North Auckland gravel bash. [Archive]

Crisis management

14th June 2009, 18:13

Latte Riders and Fat Pig racing wish to announce the next carefully organised and professhinally run event on the gravel roads between Auckland and Wellsford.

Date: Sunday 28th june, thats 2 weeks away girls....

Meeting point: The McDonalds carpark at Shell Westgate, top of the North western motorway at 0900 or 9am if you have a 12 hour clock.

Ride: North of there, Riverhead, Waitoki, South Kaipara, Wellsford, Mangawhai heads, Leigh, Puhoi (did anyone mention beer?) Riverhead then home.
About 400kms, so a good days riding at a reasonable pace, it's all on gravel and seal, at a wild guess about 70% gravel, but don't hold me to it....:bleh: and suitable for anyone willing to make an arse of themselves in public.

Plenty of options for doing bits of the ride if you haven't got all day but don't overcomplicate my life or I'll ignore you, ok?

The coffees good, the gravel varied and interesting but you have to bring your own entertainment.

Due to techological incompetence I don't do calendar thingies so post stuff on here.

In answer to any of your questions, choose from the following;

Yes.
No.
Quite possibly.
Do I look like your mother?

OK, See you if 2 weeks then.:done:

trustme

14th June 2009, 18:28

Nope,sorry my blouse will be in the wash.
Will give Zeph a heads up.

dino3310

14th June 2009, 20:13

Bugga, my baby girls b/day that day:doh:

next time matey

Cary

15th June 2009, 07:23

I'm in if I can get the day off work or that pig flu gets me :shifty:

Bass

15th June 2009, 08:04

Excellent! CU then.

PeteJ

15th June 2009, 10:34

Have fun, folks. I'll be heading up to Russell on the Friday afternoon - by some of the same roads, if I have any say in the matter :nya: - and by the time you're getting all muddy, I should be throwing softbaits at snapper.

Cheers

Devil

15th June 2009, 12:33

Ooo, if my new bike turns up in time I should be in for it. Tail end charlie. heh.

Crisis management

15th June 2009, 12:40

I should be throwing softbaits at snapper.

Just a suggestion Pete, try attaching a fishing line eh? Makes getting the fish back a bit easier......

Bastid.

3L4NS1R

15th June 2009, 16:46

dam. will be in the coro that weekend...

johannvr

15th June 2009, 17:51

What would you reckon your ETA at Waitoki may be? 10-ish? May join you from there if plans work ...

Crisis management

15th June 2009, 19:07

What would you reckon your ETA at Waitoki may be? 10-ish? May join you from there if plans work ...

Probably more 9.30 ish if we get away at 9.00, be good to catch up with you..... and it's only down the road from your place, I'll give you a note if that helps.....

While we are at it, I'm not drinking that MacDonalds coffee so the first stop is just out of Puhoi at the Art of Cheese cafe about 10.30ish. I just need to find a decent coffee stop in Wellsford now, any suggestions?

johannvr

15th June 2009, 19:14

Ok - that's cool. I will make sure that I'm @ Waitoki G.A.S. before 9:30 then. What's the plan - Wainui, Weranui Rd etc to Puhoi? Also good with Art of Cheese for coffee - I don't partake of the Ronald Macdonald sludge either ...

Coffee in Wellsford - just past the Caltex (& Macdonalds, as luck would have it ...) on the l/hand side of the road is a nice breakfast place. Forget for the moment what it's called. I will check tomorrow afternoon on the way back from my weekly Whangarei trip.

Later

jvr

johannvr

15th June 2009, 19:20

aaah sorry - I see South Kaipara, so not Weranui etc towards Puhoi but maybe the back roads past Tahekeroa & so on & such ...

Either way, I feel a heeealin' comin on :Punk:

Cary

16th June 2009, 07:47

Got the day off, so i'm in.

Taz

16th June 2009, 08:20

Damn I'm working....... Will check the book tonight.

PeteJ

16th June 2009, 12:21

Just a suggestion Pete, try attaching a fishing line eh? Makes getting the fish back a bit easier......

Bastid.

Arf arf arf. Matt Watson can do it without a line; so can I.

Bass

16th June 2009, 12:25

Damn I'm working....... Will check the book tonight.

Well, just rev the boss up, like you do the local farmers.
When he picks a fight, you have a great excuse to take the day off.
Problem solved.

.chris

16th June 2009, 12:31

I am keen, but can only be a maybe at this stage.

....

and I am out, going south for the winter.

johannvr

16th June 2009, 18:56

I just need to find a decent coffee stop in Wellsford now, any suggestions?

As promised

Jack's Cafe just there on the left at the junction of SH 16 & SH 1 (next to the pub, so there's a choice for the early birds ...), or Cafe Caramelo on SH 1 through-road kinda opposite Macsludge / Caltex - have not partaken of their caffeine yet, but looked like a reasonable joint in the drive-by this afternoon ...

and I've bought the time off from Superwoman, so I'm in :soon:

PeteJ

16th June 2009, 20:13

As promised

Jack's Cafe just there on the left at the junction of SH 16 & SH 1 (next to the pub, so there's a choice for the early birds ...), or Cafe Caramelo on SH 1 through-road kinda opposite Macsludge / Caltex - have not partaken of their caffeine yet, but looked like a reasonable joint in the drive-by this afternoon ...

and I've bought the time off from Superwoman, so I'm in :soon:

Yeah, folks, Jack's is the only place in Wf (not WTF) that has a decent coffee. We drive through about 2 weeks out of 3.

johannvr

17th June 2009, 14:10

Yeah, folks, Jack's is the only place in Wf (not WTF) that has a decent coffee. We drive through about 2 weeks out of 3.

Same. Been on a project in Whangarei since October last year. 2-3 days almost every week. Could do the whole of SH 1 between Silverdale & W'rei with my eyes closed by now ...:bye:

Bass

23rd June 2009, 16:12

Just had a look at Metvuw for Sunday - it's total crap.
Just as well that it's not especially reliable this far out, eh?

johannvr

23rd June 2009, 16:52

Yip - the "winterless north" starts just over the hills, so it's still a go at the moment for me. Often different Wx patterns here - I can always do a quick update to the thread early on Sunday morning if you interested to plan from that :woohoo:

Bass

23rd June 2009, 17:07

I can always do a quick update to the thread early on Sunday morning if you interested to plan from that :woohoo:

Yes please - would appreciate that

johannvr

23rd June 2009, 20:16

Will do Mate. U also welcome to txt me on Sun morn if I'm not quick enuff off the mark - o two one - 932 - five eight eight

Crisis management

24th June 2009, 08:33

Bass

24th June 2009, 09:02

I thought I would make a call on saturday morning and if it is horrible would cancel the trip...if it's only slightly horrible (showers) then I'm still keen.

At the moment I think it will be ok.....I have heated handgrips!

Dilemmas
While bearing in mind other peples potential commitments, I would be happy for the call to be as late as practicable - Saturday evening perhaps.

Taz

24th June 2009, 09:07

Come on it's only a little rain. Never hurt anyone - just ask all those that Noah left behind :).

N.B I'll be nice and warm at work but still wishing I was cold and wet out there with you guys......

Bass

24th June 2009, 09:35

Come on it's only a little rain. Never hurt anyone - just ask all those that Noah left behind :).

....
Yeah, but the forecast that he was working with read "Scattered showers" and look how that turned out.

Devil

24th June 2009, 09:44

Hopefully the weather plays ball. I have my new bike now. Will be a little nervous on the gravel for the first time!

johannvr

24th June 2009, 18:44

Planning to take it easy as meant to be a fun ride & not a serious Adv ride (well, at least to me ... as I also lucky enuff to have heated grips :rockon:) - as CM said - fat pig lazy latte rider gravel bash ... oh sorry - that was a previous one :wacko:. Sounds acceptable to me tho.

So - bring new bike - will be OK.

I'm also happy to only make the call as late as early Sun morning - as offered above, anyone welcome to txt me - I should be able to tell more or less what the Wx is looking like, at least up & around the Hib Coast area, which is normally a reasonable indication ...

Bass

25th June 2009, 10:52

The closer we get, the more the weather forecast deteriorates.
Starting to look like Anthrax's comments about Noah's in-laws might come back to haunt us.

I don't mind wet but have discovered that the DR's practical limit is about 750 mm deep

Crisis management

25th June 2009, 13:18

The closer we get, the more the weather forecast deteriorates.

I know what you mean, for once it does look accurate and very wet....if it's as wet as it looks like it wants to be, I'm not going, I don't fancy 9 hours of drowning.
Again, lets confirm on saturday and make the call then.

Crisis management

27th June 2009, 11:37

Ok, the weather looks ok for sunday morning but packing in later on, so I suggest at this stage lets go ahead and shorten the ride a bit so we head home in the early afternoon.

I will post up early tomorrow morning (7ish) to confirm, assuming all is good, I look forward to seeing you all in the morning. :Punk:

Let me know if you think this is a dumb idea????

johannvr

27th June 2009, 12:28

Not at all Mate - I'm still in & quite Ok with a slightly shorter ride- just lemme know if your ETD plans are still as before, so that I know what time to meet @ Waitoki, eg still around 09:15 onwards?

If the Wx stays anything a bit like today it'll be great for a ride :banana:

Will check then around 7 tomorrow morning & see if we're still on :clap:

Cary

27th June 2009, 12:54

I'm in, long or short.

Pubs have roofs :apint:

johannvr

27th June 2009, 16:18

Pubs have roofs :apint:

true :drinkup:

Crazy Steve

27th June 2009, 16:32

So this ride will have how many kms of gravel riding....Im a Noob when its comes to off roading.....Unless Lula is asking then im an old pro.....lol

I wanna come instead of going drag racing.....

Crazy Steve.

johannvr

27th June 2009, 18:07

150-200 somewhere at a rough guess, maybe a bit more - depending on how far & wide the roaming will be :2thumbsup

Crazy Steve

27th June 2009, 18:20

150-200 somewhere at a rough guess, maybe a bit more - depending on how far & wide the roaming will be :2thumbsup

Thanks for that...

Sound like to much for me...

Will have to goooo drag racing insted....Have fun..

Crazy Steve.

Devil

27th June 2009, 18:39

Injured my arm today. If it's ok in the morning i'll be there.

Crisis management

28th June 2009, 07:21

Looks ok to me....it will be a bit damp in the morning and I think we can adjust the ride to suit the weather if we need to.

See whoever at 9.00 and Johannes about 9.15 - 9.30

johannvr

28th June 2009, 07:25

Yep, it's drizzling out here with low fog about, but doesn't look too bad.

9:15 it is :sunny:

Just trawled thru metvuw. Humidity & cloud cover 90%+ , but rain forecast not too bad for the most part.

johannvr

28th June 2009, 15:06

Back, drying out & defrosting :whocares:

Thank you gentlemen - 't was a most enjoyable jaunt. :laugh:

Johann

Crisis management

28th June 2009, 19:07

C'mon, it only really rained for the last 2 hours....
Lots of fun, the weather held off long enough to clock up 300 odd kms and we found a few new roads on the way, what more do you want?

The only midly disturbing bit was out near the southern kaipara doing my best Ewan and Charlie impersonation when a bloke on a Harley with truly armpit revealing ape hangers goes past the other way.....and the bastard waved! :shit:

The Latte Riders reputation is now irredemiably damaged...back to smearing mud on the bike and cruising the waterfront.

johannvr

28th June 2009, 19:20

Lots of fun, the weather held off long enough to clock up 300 odd kms and we found a few new roads on the way, what more do you want?

More of the same? I enjoyed it - don't get enough opportunity to go & get wet :Punk: :soon:

& as for that lad with his apehangers - I was suitably impressed :shit:

johannvr

28th June 2009, 19:23

C'mon, it only really rained for the last 2 hours....

just a wee drizzle :niceone:

Cary

28th June 2009, 19:42

Good ride, rain not a problem, beer good. Cheers Iain.

Couple of bad phone pics at Puhoi.
<a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v496/jeb441/?action=view&current=20090628133233.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v496/jeb441/20090628133233.jpg" border="0" alt="Puhoi gravel bash 2"></a>

<a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v496/jeb441/?action=view&current=20090628133217.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v496/jeb441/20090628133217.jpg" border="0" alt="Puhoi gravel bash"></a>

Bass

29th June 2009, 10:14

Had a ball - thanks Iain.
It fair bucketed down heading home down the m'way. There must have been about 15mm of surface water on the road until I got over the bridge and of course the traffic stirred it up a fair bit. Visibility was a bit of a problem and now I know how a torpedo feels.
I was half expecting to see a few going overhead.

3L4NS1R

29th June 2009, 11:23

Glad to see there were other crazies out and about this weekend!

Good stuff guys, need more picts up here!

johannvr

29th June 2009, 17:46

This yarpie twit forgot to take his camera along - no pics :crybaby:

Crisis management

29th June 2009, 19:23

Good stuff guys, need more picts up here!

I don't multi task very well....we stop for coffee or beer otherwise it's riding.
I think PJay said it best a few months ago, "I think I do about 5,000kms per photo"

We obviously need a photographer (not Cary cause he's cursed) how about it, we only ride at nana pace and have been known to be friendly???:innocent:

Dont Know

29th June 2009, 20:58

Great ride Crisis, only one u turn, but it was worth it.
That final stretch of rain just about power washed the bike, until I looked this morning when things had dried out a bit.
See at the MMM ride.
Cheers Al

3L4NS1R

30th June 2009, 08:42

We obviously need a photographer (not Cary cause he's cursed) how about it, we only ride at nana pace and have been known to be friendly???:innocent:

haha, perhaps once i get to some magical level where I can keep up!

Lula

30th June 2009, 11:13