Our illustrious leader changed the date for this ride and decided to run it a week earlier than planned because the weather forecast was looking more favourable. So 5 riders turned up and they had a good day, so good in fact that Graeme decided to do it all again this weekend! So the word went out at the last minute via email that those who were interested should turn up at Cheltenham ready for the 10am departure time. I arrived at 9.40am to find Colin and his new second hand R1200GS which he has affectionately named “The Sh?t Box” (a not so subtle reference to the boxer twin) waiting for the rest of the motley crew to show up. Not long after the others started to arrive. Myles and Colin on their DLs’, Graeme on his R1200GS, me on my F650GS, Ninja on his XR500, and three BRR newbies - Richard on his new KLR650, and James and Colin (that’s right there were 3 Colin’s) on their DR650s , and we headed off on time. The route took us from Cheltenham onto Beaconsfield Valley Rd which was dry, dusty, hard and fast but as when turned onto Waituna Tapuae Rd the local contractors had been at work and the road had been graded on and off for long sections all the way to the intersection of Sandon Block Rd and SH54/Vinegar Hill. This didn’t dampen our enthusiasm but rather tested our metal. There were plenty of twists and turns and the odd hard and fast section so I was smiling still. From Vinegar Hill we turned north onto SH1 for a few kms before turning northwest onto Kie Kie Rd then onto the splendid gravel of Watershed Rd. Watershed Rd is hard and fast with lots of twisties and great views of the Ruahines and we had a ball as we made our way on what is now one of my favourite back roads in the Rangitikei and on to our lunch destination at the Brown Sugar Cafe in Taihape. Fed and watered “Ninja” decided to head home as he had worked a night shift and fatigue was setting in. The rest of us headed northwest on SH1 for a short distance before turning southwest onto Pukenaua Rd then Ridge Rd North.  Just when you think it can’t get better it does with some of the best gravel in the area and excellent views of Taihape’s hinterland, Mt Ruapehu and the Ruahines. From there we went through Rongoiti Junction with a nice section of seal , until we turned onto Koeke Rd and more great gravel. Koeke becomes Pohonui Rd and the good times just keep on coming. There are grins from ear to ear as we get to the intersection with Turakina Valley Rd and we stop and regroup by a decent sized waterfall in the Turakina river. Our destination now is Hunterville for a coffee and as the roads are devoid of traffic we hoon all the way there, lead very ably by Graeme. After coffee Colin leaves for Waikanae, James has to head back to the farm to help with lambing and I head home to National Park, leaving 5 to journey the rest of the way back to Palmy North, taking the roads less travelled. Cheers Graeme and the rest of the guys for a great days ride! See you all next month.CheersGr82briding