I hadn’t been for a ride with a group for a while. I have been involved in helping to plan and organise group rides for (far too) many years, and quite honestly just needed some time with my own bikes and the highway for a time.

I've managed to divorce myself from other clubs/groups of bikers recently, and set out for Papakura service centre in hopes of a ride where I didn't have to concern myself about the rest of the group - for me a holiday.

Dream come true.

Lead rider, Arne: good briefing, good pace, route, just the best. A route planner of evil genius. Papakura to Te Aroha, no stops, magic roads, four minutes short of time on target on arrival. I challenge anyone, in any vehicle, winged, wheeled, or all of the above, to match that.

Stephen, Tail End Charlie. A position so many riders in groups don't appreciate, and so important if s**t does happen. My computer still has a lesson plan for a workshop for Tail End Charlies resident on the drive - the first time I ever tried to 'indoctrinate' other riders about anything to do with ride safety. If it goes pear shaped, this is the person that will, nine times out of ten, assume control of whatever situation has arisen. I was impressed that there were a number of volunteers for the job at Papakura, instead of folk ducking for cover to avoid it.

T'other riders: good folks. No one trying to climb up my exhaust, no blow-by passing trying to scrape the paint off my tailcone, behaviour on corners to keep the ride together (second rider dropping out to mark corner, tucking in in front of TEC) rock solid. In short, courteous and cooperative. I just hope that the eleven hundy and moi met the rest of your high standard.

I would like everyone on that ride to give themselves a pat on the nose for their great company and courtesy, it was a very big change from some of the attitude and road behaviour I have experienced in other groups.
Gotta say that the pace was a bit quick for me in some patches, but that is a personal thing. I'm an ex-cocky, and an inveterate looker-over-of-hedges. Sometimes that habit and control of a motorcycle are mutually exclusive.

I made my own way home, following my nose, and once again verified that an R1100S is not the best choice of bikes for exploring off the tar-seal, but what the hell, if ya wanna know what's around the corner, well ya gotta go have a look, eh?

I am, for the time being, staying divorced from (any) club admin. I hope to join you on more rides, as time permits, but I've also gotta work on the problem of my five under-utilised kayaks! I can and do carry my body-surfing gear on a bike, but six and a half metres of sea kayak strapped to your panniers makes even a Bee-Em unstable.