2020 Highlights

With all the drama that this year has brought to the world it perhaps seems a bit strange to be reminiscing about the years highs but hey, you have to try your best to eke as much fun out of your time so here goes.

Last year I did a bit of a rough distance calculation on distances travelled for each of the bikes and I knew before even looking at my numbers that this years would be down (there was that whole lockdown thing after all).  At least I added another bike to keep my eye in...

The rough numbers:

Super Tenere: 7,000km

Concours: 3,000km

Mighty Mouse: 3,500km

RMX: 5 Trail rides

January 

Looking back on January and the key events were getting the WR setup for the Dusty Butt, riding the little bike along with a couple of Tenere rides.  Looks like the poor old Connie was mostly ignored 😢

Odlins Road

Pori Road

Rising Sun

New tank, racks, bash pad, seat pad...

Turakina Valley

Turakina Valley

Chain/gearing change

Test run

February

We must have known something was coming - February was probably the pick of the bunch in terms of riding with two outstanding events to tick off.  The first was my first Dusty Butt - 1,400km of mostly offroad and gravel riding in the South Island over three days - and some of the best riding of my life.  And then of course there was my tenth TT2000, made easier to do by being North Island based this year.

Molesworth

Dusty Butt Day 1 - Chevvy's rescue

Having a paddle on Day 2

The Obelisk

Chewing gum removal on Day 3...

Day 3 - Danseys Pass

Nice weather at Big River mine

Above Titirangi

Titirangi

TT Day 1

TT Day 2

Early morning TT Day 3

Yes!  Got my TTX badge!

March

So the Connie was totally ignored in February and that wasn't my intention for March but a small hiccup interrupted any riding part way through the month with the entire country being sent to bed without any pudding...

At the least the mouse got in a couple of rides including a trip with the two other WR riding nutters to take on Fisher's Track and the 42nd Traverse.

North Range Road

Wharite

National Park

Hassling peddlers

The 42

Okupata Caves

April

April was a very boring month with bikes locked away and batteries suffering for it.  It was all you could do to keep a bike rider amused...

Probably would have happened if I had a dirt bike...

Visiting my poor babies

Yeah, we were all locked down

May

We were still under house arrest for a bit of may but we finally got let free and the two blue bikes were let off the chain.

Sanson

Napier-Taihape Road

Takapari Road

Takapari Road

Chevvy making a splash

Takapari Road

Ridge Road

Pohangina Valley

Kimbolton

Ice on Main South Road

June

In June something amazing happened - all three bikes got out to enjoy some great winter riding.  Yes, even the Connie got some exercise!

Spur Road

Pori Road

Ridge Road

Makoura Road

Pohangina Road

Turakina Valley Road

Whangaehu Valley Road

Whangaehu Valley Road

Turakina Valley Road

Pohonui Road

Kimbolton

Mangaweka

Main South Road

July

In july things were a bit more wintery so we needed to take in a snow ride and then I went crazy and bought a yellow bike.  The only downer was catching a cold (no, not on the snow ride) just before the trail ride that I'd been itching to try out on the new beast 😢

Pukeokahu Road

Mangaohane Road

Mangaohane Road

Napier-Taihape Road

Mangaohane Road

Approaching Waiouru - rain freezing on windscreen

Ruapehu

Ngauruhoe

Ruapehu and mission accomplished

Getting acquainted...

The Yella Terra!

August

It looks like in August it was all about the little bikes.  First things first, the RMX needed to be ridden and then the WR had a wee operation.

RMX and Mouse in the Mangatuks

The Orange Hut

Shiny

Jake the peg?

Replacing the fork seal

A brief experiment in sand...

September

I managed to get quite a bit of riding in during September: some tag hunting on the mouse, my first proper trail ride on the RMX, some tunnel exploring and a very special FRDC MC ride on the Connie.

Papatawa

Ruawhata Road

Taupo

Berm Buster

All done

Taranaki

Pohokura Saddle

Forgotten Highway

Just another little milestone

Stormy Point

October

In October the Connie rattled off a pretty quick 800km during the NI800 (and I still haven't written that ride up yet!), there was a quick trip South (not written up either!), I sampled a 1250 GS, the Napier-Taihape was gobbled up again and there was a wee Adv meet-up in Eketahuna.  An action packed month...

That mountain again

Line-up of IBA plates

No, that isn't good

NI800 checkpoint - no Colin...

Wellington

And back in Picton

Porangahau

Mangahei Road

Mangahei Road

Coast Road

Pongaroa

Pongaroa

Rising Sun

Napier-Taihape - again...

Napier-Taihape - again...

November

There was plenty of riding in November even if I passed on the C1K.  There was not one but two trail rides, a gravel ride with the WAR crew and the Connie even got some more love.

Spicer's Hill Trail Ride

After 10km of clay - I looked worse...

Chevvy needs a Tenere

Makairo Road

Waihi Falls

A happy GSA owner

Fields Track

Whanganui River Road

Yes, that's two RMX's!

Somewhere up above Herbertville

Somewhere else up above Herbertville

December

In December it was time for the Mouse to turn over a milestone, half a Coast to Coast, one last FRDC MC ride for the year, another great trail ride and then a trip South for Xmas.  Best to make the most of things eh?

She's got her work cut out catching the Connie...

Pohangina Road

Coast to Coast

Spur Road

Coonoor Road

Woodville

Bush Riders Trail Ride

Makairo Road

Dust

East Takaka Road

East Takaka Road

Hail in December in Motueka!

So, I 'spose there was a bit of riding done then - just not a lot of miles.  Well, this brings me to my New Years resolution:

Ride more!

Happy New Year!