Soggy Tag

This weekend I left my riding pretty late and almost didn't get one in.  On Sunday the weather was a little hit and miss but by lunchtime I was starting to get pretty desperate and decided that I was going anyway.  Besides, Al had posted up a new tag (after nabbing my one in less than 24 hours) and I was fairly sure where it was...

A tagoholic's horse

As Al had mentioned gravel (40m of the stuff apparently), I decided that this was a Tenere ride so loaded the blue beast up and left home feeling just the odd spit of rain...can you tell how this story is going to go?

After filling up I had to make my way across town and then up over the Pahiatua track to go in search of the tag.  Leaving the gas station the weather got ever so slightly worse - cats, dogs and perhaps even the odd elephant started raining down.  The rain was that hard that visibility was tricky even in town - I got a soaking!

Of course, the weather was the worst while travelling slowly across town and after a wet crossing of the track it finally fizzled out as I turned off towards Mangamire.  I went this way as the tag was down near the Mangahao River and there were a couple of possible locations.

The first one was off Nikau Road where a potholed dirt track takes you to a neat swimming hole (or at least it was when I went swimming there years and years ago).  This little track had seen the odd bit of rain and there were plenty of small lakes that needed to be negotiated.  Luckily they weren't muddy puddles and had a nice hard surface below the surface (that English works doesn't it?).  The Ten managed to plow her way through the lakes sufficiently well (dammit, forgot to turn camera on) but did end up slightly grubby for her troubles.

By now the weather was a fair bit friendlier and at Mangamire I turned off onto some more back roads to make my way back towards Pahiatua.  Along the way I discovered these magic little roads:

The gravel was in pretty good condition but as you can see on the video there was the odd soft bit which added to the fun.  With the sun out and some really nice views I even weakened enough to stop and take some pics.

Raining in Dannevirke...

Where did the puddles go?

Next up it was time to find the river again - and hopefully the tag.  Well, whatdayaknow...

Hiding just off the main road

40 metres of gravel...

Then it was time to go off and find a new tag.  This time around I'll try not to give it away as apparently Al reads the blog!

The next picture taken here hopefully will not have a KTM in it...

After taking this picture I took off and tried to get lost again.  Fortunately I didn't get too lost and ended up on another favourite little piece of gravel.  This was a heap of fun as the gravel was in "fast" condition.  Just the odd hazard to keep an eye out for...

The brakes work!

This is more like it!

Off the gravel, I somehow or other (can't give anything away remember) I made my way back to Palmy where the weather had changed just a little...

A bridge to somewhere...

Different (and drier) skies than when I left...

So, I nice little ride of about x km visiting a couple of secret locations and a good rinsing of all of my gear...At least the bike looks good with it's mud pack on...

I think she's smiling...