It was Nanny Ann's birthday this week so we took Wednesday off, cooked breakfast for some mates, caught a shuttle in to watch Beowulf (3D), then a Limo home for a bar-b-que. Cool day, good movie (amazing graphics), great mates. Saturday I was booked in to paint the roof, but the weather forecast was poor so I decided to go on the Coast to Coast ride instead, arranging to ride up with DennisR. I left home at 0745 and called into work to grab a couple of things, met Dennis at the J'ville Train station, put a bit of air in the tyres and hit the road by 0802 with plans to have a fuel stop in Foxton. We had an uneventful dry pootle up, meeting Sels and his brother in Foxton but decided to put our PVC trou on there as the weather was starting to close in, especially over the hills where we would be heading. We were at Himatangi by around 0950 and there were already masses of bikes there with queues of riders registering and receiving their Hi Vis vests compliments of ACC. After chatting with several of the Palmy KB'ers and a few Ulyssians, then getting briefed, we were on our way just after 1030, along the back way to Foxton, across to Shannon, then over the 'Track' and up the Balance road to Woodville for a ride through town then to the park for lunch and more chewing the fat. We were back on the road after 1300, heading down SH2 to Pahiatua and heading out to the East Coast via Pongaroa. Shortly after we turned towards the coast it started to drizzle and by the time we got to Pongaroa, we were riding in steady rain and it was time to stop for the Rain-Off gloves and PVC Jacket before continuing onto Akitio with the Bandit Riders, getting there at about 1430. By now the weather was pretty crappy and we mucked around, having a coffee before heading round to the boat club for more chatting and the prize giving. Dennis and I both received minor prizes and hit the road out to Dannevirke soon after. It was still drizzling at this stage but the roads were still wet until just before Dannevirke and the weather cleared. We pulled into the BP for gas and a feed, then headed home via the gorge, Shannon, SH1, and Paekak' Hill, 602 Km for the day and over 28,000Km since January. I have never done this ride before, after hearing of dismal and dangerous behaviour by some riders, but the ride was well attended and orderly, although one hoon came off on a tight corner on the Balance Road. It seemed that the riders around him didn't have much sympathy as he had just been shuffling through the bunch, which on a ride of this size is a bit of a waste of time and effort. A big 'Well Done' to the Woodville Lions and all the riders. Sunday was another 'paint-the-roof' day but alas we had the Ulysses Toy Run and the poor unfortunate children come first so I left home just before 1000 and it was already 22° as I made my way up to Maidstone Park. We ended up with 43 riders and got away at 1130 to the Horticultural Hall in Lower Hutt where the Firemen put on a sausage sizzle. From there it was over Hayward's, out through Paremata then down SH1 to the Sallvation Army HQ in Johnsonville. Magnificent weather (26° and far too hot for painting) and great to catch-up with people I haven't seen for awhile. Another great weekend.....I will get the roof painted.....sometime!!.....You can't rush these things!!
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These blogs were posted on the KiwiBiker forum but I decided it was time for a change. Archives
January 2017
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