Ngawi – Lake Ferry.

Today was programmed for a short ride to Lake Ferry, but we figured to go via Ngawi first.

Having checked the tyre pressures yesterday I just needed to fill at Caltex Kaiwhara then head to the meeting point at Brown Owl. The weather was great in Ngaio but once I got on the Hutt Road it looked a bit dismal over the Rimutakas.

By 1000 there were ten riders assembled for the briefing and I led out on the free ride over the hill. The conditions were OK, with just the odd spot of drizzle and a few big puffs of wind but I made reasonable time and we were soon regrouping in Featherston before heading out on Kahutara Rd.

We did stop at the Pirinoa store in case anyone needed gas and what do you know but Neil fronted up to the pump, so I couldn’t resist turning to Steve and commenting that Neil was like a dog on a Boulevard when it came to fuel stops….he just couldn’t help himself. The rest of the ride to Ngawi was pretty uneventful and once there, four of the guys continued on the gravel to the lighthouse, some returned via a feed in Martinborough and a couple of us headed to Lake Ferry for a coffee.

Looking back at the Rimutakas, the weather was closing in a bit so I figured we were less likely to cop any crap if we stayed south, plus I was planning to get home reasonably early so I could spend an hour or two at the office and Lake Ferry was the shorter option. We maintained a sedate pace and were soon ordering our drinks, followed shortly after by the BEARS riders who were also out for a jaunt, then a bit later by the four riders who went to the lighthouse.

After a pleasant chat, Guy and I continued for home, and by now the roads were a mix of wet and dry so a bit more care was required to avoid any slick patches. I found myself taking extra care on the hill as well with a combination of wet road and strong gusts but by 1430 I was home, having done 283Km for the day at an economy of 18K/Ltr and I now have 72,837 Kms on the bike.