Response to a sad phone call.

**oldrider** · 11th May 2010, 18:15

Last night we received a phone call to say that one of our neighbours, (who had recently moved to Geraldine) dear old wife (85) had died and the funeral would be today at 11:00 AM.

This was one really lovely old lady, so Mrs O/R said if it's a nice day, lets go on the bike!

We left at 08:00am this morning, approximately 2 hours (via the Mackenzie country) to Geraldine we go!

Sure it was a lovely fine day but we forgot about the frost! - 4 C at home, - 3 C at Fairlie!

Bloody cold in between though but what a beautiful ride there and back, man do we live in a beautiful part of NZ.

It was our first cold ride of the year and we both said to each other simultaneously when we stopped at Tekapo, "are we getting too bloody old for this shit"!

Never mind, lovely private service to say goodbye to truly lovely old friend and a reminder of just how lucky we are to live and ride our bike in "paradise"!

Home again at 04:45PM and convinced we still have a few rides left in us yet!

**Mom** · 11th May 2010, 18:21

Originally Posted by oldrider

Home again at 04:45PM and convinced we still have a few rides left in us yet!

Yeah, you just need to get a grip on the memory cells that remind you to put more layers on when it gets colder Mr Silly.

**Rogue Rider** · 11th May 2010, 18:25

North Island riders need to feel the southern sting of a morning crispy ride I recon.......

**Edbear** · 11th May 2010, 18:28

Goodonyermate! My older friends are passing on from time to time and it does keep one "real". Sympathies.

**CookMySock** · 11th May 2010, 20:12

Heated jacket and hotgrips! End of problem.

Steve

**98tls** · 11th May 2010, 20:18

Nice post John,sometimes events just remind us of how lucky we are eh.Vicky said after i read out your post "wtf Mrs Oldriders a hottie still,plenty of rides left with her".

**shafty** · 13th May 2010, 07:40

Good post Mate.

I went on a very similiar ride a couple of years ago on my R1150R......

I now ride an ST13 year round!

- and you are right, it IS way beautiful down your way

**xknuts** · 17th May 2010, 20:44

Hi John
Im currently looking at Hot Grips, a good investment I suspect. Well we all keep on riding throughout winter, the clear days are soooooo nice.

**PrincessBandit** · 23rd May 2010, 13:39

Oi! stop telling us how beautiful your neck of the woods is! Balu would move down that way in a trice, and is trying to convince me of the paradise that awaits..... I'm too much of a softy pussy wussy to see beyond the COLD!

But seriously, great to hear that you did the ride and came to the conclusion that there's still more gas left in the tank.

**FJRider** · 23rd May 2010, 13:51

Nothing wrong with a ride in a crisp frost ... dress in the best and watch out in the shady spots ... and all is sweet. Coming over the "shortcut" for the Brass ??? The grader went through last week, so the road should be fine by then.