The weather forecast for ANZAC Day was for a fine sunny day. With winter getting nearer, this meant it may be the last opportunity for a run in the MX-5 with the roof down. So where to go? Another run from the Mazda MX-5 Club book beckoned. This time we chose Warburton to Healesville via Reefton Spur and Black Spur.
Despite the encouraging forecast, we set off in slightly foggy conditions. We made our way out through Warrandyte and Wonga Park to Coldstream where we picked up Kilara Road through to the Warburton Highway at Seville East. I discovered this road earlier in April when I was a Checkpoint Coordinator for the Oxfam Trailwalker. As we approached Warburton the fog was clearing and the sun was breaking through so it was looking like the forecast was going to be right after all.
The original plan had been to have some morning tea in Warburton and have a look around the shops (if they were open). We hadn't planned for the ANZAC Ceremony to be still under way which, we presume, was the reason why we were detoured around the back streets of town. So instead, we went for another run up Donna Buang. On the Club run last month, we didn't manage a spirited run up the mountain and this time we did no better - really a bit too much to expect otherwise really on an Easter / ANZAC Day weekend. Anyway, the drive to the top was worthwhile. The air was still clear and the views were fantastic with the Yarra Valley still filled with the low cloud we had driven out under.
Looking down the Yarra Valley towards the Dandenongs
Making our way back down off Donna Buang, we stopped off for a temperate rain forest walk at Cement Creek before arriving in Warburton to start the run from the book. We headed on further east towards Upper Yarra Dam to Reefton where we turned off and started climbing the Spur. It was a twisty, winding climb up into the mountains just suited to roaring along in an MX-5 with the roof down. We had left everyone else behind so we had the road to ourselves making it a very pleasant drive. The only downside is that the "fun police" had recently come along and put an 80 km/h speed limit over the whole length of the road. OK, so you can't do 80 along a lot of the road but why can't we be left to work it out for ourselves...
Today it is left to Marysville
The climb up the Spur ends when you join the Marysville to Woods Point road. It has been a long time since I have been to Woods Point but that will have to wait for another day. For now it was a left turn and off towards Marysville for a late lunch - made even later by a detour to Lake Mountain on the way. Marysville is slowly recovering from the fires but it still has a long way to go. Quite a few new buildings and lots of still vacant land. At least it was busy with lots of visitors so the local businesses will have a chance of surviving.
After lunch it was off to the Maroondah Highway for the climb over the Black Spur. Being the end of a holiday weekend, then traffic was quite heavy so it was a nose-to-tail procession up and over the top. At least we did it in a little style by being in an impromptu mini-convoy of two MX-5's. Getting through Healesville can be bad at times and today we were stop-start for at least 2 km before we got to the first traffic lights (and the ice-cream shop). From Healesville we were able to leave the worst of the traffic behind by heading home through Yarra Glen and Kangaroo Ground.
Another great day out and another great drive from the MX-5 book. Only another 16 or so to go...
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