Early Spring

[Paul in NZ]

Not a bad weekend really.... Got a bit done in the garden saturday so sunday was 'lets try out the 6th attempt at handlebars' on la guzzi... (best yet).... We ended up in Petone which is not really much of a destination but I was trapped into it by Vicki who accidentally discovered a bead shop.. (gah - I thought she said bread shop, how can you have a shop for beads ffs)

Anyway - slurping down a shoddily assembled latte and passing comment on our day I noticed the pohutakawa tree above my delecate bonce bursting forth with some gusto... Probably a premature bloomer...

But in truth, the signs of spring were everywhere...

On the rort over the Paekak hill we found a young couple reassuring each other it would be OK... which, since their car was upside down in the middle of the road it plainly was NOT! Plenty of well wishers on site all ready so we bimbled on wondering at the creative skills of some drivers... Enroute - 2 police cars (one of which I though I was going to wear - your siren is NOT a force field you twat, stay on your side), two fire engines and an ambulance. Quite a good turnout really...

Bottom of Haywards, more action - a motorcyclist this time... well he used to be a motorcyclist, hes a pedestrian now and the bike looked donald ducked and there was a small red car missing its rear window and with fresh looking dents about the bum... Theres a story to tell methinks but another couple of fire engine and police peoples plus assorted helpers indicated time to move on....

Down Petone way - crunch, slamo biffo - more panelbeaters work generation schemes... Yes - you do have to give way when it says give way you idiot... Left the participants to it so I could get to my date with a luke warm latte...

Ah yes, trees are budding, the shrubs are budding, the tuis are shagging in the neighbours gum tree and the sounds of sirens fill the air - must be spring...

[Str8 Jacket]

Jeepers, we heard all the sirens from home and wondered what was going on this arvo!

It has been an awesome weekend. We were in Petone last night watching sculpture burning and then fire works and it was a perfect night for it, if not a bit chilly. Wonder when the rain is starting up again...?

[h_tron]

geees i hope its not you attracting all this chaos!

[YellowDog]

Sounds good. I had the chainsaw out myself, cutting up some fallen branches and also using it as an opportuity to do some serious pruning. Hoping that I have not left it too late and that Spring is still a little way off.

Two attempts to get out on the bike were thwarted by the rain. Gave up in the end and gave her a wash and polish.

[Paul in NZ]

geees i hope its not you attracting all this chaos!

Possibly - although it was all in front of us so I do hope they were not doing specifically for our entertainment... Certainly made us pay attention...

[Motu]

I had a ride on the Bavarian Streettracker after it's been apart for a few weeks to see if the clutch lube made any change,and to see if I wrecked the exhaust.They say a spline lube makes the shifts easier (never had a problem) but now I think it's a bit notchy.I had tried to make a 2 into 1 without the bike present...not a good way to do it.So it didn't turn out how I wanted....maybe I can make something of it later.So instead I cut open the collector box and gutted the loose baffles and welded it back together.I was hoping it wasn't too noisy,or worse that I killed the power.Thankfully,no change on either account.

The weather was fairly fine,some rain that kept away - but it was very windy.The wind made my riding totally inept,but fortunately very few cars saw all the mistakes.Bikes? I only saw one,a BMW....I did a rare wave,but it was wasted.The road tyres are stretched on SH22 - I dropped onto the sidestand as the rear stepped out,and totally lost the front over some weird ridge/hump mid corner...but all under control.

Spring? - we had a shield beetle flying around inside tonight...WTF? they come out late summer.Weeds are shooting up in my garden....I pull them out,shake off the soil and drop them on top - and they keep growing with no soil in the frost!

[Paul in NZ]

Spring? - we had a shield beetle flying around inside tonight...WTF? they come out late summer.Weeds are shooting up in my garden....I pull them out,shake off the soil and drop them on top - and they keep growing with no soil in the frost!

Omens I tells ya! Bad omens....