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I am very short of photos today, and it was, after all, a Ulysses run (although Jean and I are Child Cancer Foundation members, so it is precious to us.)It was a pleasure to meet a few new faces (Alistair, Thea and Neil) before the run started, and a pleasure to do something for CCF kids and their siblings and other family. And some new Klingons too, about which more soon. The weather was the traditional Toy Run hot-fine, the locals were, as tradition demands, waving their arms off from Cambridge until we parked up, and the coffee when we got there was SO welcome.And we'll do it again next Sunday for Westpac, and again next year, because we can.Why Klingons? Well, quite simply, none of us was born as a full fledged biker, but people keep on discovering bikes, and the joys of grinning ya way down the highway, and getting bugs in ya teeth. Auckland BMWOR riders are a very supportive, very welcoming group of folk, and seem to be more than willing to foster and mentor new riders. It costs the Register nothing, and we provide a (relatively) safe environment for people new to group riding to dip their toes in the water. I know it doesn't suit all of you, but the big, grown up bikers can always find a like-minded group to go and scratch their toes around the corners; those of you who have the patience to ride with, encourage, and advise the newbie Klingons are national treasures, and I salute you as such.Today's Klingons were Lisa, a workmate of my sister, AGD's, on a full license on a 250, but no group riding experience, and Nelia, a baby rider on an L plate still, on my pillion to watch and learn. Both had their ears flapping, trying to take in all the talk and advice, both had an opportunity to watch the dynamics of a group ride. (I got Young Jim to take lead coming home, and rode TEC myself so that Nelia could see how folk handled overtaking and pig ignorant cage drivers better than when I was leading.)We had a couple of incidents when dickheads (there is no better word, I'm sorry to be so blunt - NOT) took a charge at us from behind. In one case I let a driver through, who then proceeded to monster the Red Baron from behind, trying to overlap him and lane share (on a two-lane road!!!!) Alex was clearly at a loss to cope with the dick (he and I have been riding together for a fair while now, but he is still picking up some of the knowledge us older hands take for granted - and he is still receptive to advice), and he was just plodding along in the left wheel-track, 'his' position in the stagger we were riding. I blew by the clown, and stuck my taillight firmly in front of his face in the right hand track, and he immediately got the message and backed off. A little later, between Ngaruawahia and Huntly, we had another one take us on, and Nelia was able to see how we controlled his urgency by (consecutively) adopting the right wheel track in front of him to hold him in place, building a safe gap for him between us and the next rider, then popping the left indicator and moving left to let him pass when WE judged it safe for him to do so. It is a very responsible job being a biker when you have to do the thinking for the bloody car drivers too.The Librarian, Mrs Red Baron and Baby Red Baron met us at Pokeno for ice cream, and we all met Rusty's new squeeze, Ruby, for the first time. From Pokeno, we all processed to Casa Red Baron for a cuppa, and dang me if Team Foley didn't rock up in the cage to join us. It's all good!
YoungJim seems to reckon the Pirongia Village Cafe got his poached eggs right.
I keep telling Rusty to put her down and let her breathe, but he ain't listening - wish I was still young and full of hormones!
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