Wellington KB Christmas Eve Ride Around the Bays and Lunch - photos here

**merv** · 24th December 2006, 15:15

OK thought I'd start another thread on this in the reports place.

Thanks to BuckBuckNo1 we were encouraged to meet up this morning to cruise into Wellington. It turned out to be quite a nice day for it and we got a reasonable turnout given we were riding on reasonably tight roads. For a cruise like that I thought the dirt bike was the weapon of choice so I took my XR250L and had my Bro' tag along on mrs merv's DR650SE.

BB1 left from Stokes Valley but we caught up with him at Avalon which is where my photos start from.

We had about 10 or 15 bikes at Avalon and then we rode on to catch up with more at Kaiwharawhara.

**merv** · 24th December 2006, 15:26

So as we gathered and inspected each others bikes at Avalon I was snapping away on the camera. I didn't take any more until we got to Lyall Bay. We went right around the bays through Shelly Bay and around to Worser Bay. The Chocolate Fish as expected was chocka so no lunch there. We stopped at Lyall bay to check out the cafe at the Maranui surf club - same problem, so it was agreed finish riding around the bays until Owhiro Bay and then go up through Brooklyn and into the city and do what honest bikers would do - park in Cuba mall and go and eat and drink at the Bristol. You can see we got a wide variety of bikes on the ride - isn't that what its all about - enjoy your ride. As for parking on the footpath in the Mall I felt like I was in Melbourne again - great!

**merv** · 24th December 2006, 15:33

More shots at Lyall Bay on the way while we found out that Cafe was full too. The Bach further round was closed for the hols, but it would have been chocka anyway - doesn't everyone just love eating by the beach.

The bikes in the Mall look like they belong.

**merv** · 24th December 2006, 15:41

So we made it to the Bristol and there was stacks of room for us and nice food to be had, convivial company and arty photos to be taken with bikes framed in windows etc. Paul in NZ, Jim2 and kadams turned up at the Bristol too having just missed us at Kaiwharawhara it seems.

**Steam** · 24th December 2006, 15:47

How'd you guys go communicating without keyboards? Do you use your screen names or real names? It would be confusing to remember both.
I would have been there were it not for work, oh dear.

**merv** · 24th December 2006, 15:47

That bike of Paul's sure draws attention. This dude from Waikato fell in love with it. He reckoned he was an old Triumph man even though he was 2 years younger than the bike. His dog didn't mind sitting next to the bike either - the one on the ground that is, the other one he said was his wife.

**merv** · 24th December 2006, 15:50

Originally Posted by Steam

How'd you guys go communicating without keyboards? Do you use your screen names or real names? It would be confusing to remember both.
I would have been there were it not for work, oh dear.

Well we kind of tell each other both names, and then you know how it is within 5 seconds I've forgotten the names of all those I've just learnt for the first time. So those that appear in my photos might be well advised to tell me their KB names on here and I can add them to photo comment. No worries with those I know well of course.

**merv** · 24th December 2006, 16:02

That was basically the end of the group ride, so me and my Bro' thought it wasn't quite long enough so we went home via Makara and Ohariu Valley. It was time for an icecream at the Makara Cafe, and then we stopped at Ohariu Valley thinking time for tea or coffee but the cafe there had decided to close today - bugger these service industry people that think they are allowed a holiday too! There's a bit of railway memorabilia at Ohariu Valley too.

**merv** · 24th December 2006, 16:05

OK this is all I have folks. It was a pretty good easy ride kind of day and I was even back early to post these pics here.

If you have a ride next Sunday, have fun as I won't be able to join you as I'll be enjoying the heat of Sydney instead.

Merry Christmas to you all.

**Drum** · 24th December 2006, 16:21

Great shots Merv, and good to meet you.

A great fun ride, we managed to blow out the cobwebs on the way home.

**StoneChucker** · 24th December 2006, 16:25

Thanks for all the pics merv, it lets us (me) live vicariously through your guys travels and adventures.

Good job for organising the get together/ride BuckBuckNo1, that is what it's all about.

Watch out for crazy xmas traffic guys.

**Paul in NZ** · 24th December 2006, 17:04

Originally Posted by Steam

How'd you guys go communicating without keyboards? Do you use your screen names or real names? It would be confusing to remember both.
I would have been there were it not for work, oh dear.

We txt each other of course...

**ajturbo** · 24th December 2006, 17:07

dam.. this means i'm leaving it a bit late to join the ride??? i'm just about to head down your way...

**stevedee** · 24th December 2006, 17:22

Cheers Merv nice to meet you, great photos, bunch of great people.

**merv** · 24th December 2006, 17:22

Originally Posted by ajturbo

dam.. this means i'm leaving it a bit late to join the ride??? i'm just about to head down your way...

Did ya think we were doing a dinner ride or something?

Our bikes are all safely tucked away in the garage now.

Drum that bike of yours really does look like its trying to be a GS1000s in those colours it just needs the wee fairing on the front.