As the Auckland area rep was unavailable for this ride, Arne had said he would lead it if he was available with myself as a backup if required.
This was fine as Arne had taken us over the same route a few weeks previous, but Arne was there so I elected to be Tail End Charlie.
The day was fine when I set off from home to go to the meeting point at BP Papakura, but coming along the motorway there was a gathering of dark clouds in the east, but that was fine as we were going west.
I arrived at the meeting place to find a total of 21 bikes assembled which was very good for a winter ride and with everyone chinwagging we were late setting off.
Arne lead us through the normal back country lanes which did need a bit of care as the roads were wet and greasy and we did have a small sprinkling of rain but we were not in a hurry so everything was fine.
This ride had a gravel option and we stopped at Onewhero for the road riders to turn right down Kohanga Road while the 5 gravel riders (with one Lady rider with a new GS) were to carry on and then turn down Klondyke road with the intention for us to meet up again further on and then carry onto Port Waikato for a break before backtracking for a while to head for the cafe.
The main bunch of us reached the meeting point and waited for a while to no avail and it was decided that the main group would carry on while I waited for the dirt riders.
Well I waited and waited, in the end getting worried that something had happened so I contacted the main group and said they may as well head back as we were going to be late for the appointed time at the cafe.
Well they arrived about 15 minutes later and it was decided that I would head off up the gravel road to see if I could find them, but there was no need for me to get my bike dirty as the gravel guys and gal arrived just as I was setting off.
It turns out that where the gravel riders should have turned off right down Klondyke road it was very slippery with wet clay and all their attention was taken up to just keep the bike upright so they missed the turn off and carried on for some considerable time before realising it.
(Probably when the road ran out !!!)
As we were running late Arne took us a shorter way than originally planned and we ended up at the cafe just about spot on time.
There was a couple more bikes there that had gone direct and also a couple more who had come by car.
I found the food at the cafe was quite good but a couple of people commented that the service was a bit slow but with 26 people to serve all at once plus other customers I suppose it is to be expected.
Lucky for me I was one of the first, and as one of our members found out the meals here are HUGE, he ordered a pizza and it was the size of a dust bin lid (just as well he was one who had come by car !!!!)
After lunch everyone went their own separate ways back home while 6 of us, again lead by Arne took the back roads and had a good ride back on dry roads.
All in all a good day and it was good to catch up with some folks I hadn't seen for a while.
Roll on the next ride.

Jim