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Post count: 2134
I arrived at Westgate with the Librarian in hot pursuit on the baby Burgman at 0820, and found our new President entertaining the troops, plus a couple of new klingons with the shiniest of R80RTs, plus a dozen regular offenders. Neko turned up at the very last second and pleaded with me to wait while she tanked up (all as per normal for Neko, but we forgive her, 'cos we likes her.) I made a phone call to the cafe to confirm numbers, arranged with RobW to lead while I TECed, and briefed the ride.We set off at 0945 (which, unbeknown to Neko, was my budget time) around a long leisurely block to Warkworth: SH16, then Ahuroa Hill and Woodcocks Road. Reason for the dawdling was to try and hit Leigh at 1130, to help fit in with their humungous bookings list for one of their busiest days of the year. Dunno whether Michael M is hyperactive, or just such an energizer bunny he can't hold his eleven-hundy-ess down to our pace, but he and his Duke riding cobber disappeared into the distance (Good lunch at Eutopia, Michael? I enjoy their vittles.) The rest of us processed majestically behind Rob (on the second cleanest cruiser on the run, eh, Malcolm?) on a glorious day of fine weather that Peter Tibbs bought all the way from Masterton in his Presidential topbox for us. Rob showed us he is an evil genius when he used his local knowledge to skirt Warkworth's "western suburbs" via Falls Rd, cutting out two sets of lights and a dogleg down SH1, and got us all on the road to Leigh as a group: he's a bright lad.We snuk through Matakana just before the traffic peaked (thank goodness, I had forgotten Morris and James Labour Weekend Sale), and rocked up at the Sawmill Cafe 1130 O.T.D. The librarian then promptly disappeared into the weeds at the end of the carpark on her newly prettied up Burger. I guess my lips should be sealed, but it would have been easier to handle if she had picked any panel apart from the one that's just been repaired to damage. The good news for TEC, the usual cleaner-upperer, was that the troops had her back shiny side up (and the scoot) before the last of us arrived - good stuff!Outside the Sawmill Cafe, those that hadn't dived straight inside to order! New Pres Peter is second from left. Photo by a very obliging (and comely) young tourista, which is how Otto Phocus comes to be lurking in front of the lens behind Peter.
Leigh Sawmill Cafe: Great Venue, very obliging and helpful staff, right from when I first contacted them by email through to our last cuppa before departure. Food? Fabulous. Serving size? Just right. Service at the table? Outstanding. Grace and courage under fire on a busy, busy day dealing with us demanding punters? O for awesome. I heard some dark mutterings abroad when I posted the run about the Leigh Sawmill Cafe, if you hear such mutterings, be assured they are BOLLOCKS. Not the cheapest place we've had lunch at, but IMHO when you receive the level of service and tucker that we did, a modest premium price is very justified.Decision time. A very smiley Mr Immediate Past President Hargreaves (green tee shirt) is obviously one of the more decisive members of the group: you can see he's sorted, eh?
After lunch Rob took us to visit one of his cobbers, who has one of the ultimate man-caves: there are more photos on my photobucket account at this link: http://s960.photobucket.com/albums/ae90/bwucie/Pres%20visit%20to%20Leigh%20Sawmill/ (Hit the "slideshow" button top right of the screen.) His oppo is clearly one of life's great eccentric collectors, and we were very privileged to visit his collection, and I thank Rob greatly for taking us, and Jamie for allowing us to visit.YoungJim should check the extra photos, because every poached egg they served to us was PERFICK!We came home SH1 to the compulsory Orewa ice creams, and we have new champions! (I was off my form today, and our sometime SV1000 klingon wasn't with us.) Ladeez and Jellygerms, give it up for the pilot and navigator of the blue RT!
And because I haven't set RB up this time, and because he snuk into the previous photo: our very own fence inspector and his new partner.
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