As per normal its a novel
Yup once a yr I organise the "birthday ride" and although last yr it was not done due to racing the same weekend this yr it was back on again .. and this time a bit of a mystery ride was in order. With the option to stay overnite with a BBQ dinner. Oscarnz was out as moving house but most of the other regulars were in .. yeah !!
Most of the suspicious ones figured we would be heading to Napier (since I was there at New Yrs) but to throw them off track I thought we would head west .. so a plan was formed as I have never ridden the whole of the Napier Taupo road (tried on a previous yrs Turangi meet, but Busa Pete had a flat so stayed with them til repaired & went back to taupo with them).
Dogsnbikes was off the ferry and quick check with Mel up they were in () and Kanny n Tri boy were keen to come down from Hamilton (
) so I decided that we could ride to pick up these guys.
Fingers crossed as the weather was looking decidedly wet n windy, but made the call Thurs that the ride was still on as the predictions were to clear by afternoon.
So sat morn rose at 5am and yup did not need to look outside to see if it was wet .. could hear it on the vehicles tires as they went past. But by time daylight broke it was misty but warm & clearing ..so half 8 rocked around, Gingin & I left Levin & headed to palmy to meet the others .. nice to see the roads drying .. through Shannon & picked up Rottiguy on the side of the road .. now 3 of us.
In Palmerston, 86 & Mo had gassed up & Al was getting a much needed (and only ) Latte for the morning .. the shock on his face when I said no time for another Latte til lunchtime .. priceless !!!
A few mins later could hear the rumble of the 14 coming down the road n sure enough Maz & Busted arrived .. woo hoo now 6 bikes & 7 ppl .. Great group !!
HMM now its drizzling wet weathers out & change of visors, also decided the route would change for the first part and everyone still had to find out where they were going !!
So brief on the first regather point at Taihape (ohh the surprised looks, n raised eyebrows - Priceless!!) .. original plan was to head out V hill but with the crap weather decided Halcombe would be a better route & turned out this was prob good decision as the wind was rather strong, and with roads pretty wet V Hill wouldn't have been as much fun as in the dry!
So Taihape and rider who will be now referred to as *Except 1* refulled .. and more about that later !!! while others removed the wet weather gear and took a quick pit stop .. but no time for latte as we were on a mission to get to the next meeting point & picking up our next rider .. so advised we're heading via Ohakune & to the Chateau for a photo opportunity and pick up the next rider ..
I had decided to be tail end charlie at the start of the day, n although the ride was not pacey with the wind & doing the bungee effect most of the speed was 120 -130ks so along national park the fuel light hit its first warning .. so time to pin her to catch Al at the front & stop at National park for fuel .. so did a bit of a sprint to get to front just before the junction and nearly all of us fuelled up ... *Except 1* ..
So tanks full it was time to head to Chateau and standing in the middle of the road Dogsnbikes was taking pics as we arrived .. whooo hoo Mel & Baz all ready to rock n roll .. yeah!!!!
Baz lead the next section of the ride & it was Western access to Taupo and meet on the shorefront our next riders, so off we headed again .. however this time the group got slightly fractered as the oldest bike could not maintain the pace being set .. but that was ok as we were happy at the rear & still sitting on 120-130ks could not gain on the group ahead ..
At the turn off at Tokaanu Maz & Busted waited, with the others just up ahead, however Baz needed fuel & so we stopped while that task was being done .. and *Except 1* had not fuelled ...
over the Tokaanu Saddle to Kuruatau, however 3 ahead of me went sailing past the turn off, and as I sat in the middle of the road with indicator on was pleased to see the one in front realise & slow down to turn .. now to wait for the other 2 .. a few mins later they were back ..:
I love the western access road .. bit of everything but nice flowing kinda road and not much traffic and not a cop in sightbut again the group was split out .. Baz had seen us coming down the hill & taken off before we had all regrouped so he was unaware of the slight detour the others had taken .. and on discussion I thought he said we were turning off at Kinloch ... so oops .. slight miscomunication.
So with us all turning at Kinloch, Baz was 8ks up the road further at the "other" turn off to Taupo ... after 20 mins or so he came back to Kinloch & stopped the first car he seen & asked if they had seen any bikes on the road & nope .. ahh so figured we headed into taupo via Kinloch .. Smart cookie is Dogs ...
As we headed into Kinloch *Except 1* all of a sudden lost power .. passed & 10 seconds later realised .. yup he should have fuelled .. so quick turn around .. and un huh .. empty tank, although was still in his normal ks range with the wind & trying to keep a big pace on, used way more fuel than epected .. so 40ks out fr taupo will be back soon ..
Headed down the road & briefed the others but they may as well head into Taupo for Lunch & meet Kanny & Triboy while I sorted the fuel issue .. must say the nice young lad at Mobil by the roundabout was very accomodating & helpful
Text fr Baz & he was waiting with *Except 1* so nice flick back out & refuel and head back in .. ensured the gas can taken back & my gear repacked into the back pack off to lunch, and of course much ribbing for Except 1 as we had stopped for fuel twice ............
Karma ... Justice catches up eventually !! 
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Mstrs excelled on the BBQ and a great nite listening to the Joe Cocker, George Thorogood concert, chatting, laughing, with me giggling at *the wisdom of dog* that will give me much enjoyment for sure. !!!!!!!! 
Originally Posted by chanceyy
terrible I know but can only handle one birthday per yr ..
)
Oh bugger
Thanks to all 
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