2016 Highlights

Ok, January is nearly done for but this is getting to be a bit of a habit:

January

Well, I test rode a Honda and didn't buy one...

Wrong colour?

But did manage to get a ride in during a patch of weather the likes of which we have yet to see this year...

Beach Babe

February

In February a certain V-twin departed to become an Aussie's NZ bike.

Sob...

And of course there was the yearly pilgrimage for a little ride down South.

Munching miles is where it's at!

March

Looking back at my posts it looks like not much happened in March.  Having only one bike was a bummer, must have been waiting for something...Still got out for a nice little scoot on some favourite roads.

Smile for the camera darling

April

In April I was a little disappointed when the Connie's battery died...

Batteries these days...

and also got all nostalgic...

I miss that bike...

Before finally fixing that 2nd bike problem...

Purdy!

May

With a new bike in the shed there was farkling to be done (and it still continues)...

Purdier...

And looking back, the poor old Connie got a bit ignored when the new horse was taken on the BRRBT ride...

Seems to go alright.

June

The Connie finally got a run in June and it was up to some of the other guys to bring along their new and exotic machinery...

"Keep this end pointing forward"

"It's crap in the mud"

But the Tenere also got a couple of rides in, one slightly unplanned.

A bike, a bridge and some sun

July

In July I tried to sort out the recent favouritism and got both bikes out on the same day...

Tag hunter extraordinaire

Gravel eater extraordinaire

August

Oops, it looks like that in August I reverted to favouring the new bike again with a couple of outings to test the newly fitted E-07's.  One ride was frostier than the other.

I like heated grips and I cannot lie

We had a better summer during winter

September

The Connie got some loving in the form of new tyres and a service and even got treated to a little exercise for a change.

Ain't she lovely!

And the blog even passed a milestone.

Dang that means I'm 10 years older too...

October

In October I wimped out on the NI1600 and instead hung out at the HQ while others got sore butts.  At least the Connie got a run up to Turangi and back - teasing her?

Nev, Graeme & Phil

Steve

Glen

Colin finishing just after Glen (go Yamaha!)

And the Tenere went on her first big adventure.

Favourite pic of the trip

November

November means another wee ride that the Connie always enjoys.

Team Kawasaki out there doing it!

And the Tenere got to sample a Forgotten Highway.

How could I forget the Forgotten Highway?

December

Usually there's a few Toy Runs/Charity rides on in December, but last year I only managed to take in the Coast to Coast.

Everyone needs a Kawasaki!

And the Tenere was teased with a short trip South...may have to make it up to her...

Dang gates spoil all the fun...

Now, if the weather could just play ball so I can get amongst it again...

Webbed feet...

...would be handy with our current "summer" weather.

Saturday was nice but I was busy doing "stuff".
Sunday - howling gale and horizontal rain.
Monday (public holiday) - not bad at times but plenty of rain for a Tenere rider to crash into.

Yeah, so I went for it today.  I left home under some reasonably calm skies and made my way across towards Halcombe, very keen to access the Turakina Valley.  But crossing over from Mount Stewart I rain into a really thick cloud which just wouldn't leave me alone.  It was also a very wet cloud and looking off over towards Marton I could see that it was a very big cloud or some sort of wet cloud meeting - things were not looking very inviting so I decided to change my plans.

Seeing as I'd ridden across on reasonably dry roads I decided to loop around through Halcombe and head across to Beaconsfield and then the Pohangina Valley.  The cloud gathering seemed to like the idea and decided to accompany me for most of my trip.

My first bit gravel was on Levett Line.  Last time I'd been through here there had been a load of gravel on the road but this time around there were definite wheel tracks in the gravel and plenty of mud in them too.  My old E-07's handled things reasonably well, just the odd little slither occasionally when coming off the gas going down hills.  At Kiwitea I stopped for a short breather to work out where I was going next.

I decided that while I was fairly wet, I was not actually soaking so rather than wimping out I decided to carry on over Coulter's Line towards the valley.  The gravel there was fairly chunky in places but I enjoyed the squirt up the hill to Ridge Road.  The video below shows a few snippets of these roads and Finnis road.  You'll notice how Ridge and Finnis Roads were a bit muddier and I had ease off a bit on them - I even chased a rabbit at one stage but embarrassingly he got away on me...

After dropping into Pohangina I again resisted my cowardly urges and turned northish on Pohangina Road.  When this turns to gravel it becomes a wonderful playground for big Adv bikes...

After the excitement I stopped to check out the raging torrent that was the Pohangina River.

The return trip home took me back to Ashhurst via Pohangina Valley East Road and with the going easy once again, the cloud finally gave up watering me.  Home by cuppa time and actually not too wet after a reasonably enjoyable if damp pootle.

Eke Loop

Ok, so I had to call the post something...

On Sunday I had to celebrate the Tenere getting a WOF (on some fairly worn E-07's) by taking out for a spot of gravel flipping.  I had a very late start and even leaving my driveway hadn't really made any firm plans.

I eventually went right out of the driveway and made my way up over the track.  It was  a little exciting as it was fairly windy and at one stage my tank bag came adrift so I had to grab it and hang onto it until I could pull over.  I can't have clipped it in properly as it's never been a problem before.

My first patch of gravel was on Kopikopiko Road and followed my usual route through to just North of Eketahuna.  A great mix of pretty fast gravel and the odd bit of tar.

Instead of rocking on into Eke, I turned left on SH2 for a little while before turning off onto Central Mangaone Road.  I hadn't been on this one for a while and it was a little slower going with tighter, narrower roads.

Central Mangaone Road ended onto the tarmac Mangaone Valley Road Road which I followed towards Pahiatua before turning off again onto Tawataia Road.  I'd only done this road once before but remembered it as good fast, open gravel road - I was right, it was fantastic.

By the time I hit the tarmac of Route 52 a plan was forming.  I turned towards Pongaroa and and kept an eye out for my next turn-off...

...which was onto Saunders Road and eventually Pori Road.

Eventually I came to the spot where a few years ago the BRR crew stopped by a big slip.  It had been mostly removed but you can sure see where it came from and where it went...

Leaving the slip, the Gopro stopped taking pictures and I soon ran out of gravel ended up on the Pahiatua-Pongaroa Road near the end of the Makuri Gorge.  I did manage to get some video so ya'll can here the mighty S10 at play (although the YouTube video doesn't sounds as good as the copy on my PC).

The run back to SH2 had me get stuck behind a few old cars out for a sedate trundle and run head first into the howling wind.  It was definitely a lot windier than when I'd left so I passed on a return trip over the track and took the boring route home via SH2 and the gorge.  Never mind, good to be out on the bike and a nice little 195km route - I better put some gas in before next time too as the current tank was filled in Picton...

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!

A little inspiration...