Northern Exposure Tour 2011

[zealchick]

My flat mate has bailed on me for the weekend, if anyone needs a bed i have 2 spare in a cabin. own bathroom linen supplied and tea and coffee making facilities $45 per night :-)

[RiderInBlack]

Well the rain has set in up here (Just North of Whangarei) now. Started 10am, steady but is not heavy. No wind as yet.

[NinjaNanna]

Well I'm favouring a 3pm departure, express ride to the cabins, not f..ing around with half a dozen stops.

Leave Westgate, regroup Paparoa, refuel Dargaville, regroup Rawene, re-fuel Kaitaia, arrive cabins.

Westgate to Dargaville is approx 211 kms, Dargaville to Kaitaia is approx 173kms. Does anybody have trouble with this range between fuel stops?

Even if we leave at 3pm there's still 5hrs of daylight left. Provided we get Rawene before 7:30pm we won't miss the last ferry

[george formby]

Well I'm favouring a 3pm departure, express ride to the cabins, not f..ing around with half a dozen stops.

Leave Westgate, regroup Paparoa, refuel Dargaville, regroup Rawene, re-fuel Kaitaia, arrive cabins.

Westgate to Dargaville is approx 211 kms, Dargaville to Kaitaia is approx 173kms. Does anybody have trouble with this range between fuel stops?

Even if we leave at 3pm there's still 5hrs of daylight left. Provided we get Rawene before 7:30pm we won't miss the last ferry

I would suggest hitting the road asap, been raining since 9.30am here in the Bay, still light though. Could be a slow & interesting ride later in the day. I'm guessing your going over the Mangamukas? If their has been persistant rain the road surface will be very dodgy with gravel & foliage. Put your neoprene undercracks on & ride safe.

[Qkchk:Me]

First option will be the normal departure time of 9am. Would look at 12pm departure if the weather is still ick mid-morning.

Im still hoping it will pass over night...

Weather is fine down here but the wind is picking up. (Might be an interesting landing @ Auckland). Hardly any quakes here this week.

[george formby]

First option will be the normal departure time of 9am. Would look at 12pm departure if the weather is still mid-morning.

Im still hoping it will pass over night...

Weather is fine down here but the wind is picking up. (Might be an interesting landing @ Auckland). Hardly any quakes here this week.

My bad. Thought you were coming up today. The weather maps I have seen (metvuw) show clear skies up here by lunchtime tomoz & Sunday looks boooootiful!

http://www.metvuw.com/forecast/forec...on=nzni&tim=30

[DIN PELENDA]

Hi sugar boys are you scared of melting . Taking my wife with me this time. Come on you soft cocks, what's bit of water on you. Last year we got hammered on the way back, this year be on way there it is all part of fun. See you all at 8.30 Shell.

[Qkchk:Me]

My bad. Thought you were coming up today. The weather maps I have seen (metvuw) show clear skies up here by lunchtime tomoz & Sunday looks boooootiful!

http://www.metvuw.com/forecast/forec...on=nzni&tim=30

You are very welcome to come up for a ride to the cape with us if you wish. Plan on having a Bbq dinner that night...

[george formby]

Hi sugar boys are you scared of melting . Taking my wife with me this time. Come on you soft cocks, what's bit of water on you. Last year we got hammered on the way back, this year be on way there it is all part of fun. See you all at 8.30 Shell.

That's the spirit! Have a great weekend y'all!

If I run out of electrickery tomorrow I might take the opportunity to come up & say hello & get my new tire scrubbed in. Then again I may still be here making coffee & watching toorists facebooking.

[chanceyy]

Hope you guys have a great ride & stay safe ..

doing a mystery ride morrow and its looking wet for us .. looking forward to reading your ride reports when you get back


have an awesome weekend

[Qkchk:Me]

NinjaNanna - if we have to leave late in the day we could head straight up and leave the West Coast part for the return trip on Monday?

[george formby]

For those leaving a bit later tomorrow if I'm in the shop & have mod cons I can let you know how it is up here, from around 10am. PM for an on the spot weather report from the glorious Bay of Islands. Sminky.

[Chaos_Warrior]

Well I'm favouring a 3pm departure, express ride to the cabins, not f..ing around with half a dozen stops.

Leave Westgate, regroup Paparoa, refuel Dargaville, regroup Rawene, re-fuel Kaitaia, arrive cabins.

Westgate to Dargaville is approx 211 kms, Dargaville to Kaitaia is approx 173kms. Does anybody have trouble with this range between fuel stops?

Even if we leave at 3pm there's still 5hrs of daylight left. Provided we get Rawene before 7:30pm we won't miss the last ferry

Not that i am experienced with the run as never having done it before but does that plan not sound a bit too rushed at all?
On a safety aspect the last thing we need is to be losing people on the way because we are trying to break our necks trying to dodge the rain clouds, we do not know what conditions the roads will be in what with surface water and debris etc etc.
Also, I for one I am planning/hoping to take some photo's of the occasion along the way to " keep the memory " (so to speak), as i have not travelled that far north.
I appreciate the keeping dry angle and would much rather avoid the inclement weather if at all possible but we will be two up for the journey and carrying a rucksack unless some kind person can stash it in a vehicle for us ( beg ! ), so the odd stop / pull over is not something we would not welcome.
How about a compromise and say make plans to leave at 13:00 ?
Is just my opinion, and like a**holes we all have one, ha ha !
Regards,
Chaos.

[RiderInBlack]

No change right now. Steady rain, not heavy, no Wind in Whangarei. Nothing good wet-weather gear can't handle. Take it easy and ya won't be seeing me on the Ward. Pm today and Night Shift on Sat.
Ride Safe and have fun.

Doug

PS: Ya'd be safer riding in the rain, taking it easy than Hooning it in the dry trying ta make a "Dead-Line"

[Qkchk:Me]

Lets see how Wilma spans out over the evening and I will assess the situation before 10pm tonight. I dont mind a bit of rain as long as it isnt like the downpour we had coming back last year on the NET 2010 and coming back from the Turangi Gathering back in June. Looks like we get some drizzle / rain in the morning but at least we will have the wind at our backs!