KoroJ's Blog

I think the Weather-gods must be smiling again as Spring is in the air and Motor-Bikelists are back on the roads in numbers. After a bit of a drought in recent months, we've actually had three rides in three weeks as last Saturday, Nanny-Ann and I went up to Taranaki to check out some back roads between Stratford and south of Hawera, doing 650Kms for the day and today we had a Ulysses ride.

It was the first 'short' ride in three months and was programmed with two options to cater for road and gravel riders, which is the first time in over 3 years that this had been done and the plan was to head through Martinborough then split, with the gravel riders heading over the Admiral Range and the road group heading around the Water Towers, then meet for lunch at the Gladsone Tavern.

The weather forecast was great so I didn't even check the cancellations and was ready and on the road just after 0900, filling at Caltex Kaiwhara', putting a little air in the front at Caltex Rimutaka and getting to Brown Owl at about 0940. There were already quite a few there and by the time we left, 34 bikes pulled out for the usual free ride over the 'hill' and regroup in Featherston. This is the biggest Sunday club ride I've been on since joining Ulysses and even though numbers were boosted slightly with some Kiwibikers and Adventure Riders, the trend is great.

The weather and road were good so we were soon chatting in Featherston before heading on to the square in Martinborough while some of the trailbikes got a top-up before continuing to the bridge where the gravel riders went their way and I took up the lead for the road riders.

The temp was up to 14° by now and the roads were nice and dry apart from a couple of isolated patches so we had a pleasant pootle and were soon back to Admiral Road. From here the riders had the choice of a free ride up to the end of the seal or just head straight to the pub, which most did, leaving just four of us to enjoy a good fang then we waited for 10 or 15 minutes until the gravel riders arrived. I say gravel riders because I was surprised to see a Yamaha Venturer and BMW RT arrive with them.

I finished the ride with another blast back to the pub where we enjoyed lunch and a chat before heading back, but I took the opportunity to visit mum in Masterton before returning at about 1530.

That was another pleasant ride and I finally got home at 1650 after doing 340Kms for the day at 16.9K/Ltr.