As per usual the day started very early for us Palmy riders. We were due to leave at 5am so I set the alarm for 4 and got up at 3:30. After a quick cuppa and some toast I wheeled out the Connie and set out to meet the others in town. The usual keen mob (Meanie, Monie and Yod) were down for the ride along with a newbie in the form of Dean on his mighty CBR250. Dean was nearly as keen as me as he rocked up not long after me with the others not far behind him.
As we all were there nice and early we got away just before 5 and slowly made our way South as the skies began to lighten up. The Paicock hill was nice and deserted but it was pretty chilly going - Monie's Viffer reckoned it was 0 degrees!
We rolled into C1KC HQ just before 6:30 and quickly signed onto the ride and fixed the yellow ties to our bikes before departing for the Rimutakas.
The Boss and KoroJ |
Two CBR's... |
That lump of dirt wasn't there a few weeks ago... |
Next up was a slow cruise up SH2 to Woodville where we all filled up for the run up the 'naki. Gradually it was starting to get warmer as we took in the gorge and then made our way over to Feilding then out to Halcombe and onto Wanganui. By Wanganui we had covered not quite 400km so we stopped to fill up the CBR and also to grab a coffee and a bite.
The next short leg was to Stratford taking in the Hawera bypass (past the Tawhiti museum). In Stratford we had to get a photo at the Z service station and gas the bikes for the assault on the Forgotten Highway. This was Dean's first trip across the FH so we had to stop in Whangamomona for photos of the pub and to see what he thought of the ride. He was loving it and the chicken strips were getting seeing to.
More C1KC riders parked next to Monie |
Monie back on the tar |
The CBR kids |
Crappy phone pic |
Just watching... |
Sneaky little CBR peaking out from between the Connies |
By now we were on familiar turf as we took in Vinegar Hill and then carried on up to Kimbolton for our next compulsory photo stop.
With not long to go until the 1,000km mark we carried on around the Apiti Loop to our next stop at one of the bridges crossing the Pohangina River.
Leaving the bridge we only had about 35km to our finish point in Ashhurst but this is where things didn't go to plan. Meanie, Yod, Dean and I got away on Monie a bit and when we rocked up at the Ashhurst Inn we were missing a VFR pilot.
Initially we weren't too worried as there had been a Harley rider on the loop with us who was a little lost and we thought that Monie may have been helping him along. But when a few minutes had passed we got a bit more concerned. When Meanie couldn't get Monie on the phone it was time to mount up and head up the valley. Not a nice situation to be in.
As we rode back up the valley another group of riders coming the other way and flagged us down. They let us know that there had been an accident but that Monie was ok but had a very sore shoulder.
When we arrived at the scene there were a lot of helpful people including a nurse who were doing a good job of looking after Monie until the emergency services got there. The emergency services guys got there soon after us and the helicopter not long after that. While Monie was looked after, Yod, Dean and I rescued the VFR out of a fence and stashed it in a paddock for the night. Monie was soon bundled into the helicopter for the rush to the hospital.
Since the accident it has been nice to talk to both Meanie and Monie and find out that Monie has got away pretty lightly with a broken collar bone and plenty of soreness in other places. The little VFR is getting a good looking at and it's future is to be determined (Monie has a hankering for a Z1000SX).
Monie doesn't remember a great deal of the accident but does remember hitting gravel on a little bridge and the bike fish-tailing it up the road. She fought to hang on (and we could see her braking marks on the road and onto the metal at the side of the road) but eventually ran out road, ploughing up a grass bank and finally destroying a fence (broke a concrete post). Apparently she stayed with the bike through the entire process!
Definitely not the way we wanted to finish up a great ride but very happy that Monie got off lightly and is now looking at bike adverts...
More pics here.
It was a great day and ride. Monie must have had a head injury too if she can't remember what happened...
ReplyDeleteWait until she meets you...
DeleteYou reckon she'll be glad to have a head injury...?
DeleteNah, she might give you one!
DeleteHope Monie is feeling better :-) and enjoys new bike shopping :-)
ReplyDeletePHew! Glad she's okay x
ReplyDeleteNice ride report Andrew - this C1KC was number 6 for me and probably the most enjoyable route from John, and I won a prize.
ReplyDeleteAll the best to Monie, I sort of know how she maybe feeling!
A bit of excitement on your ride eh. Its the kind you can do without though. I hate the feeling of having to go back for someone who's had an off.
ReplyDeleteGlad to see that see was ok, well cept for the collarbone. But on the up side she can now go bike shopping when shes better.
You're not only in hating to have to go back for what could be an accident.
DeleteNice ride except for the unfortunate accident. Glad she will be okay.
ReplyDeleteAnytime a helicopter is involved in a ride that spells trouble. Glad Monie will be ok.
ReplyDeleteSeems like it was a beautiful, long ride otherwise. Your enjoying the rise of warm weather while we're experiencing the coming of winter and much colder riding.
Steve Williams
Scooter in the Sticks
Too right. I've been at about 3 accidents where the chopper has come. On 2 of the occasions it wasn't really needed but it's very nice to know that it's available.
DeleteAndrew,
ReplyDeleteHi. I was one of the group of three that was dogging you all through the day, and which flagged you down when you were riding back from Ashhurst when one of your group had taken a tumble. Glad to hear that the injury to your colleague is not serious (pity about the VFR, though - I'm a fellow VFR rider). You captured our group of 3 in one of your photos taken across the road outside the Whangamomona hotel (my VFR is the red one, next to your colleagues blue one). Pass on our regards, and hopefully a quick recovery. Cheers. Nils Poulsen
Thanks Nils. I know Meanie was a lot less worried when he heard that Monie was ok apart from her shoulder.
DeleteYikes. I hate that feeling as you are waiting for part of the group. Hoping to see them coming up the road.....
ReplyDeleteSo glad Monie's accident wasn't worse. Never good when the helicopters have to come in. A heli ride will run you about 20k here too, since it isn't covered under most insurance policies. Fingers crossed for a quick recovery for her.
And good job finishing another C1K
Yes, not a nice experience.
Delete20k! Yikes! Our rescue helicopters survive on charity funding. The Coast to Coast ride next month supports our local chopper.
And dot forget our ACC levies...
DeleteI try to forget about them...and then the rego is due...
DeleteI'm glad it's getting put to good use...
Delete