose to brngcceooned sme chin Ca ae ls tmuch snare involvement in a me By {aly and rently. You witness mach mere of the cane witht the constants ofa vel” ‘rng to ur we ate wind fr su a the Led Seppe soe bt we can al {o ach other thigh microphones stab to thebelnets Ween evencortmante with he ties and pacengeron te ote ike which frobably good thing boos many othe urs Se bocked by couples “Touring route nie the Yara Valley, the Geet Oca Road, Philip sae the Grampian the Momingtn Peninsula Hnging Rock aunt Macon, Diylestord snd Kinga. ‘Of couse, no. motores ture complete without cafe stops and te Cris hve found Some of the betes and xpeson country Vion, Yar Glen, where midweek pace is easy. Rest stops and lunees are as long a5 you need and there is ample time take off your helmet and serach your head, Back dn the road, i's a mix of country lanes, highways and freeways, Each has its own. sn ‘ations, from the wind blast ofthe freeway tothe gentle leaning onthe winding country lanes ace the waft ofthat chardonnay Reet Upe travelled as a guest of Vonoto Motorcycle ‘us, Free-wheelers... (top) Steven Craigon the bike and (above) Martin Craig relaxes at Yeo, Bip FAST FACTS How much and where Half-day rides {{our hours) to areas including Kinglake, Yarra Valley and Macedon Ranges are $200 a person: ful-day rides eight hours) to areas including the Great (Ocean Road and Pilip sland are $350, ‘person; tworday rides toareas including the Grampians are 00 a person, including meais ana ‘accommodation. A program of ionger toursis also availabe, including a 2345 kilometre si-day Ultimate ‘Adelaide ride for $8200 a couple. Gear Al rging gears provided, sot youneedto bring i some lant elthing towear underneath ‘The bikes BMWKi200GT SE is used ~ Isbig and comfortable anc the rear seat Isralsecforclear views. There are footrests and handles so you don’thave tohld the rider Contact Phone 0434 240 591, See Mlemote.com.au.