Northland Figure 8 Run.

[Anonymous]

#3495

A brilliant ride today, with very few of us to enjoy it.  I think most were scared off by the weather as forecast on Friday evening. Guys, check the later forecasts: today was EXACKERY as predicted in this morning's updates on the MetService website.  We got mizzle and a bit of wind, and mostly wet roads all the way up to Tutukaka, then, as per forecast, the wind picked up (boy, did it what) and the sun came out.But, I get ahead of the narrative.  The Red Baron was waiting at Starbucks when I turned up, then Team Foley rolled up in so many layers of waterproofing they probably could have gone ice-diving at Scott Base quite comfortably.  TonyO', who had kindly offered to lead ride turned up BEFORE time (almost unheard of for Tony), but promptly shot off to tank up.  Lucky for Rincewind, who panted up and put his earplugs down in the wind for the inevitable to happen.  So, just a wee bit late, after the ST1300 got it's tank filled, and Dave finally found the missing earplug, away we went.The usual Old North, Peak Roads, SH16 to Wellsford for a regather and brief rest, and where Hilton rocked up on his black RT to join us: no Ulybods showed for their ride from Albany, so he shot up the main drag to intercept us and join in for the day.  I was an interested onlooker from the back during this first leg to see Tony routinely indicating right as soon as he spotted cyclists: I never mention this at briefings but I have always just done it (also for horse traffic), sometimes others pick it up from me, but rarely.  I think it's a good idea, obviously Tony does too.  The fact that we both spend a bit of time on treadle machines when we are not motorcycling probably has a lot to do with our care for cyclists.From Wellsford we went SH1 to Brynderwyn, then Maungataroto, Paparoa, Taipuha heading for Oakleigh when Tony showed his evil genius at the last intersection, and turned left away from Oakleigh, taking us through Maungakaramea instead.  I really enjoyed getting off my beaten track for a change.  After a year of lead riding you tend to stick to where you know well (your faithful followers may not know where the hell you are, but hopefully the lead has a fair idea).  It just takes one small worry factor out of organising a group ride if you actually have some idea a bit more accurate than "somewhere in the North Island".  Through suburban Whangarei, with a scenic stop at Whangarei Falls, where only the two sometime cyclists summoned the energy to walk the short track around the park, then onward to Tutukaka and Snapper Rock for lunch.Our waitress displayed an awesome memory, getting all the food and drink orders without paper and pencil: a cruel example of youth and beauty triumphing over old age teetering on the brink of dementia.  Dave commented that he would have forgotten all the orders before he got back to the kitchen: with his "dysmapsia", let's face it, he probably would have forgotten where the bloody kitchen was!After lunch we tikied off through Matapouri, with Tony and I both keeping an eagle eye out for the bike of the member who rang me Friday, who wanted to join us for the ride home.  Come Sunday, I have forgotten his name, didn't see his bike, we came home without his company.  Buggah! I AM a useless bar-steward.  Many lovely corners later, we hit the main drag at Hikurangi, and so back to Whangarei for fuel for some of us.  Rincewind got his boot in some spilt fuel, and his bike started to go where gravity tends to take them in such circumstances.  To prevent damage to his scooter, he fearlessly threw himself to the ground so the R1150GS had something soft to land on to prevent scuffing his bike.  Such nobility.  Such foolishness.  It took three strong men to lift the big chook-chaser off him, but it was a successful ploy, no marks on the scooter.After the traditional Waipu/Mangawhai loop, Tony threw in some more added value, taking us through Pakiri and Leigh back to Warkworth.  I had been watching from the back, seeing all the signs and symptoms that others were feeling tired and uncomfortable, and waiting to see who would put their hand up first.  Once Tony passed through Matakana without stopping I was sure it would be soon, and sure enough it was.  Team Foley had to stop for a break: not surprising at all.  It's always tougher for both rider and pillion when you are two-up than it is for a solo rider - less room to wriggle.  The rest in front crossed us on their way back to round up the strays just as we got going again from Matakana, the buddy system working perfectly in action.  A very necessary potty stop at Warkworth, then Forty Flavours at Orewa for the after match ice cream, then home to give the Sex Toy a quick launder before it goes into Experience on Wednesday for the 60K service.Big thanks to Tony for a great tiki-tour, and to everybody for the company.  I didn't get my camera out this weekend, but Wendy had hers: if she sends me some photos I'll put them up this time.  I didn't do last weekend's ones from the Lily Pad Cafe ride that she sent me, I was still trying to catch up on the sleep I lost shifting the forum to it's new home.

[Anonymous]

#14422

Excellent, just brilliant. ;D Those who “no showed” missed a ripper of a run. Huge thanks to Tony for leading us on a fantastic ride that has got to be right up there with the Coromandel Loop. My dear Frau was laid up in bed not feeling too flash but I have promised to take her over the route during the xmas break. A small group but a terrific bunch that made for great company throughout the day. Oops, almost forgot to thank Bwucie for taking care of TEC duties.Cheers,Red Baron

[Anonymous]

#14423

Pix from Mrs Wendy Otto-Phocus.Just what you need after one of Tony's looooong stages: running water.Watch out for the first step, it's quite tall.Rincewind was off his bike and inside the little house on the prairie real quick: before he reappeared the Red Baron had got happy:Hilton had got REAL happy:And when we finally did see Rincewind, (in the hat) he appeared thinner in the face.Where to lunch?Yep, we fit.

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