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**Bass** · 19th September 2010, 18:38

I'm back!
Had a long holiday - nine months unemployed with the wife playing student. So 9 months with pretty much no income at all was a bit tough. Great lesson in how cheaply we can live if we have to but got too close to selling stuff for comfort.
Had some really good friends keeping an eye on us though, so we came through OK.
Both wifie and I are employed now so it's looking good. However, the new job means that I am on call and of course, I have no annual leave accrued for a while.

Anyway, I figure that it's time that I organised a ride but what I have in mind may not be for everybody and because of the above, it has to be Saturday/Sunday.
As a consequence of past escapades, I am reasonably well equipped for getting away from it all and so what I was thinking was a sand weekend up Bailey's Beach way.
The last time I was up there, DJ and I discovered this rather tidy little camping ground about half way down the beach, hidden behind the dunes which has been set up by one of the fishing clubs. There's also a nicely challenging track that runs from the camping ground along the back of the dunes and up on to the road down the peninsula.

So basically what I had in mind was a Saturday ride up there, head down the beach to Poutu with some side trips into the dunes, camp out Sat night with Sunday left open - maybe up to the other end of the beach and then home via what gravel Crisis can find.

Warning!!!! You will need to carry everything you need - i.e. a real adventure ride.

Anyone interested?

Footnote: We have this large and pretty empty house and so can offer accomodation to the odd bod wanting to come up from south of the Bombays. Could maybe even organise that Aussie photo evening that we talked about but never did. Can also get bikes into the garage.

**.chris** · 19th September 2010, 18:48

yes, would depend on timing, but yes.

**Mom** · 19th September 2010, 18:50

Originally Posted by Bass

I'm back!
Had a long holiday - nine months unemployed

Congratulations on the new job Neil! 9 Months!

**dino3310** · 19th September 2010, 18:50

WHAT!!!!! No cabins and bakery

**junkmanjoe** · 19th September 2010, 18:56

good stuff with landing the job mate..

i know where you are coming from,,,i was about 8 month out of work, and yes we do learn to live on Sweet FUK ALL.

ive got a good 4yrs work in front of me, man thats a dam good feeling....

id be real keen to come on ya ride,,,,but we working most Saturdays now...

on ya mate..

JMJ

**MXNUT** · 19th September 2010, 19:01

Good to hear you are back in the land of the living Neal.

Having gone through that last year for 7 months i know how tough it is

Would be keen on that ride, sometime in october ( not long weekend ) would suit me nicely.

Let us know what you decide

**Cary** · 19th September 2010, 20:11

Real camping weekend sounds great. will depend on my shifts but if I can i'd be keen

**Waihou Thumper** · 20th September 2010, 03:55

Yes, most definitely.
Another sojourn up north to Poutu point....Great place, plenty of nice riding and sand, lots of sand!

**Padmei** · 20th September 2010, 07:51

Pleasedto hear about the work thing Bass. Have a good ride.

**ducatijim** · 20th September 2010, 10:10

Yay......Id b in.......but October for me is going to be spent between 6 states in Oz, so maybe I will have had enough sand of my own ?

I could try Nov but you know once I am home every fine 3 day break will be spent making silage eh!!

Just flick me the date once you decided and I will see wot I can manage....

**Crisis management** · 20th September 2010, 17:03

I'm interested, subject to dates etc, it's an area I have always wanted to explore, I like the idea of an Aussie photo night too!

I have some gravel in mind between here and Dargaville.

**clint640** · 20th September 2010, 21:34

Sounds good, sand is fun, never explored that area much, weekends are starting to fill up though... 8-9 Oct or 13-14 Nov look good for me.

Cheers
Clint

**Bass** · 21st September 2010, 17:07

Firstly, thanks for the kind words on the job thing. Obviously, my experience is not uncommon and so it's still tough out there.

As for the ride, it seems we may have a quorum.
I had in mind to let the equinox and the turbulence that it traditionally brings, shuffle by first. With that in mind, Clint's preference for the 13/14th of November comes into focus.
My weekends are pretty open at the moment and so it matters little to me.
Therefore, why don't you lot come back to indicate your preference for that weekend or the one following (November 20/21) and we will take it from there.
Lastly, Iain apart, is anyone else interested in the Oz photo evening because if so, I will try and get a projector from somewhere?
Remember that provision of somewhere to crash is eminently feasible.

**Waihou Thumper** · 21st September 2010, 17:21

This sounds like a good weekend away....I guess the tides will be the next thing to maybe think about? I will be definitely keen to kip on your floor too if the offer is there
I have been up that way and down before and it is a great bit of scenery, plenty of metal between Waitoki and the Kaipara...
The back roads behind shwy16 are all good...The track round the back of Kumeu to Helensville golf course etc etc...Iain knows the route....Back roads around Wellsford are awesome!
I got a projector, it belongs to work, just need to figure out how to bring it, leave it and pick it up again Doesn't work too well with sand in it....Well, nor does my KTM, I have proof of that from my last outing around the Kaipara coast....