New Year's Day ride

While chatting to Meanie and Monie at the Coast to Coast I suggested that we hadn't done a New Year's Day ride for a while (I didn't check but it's been at least a year) and that we should think about doing one.  Both were keen and then they also mentioned that Al was emigrating to the South Island (lucky sod) and that it could be a last hurrah for him - sounds like a plan...

Anyway, that's as far as we got before I snuck down to the Golden Bay so on my return we had to get organised in a hurry.  I actually sent an invite out while in Pakawau but didn't plan the route until I got home.  At least we had let some of the team know and could plan the after ride BBQ...

I eventually came up with the little ride shown below - except we reversed it so we could pick up some Martinites on the way.

Being New Year's Day (and an Ashhurst ride), we planned a bit of a late start from a cafe in Ashhurst for the latte drinkers (and this mocha drinker).  Meanie must have been pretty keen (or thirsty) as he bet everyone to the cafe and got straight onto Facebook to let everyone know all about it...

Not quite sure how that Trumpy found it's way into a Kawasaki garage...

Eventually more coffee drinkers arrived and we were probably only half an hour late leaving for Marton.

All stragglers accounted for

Valley Road was a nice little warm-up followed by a few more back roads from Feilding to Halcombe and then into Marton where we collected yet another Triumph and a Ducati.  A magic little ride down Makuhou Road and a little of Turakina Valley Road (missed out on the gravel sections unfortunately) and we were soon in Fordell turning for the run through to Hunterville.

Being an Ashhurst ride we did need to break the ride up a little though...

Only crappy cell phone pics today...

While at the lookout the girls got excited when a topless Tanker Driver roared past and quickly remounted and chased after him.  The rest of us weren't in as much of a hurry but eventually caught up to them prior to running into some moos being moved along the road.  There were some complaints about the stock on the road...

I avoided all the mess (but got the blame for others not avoiding it - not sure how that works) and really enjoyed the ride across to Hunterville.  There were also several other groups of riders out enjoying it but in the opposite direction.

We eventually rolled into Hunterville just after 1 which was just as well as both Meanie and Yod were keen for some breakfast.  The rest of us more normal people opted for lunch.

After lunch/breakfast Monie did a disappearing act while the rest of us carried on up a busy SH1 before turning off at Ohingaiti and making for Pemberton.  I was having an awesome ride and thought I had fair dusted everyone but had to come back down to earth when Yod turned up and mentioned Triumph issues - apparently one of them was leaving pieces behind...

Super fast Connie

Yod

Dogs

Owl

Meanie on not a Kawasaki

 

Mel

Al & Tania

The rest of the ride was the magnificent loop from Rangiwahia to Apiti and then around Pohangina Valley East Road to Ashhurst - more nice scenery and magnificent riding.  In Ashhurst we split off to drop bikes at home before returning to Ashhurst again for the BBQ and a great night feeding our faces and talking crap!

On my way home (the first time) there was one other bit of excitement when the Connie rolled over another little milestone.

No, it didn't run out of fuel...

And pretty much in my driveway too...

Great ride and great bike!  Must organise another New Year's Day ride again...and soon!