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

[merv]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

Great shots Merv, and good to meet you.

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

[StoneChucker]

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

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

Watch out for crazy xmas traffic guys.:shit:

[Paul in NZ]

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]

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

[stevedee]

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

[merv]

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.

[Drum]

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

Buckbuck mentioned a rerun for New Years, so you may not have missed out.

And Merv.........there aint no Kwaka that ever wanted to be a Suzuki mate! LOL

[Skunk]

Bugger! How did I miss this? Didn't even see the thread on it... :(


Buckbuck mentioned a rerun for New Years, so you may not have missed out.

And Merv.........there aint no Kwaka that ever wanted to be a Suzuki mate! LOLI have: I'll be in Taupo/Tauranga

[madmal64]

Thanks for the pics & write up merv.:yes: A great cruisy ride. Good food,weather & company what a cool way to spend Christmas eve.
That dude that was going nuts over pauls was a bit of a character wasnt he?
Cheers to BB1 for floating the idea:Punk:

[Ms Piggy]

Great pics Merv! Great day & the Hotel Bristol puts on a good feed too!

[merv]

Bugger! How did I miss this? Didn't even see the thread on it... :(

Dunno, we were talking about it for a couple of days here http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=41014

[Skunk]

Stupid me I guess - I thought BB had been around the bays and this was his report on it. Should have read the thread. My loss.

[Terminated]

A very good commentary and pictures - Merv have a good time back in my home town, remember to take my picture down off the wall in every pub in downtown Sydney, latest report is "leave him over there in KiwiLand".

Well after a glorious day like today, a cruisie ride, good company, good destination stop, and wonderful pictures, I reckon you are stuck with BuckBuckNo1 in Wellington for many more years to come.

You all have a happy and safe Christmas and New Year.

Heads Up and Enjoy

[Terminated]

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

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

Watch out for crazy xmas traffic guys.:shit:

StoneChucker, gidday mate glad you enjoyed the pictures and can share with up here.

Merv is a right handy guy with that camera I reckon.

Best Wishes Heads Up and Enjoy 2007

[sels1]

Stupid me I guess - I thought BB had been around the bays and this was his report on it. Should have read the thread. My loss.

Ha - you're not the only one Skunk - I missed it too. Oh well, there's always next time.

[merv]

Ha - you're not the only one Skunk - I missed it too. Oh well, there's always next time.

Well I'm off to Aus on Sunday this week so you fellahs take charge and don't forget to turn up and take the photos for me.

[oldrider]

I had no trouble identifying everyone from KB in those pics, they were just as mysterious in the pics as they are on the forum! :yes:
All except Pall of NZ of course cos I know him already don't I! :innocent:
Nice being able to join you guys on your ride via KB, I enjoyed it just as if I was there. :ride: Thanks Merv. Cheers John.

[Hitcher]

Nice work Merv. And who is the person of impeccable taste who owns the silver FJR?

[madmal64]

Nice work Merv. And who is the person of impeccable taste who owns the silver FJR?

His name is Richard (if I remember correctly) not a KBer yet. Was brought along by some else, cannot remember who though:mellow: