Well, I think I may have found some more power...
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| I think it was time... |
I would have changed the oil too but had no filter here - just as well, mustn't spoil the little bike...
I did fit the long distance, touring seat cover though - but that's to spoil me...
So summer is well and truly here and there are roads to be ridden...
Today Colin not only twisted my arm to go riding, but he also managed to persuade Ross, on his new to him T7, to join us in an outing that involved hot tar, plenty of dust and marbles, a burger and some great roads and scenery.
After our normal pre-ride coffee we set out across the Saddle studiously sticking to the pathetically low speed limit (used to be a 100km/h playground for bikes) and into Woodville where I filled up the Tenere with some liquid gold.
Next up, I led the lads through Hopelands Road on some really nice, tight seal followed by a short bit of gravel (it's important to have a wee warm-up before getting stuck into it) on Millers Road. At the end of the road we had a quick catch-up and Ross seemed to be enjoying himself even though he had been dining out big time on the dust off Colin and I.
Pahiatua-Pongaroa Road and a nice flick through Makuri got us onto our next section of gravel on Coonoor Road. Through here we spent a bit of time cursing the sod that invented graders as they'd been hard at work spreading gravel all over the show to provide a not so nice surface to slither around on.
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| Don't the two Teneres look good together... |
I let the other chaps go ahead of me up Towai Road as the deep stuff is not quite as much fun on the Tenere and I was probably holding them up. Just up the road though, the road improved and there was a really nice surface up to the lime works and then to the summit. The weather was a bit poo though...
My personal photographer even got a couple of pics of me.
Dropping down the hill we even encountered the odd vehicle coming the other way - kinda surprised to see a little Peugeot trundling along on the gravel at one stage.
By the time we turned off onto Waihi Valley Road the gravel had improved and I got to eat plenty of dust following the T7 through to Route 52 before we made our way into Pongaroa for those burgers. I may have enjoyed a quick sample of the T7 on the way in - cheers Ross.
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| Checking to see if his baby is ok after experiencing some separation anxiety... |
We had a reasonably long lunch break and during this Colin and I discussed our route options for the afternoon leg. We ended up sticking to the seal and made our way South on 52 until turning off just out of Alfredton onto Barton's line.
It was fairly dusty through here, although the gravel wasn't too bad through to Eketahuna but when we started in towards the ranges again we discovered that a grader had been at work again so we had plenty more practice at skittering around on marbles again.
As usual though, it was a great ride up North along the ranges and the roads are pretty friendly even if there was a the stretch of deeper gravel here and there. The last section before we popped out on the seal of Nikau Road was a lot nicer and it was great to end the gravel ride on some nice fast stuff.
Hot tar through to and over the Pahiatua track made for some careful tip-toeing and at the bottom of the track it was time to wave off the lads and skedaddle for a cold drink at home.
And I'm getting a bit better at it...
So, the old girl has had a bit of love and hopefully might actually get an outing every once and a while - it's embarrassing how long the last set where on the bike...
Yesterday, the dog and I got home from our walk to find a BMW in the driveway and the rider sprawled on the couch. We couldn't allow that so after plying the rider with coffee, two bikes made there way out and up the valley.
Early in the ride something just wasn't quite right. I wasn't feeling quite as plugged in as usual and that my riding wasn't exactly startling. So, after puttering around the Pohangina Valley and looking for a nice view of the river I pulled over at Adi's bridge.
There we had a bit of a yarn and it appeared that I wasn't just me that was struggling for mojo. It was a pretty nice morning, not too hot but clear and sunny, what was our problem? Anyway, we decided to carry on just see where we got to without committing to a decent ride - coffee in Mangaweka was beckoning - oh, and an interesting pie.
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| So now I know what gunpowder tastes like... |
After our coffee and a decent break we decided to check out the highlights of Mangaweka and I grabbed a few pics for various threads on Advrider. Turns out there are some pretty cool old buildings and artwork in Mangaweka - see, you can find interesting things if you get off SH1...
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| Risking life and limb on the main street |
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| Colin's kinda mates.. |
From Mangaweka we trundled down to Hunterville to fill up the Beemer - Colin managed to get $65 in it and he hadn't been bone dry yet either...
Next up was a trip over Mangahoe Road. Last time we went through there we'd noticed all the damage from heavy rain and this time we took our time and even stopped for a nosey on one of the sections where the road was washed away and is under repair.
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| These jokers would have got wet feet here a few weeks ago |
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| There was all sorts of crap down in the creek - a lot of water must have come through here |
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| Someone's sticking to showers only at the moment |
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| Job done, road is perfect now... |
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| Yep! |
Just up the road a tad we hung a left onto Turakina Valley Road to make our way back towards Marton. As it was picture taking day we pulled up for some shots at a farmers neat bridge.
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| The waters have receded somewhat... |
By now it was a lot hotter and the tar getting worse so we turned off up Makuhou Road to enjoy that neat bit of seal (apart from the hot tar at the top) to the Marton reservoir. We even stopped again for pics!
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| "Where is the coffee!" |
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| I like this bike... |
Looking at that cool water made us even hotter and thirstier so we trundled into Marton and found a dairy and some shade to have a breather in.
Here, Colin was splitting for home and me likewise. This could have been in two different directions but when I noticed Colin still behind me on the Halcombe road I took us out on one last diversion through to Stanford and then back into Fielding.
In Fielding I finally shook the BMW and cruised home via Colyton where another cold drink and a breather was in order.
So, not a huge ride (about 270km for me) but it was quite nice just taking it easy and getting the odd photo - a different sort of mojo found and enjoyed
And yes Dave, 28 degrees is hot!
