Out for lunch

Today Neil got in touch and said that he and a Harley riding mate were coming down to Wanganui for lunch and wondered if I would like to pop over and meet them at a cafe.  I had planned on taking the Connie out for a pootle but got delayed by washing machine issues (it wouldn't go until I started pulling it to pieces and scared it back into action) so my other plans kinda just weren't going to work.  However, a short squirt over to Wanganui would probably fit into my day quite nicely...

Washing machine subdued, I geared up and started on my way over to Wanganui.  As soon as I got going a bit I noticed that I possibly didn't have quite enough fuel to make Wanganui so I rode on into Marton and fueled up.  I then decided that I had plenty of time up my sleeve so I rode North out of Marton and then turned off to take Makuhou Road over to Turakina Valley Road (there's that familiar road again).

Makuhou Road was fairly damp and slippery (and had the odd bit of metal on it) at the Marton end but I was surprised to see that they have been widening the road and resealing it at the other end.  The short bit of Turakina Valley road was also damp in places but is all seal out to the main road at Turakina.  From there I just cruised on into Wanganui and pulled into the cafe to find Colin already there about to tuck into his lunch.  I wandered off to order mine and then parked up to await a Triumph and a Harley.

Neil soon rocked up with Malcolm and his wife Judy with him and they joined us for lunch before they headed North again via the Paraparas.  I managed to convince Colin that a ride through to Hunterville and then over Vinegar Hill was the sensible way to get home so off we went.

Another crappy winter's day...

I'm gonna get me one of them when I grow up!

Mangatipona and Mangahoe roads were a lot of fun with the odd slippery bit and even quite a long section of gravel where they are doing some road works.  I half expected Colin to come a power-sliding past me on his Wee but then I remembered that he hasn't put E-07's on it yet...and of course, he was on a Wee, not a 280kg, 155hp adventure Concours...

After dodging a couple of hawks and the little bit of rabbit that one of them dropped we found ourselves in Hunterville where we turned North for a few km before turning off onto Vinegar Hill.

I got stuck behind a couple of cars for a while but once I nipped past them I had a good run up the hill to the lookout where I pulled in to see what sort of a view the day had to offer.

There's a mountain out there somewhere...

There it be!

Shocking weather!

From the lookout we cruised on into Feilding where I turned off to go and cadge a cup of coffee off the old's and Colin carried on to continue his adventure.

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A few more pics here.