Te Whakawi U Turners Northland Ride (16-18 Nov)

**Maha** · 18th November 2012, 16:39

We had a really great time of it yet again.
Friday was an absolute minty ride day, sunshine/warm and a reasonable ride pace from Whangarei.:scooter:
Paihia for lunch, Alfrescos, right on the water front and the food was delightful, good to catch up with George ‘the man in an apron’Formby who was KP for the day.:shifty:
Some elected to add on the Matauri Moo Cow Bay Loop while the rest of us headed straight for base camp at Coopers for a cold beer.:drinknsin
Saturday, the weather looked a bit grumpy first up, the known forecasters within the group all had conflicting times as to when the rain would set in. 1pm/4pm and 7pm…turns out, all were right!
So after a 20 min walk on the beach at 7am, got some hot/cold food in us and set out for Ahipara.
We had a dry ride all the way to KohuKohu where we stopped for lunch, and just as we geared up to leave at 1pm, it pissed down, didn’t let up until we got to the top of the Mangamukas.
Back onto the unsealed part of our trip for 7-8 kms, just to get an ice-crème…well worth the stop and dirty dirty bikes and very very wet..good times!!!
Hangi for tea and more drinks while the guitars came out…wow that Mike and his bro can sing!
Drank the rest of my rum (no point in taking that back home, only adds weight)
Today dawned another pearler weather wise, leaving just after 9am for Kerikeri where I swapped bikes with Ash and rode his Triumph Tiger to the twin bridges (60 kms)..a real highlight for me personally.:yes:
Awesome bike, and I can see myself one in the future. Thanks for that Ash.
Twin Bridges road was in great condition, fueld up at Maungatapere and headed for Waipu Pizza Barn. Met up with Gremlin…Toto/Helzie/Tim and Gravedigger + one other turned up a feed as well.
Then it was on down the coast (Cove Road) to Mangawhai and home.
Thanks to each and everyone of you who turned out and made for yet another great weekend away in the far north..
Back to the Cape next year!:corn:

841kms.

**Mom** · 18th November 2012, 17:24

I have had such a cool time! As always the company on our rides is outstanding, and laughing is the order of the day most of the time. I certainly have laughed muchly, and at quite inappropriate times too I might add. There is absolutely nothing funny about feeling that first trickle of water enter your groin area, but that too tickled my funny bone for some reason

After an uneventful trip north on Friday, I managed to make a grand entrance at San Marino and dismount with style by not ensuring my sidestand was fully down

Big thank you to Maha and host Graeme for catching Millie before she hit the ground

The usual good mixer of a few wines, yummy food and great company made for a fun time Friday night

I managed to stay the distance

Fabulous sleep, woke to the sound of wind and what sounded suspiciously like rain, but it wasn't, it just looked like it

All managed to exit the motel without problems, to embark on what was about to turn into quite an adventure for a few, and a source of some amusment for me, and good times all round. That salad at Kohukohu was HUGE and the trough sized bowl nestled really well in my lap as I could not manage to eat out of it on the table it was so big

That poxy rain starting just as I swung my leg over Millie was not a problem until it turned torrential just before we started on some of the finest corners on any road I have ever ridden

Still, it was a great trip all the same. My only slip was just on the gravel on the way home, my front wheel decided to wash a bit, but not a problem. My organic rasberry sorbet was fucken divine

you lot can keep the ice cream. Imagine one of our own being related?

Back to San Marino for comparison of our dirty bikes and much laughter about the complete wetness of our gear. Fingers crossed for them to dry by morning eh guys.

I met a woman last night who also has stayed in a house on Waiheke that I stayed at in my teens. It was a bit of a communal living house, filled with much love and other stuff! Way cool to meet someone else that had experienced the amazing place that was

That rain was amazing! As was the hangi. I found beef

and promptly dropped it on the ground

attempted to use the 3 second rule, but it does not work on concrete

Fell asleep listening to the music being created

Woke to clear blue skies this morning and was really looking forward to the ride home. I was not disappointed. The roads were fantastic, Millie was doing what she does best and I had a blast! Imagine finding the other L' Angels at Waipu? Now that really was cool!

Home now, A bit tired, but not as bad as I thought I might be. Had my last laugh of the trip just before I got to the house. No incidents for me at all this weekend and I get back to Warkworth and a young female decides to run a compulsory stop sign in the middle of town. Thought I was going to go for a row of shit cans actually, good brakes, good spidey sense, and the fact she kept on coming instead of stopping in the middle of the intersection meant we both got away with it

Thank you so much to everyone that came along this weekend. You guys are so cool and make these weekend aways so fantastic! Thank you so much.

PS: I really loved the hub caps mid lane on the Waipu-Mangawhai coast road

Using the look where you want to go (obviously NOT over the friggen hubcaps) lead my wheels into a line of really HUGE potholes

**nathanwhite** · 18th November 2012, 17:40

Well I am knackered!

Not enough sleep combined with too much caffine has me tired and headachey. That said, nothing I would have changed. The weather, while horrible yesterday made for a challenge of a ride. I've learnt a fair bit about my bike and about me on my bike. Until I can think a little straighter I can't really think of anything else.

Was that you I saw on the NW motorway just after the te atau exit Virgil?

Total 980 km.

**haydes55** · 18th November 2012, 21:47

Well over 1000km for me, back to Hamilton. Bed is sooooo comfy!

Awesome weekend, cheers everyone for everything. The helpful tuition got me riding a lot better, definitely not afraid of wet/gravel covered roads any more.

The water wasn't bad either, just wished I had swum further along the beach where the waves looked bigger.

Sooo... Can we do that again next weekend?

BTW the bikes running perfectly now, I'll still clean out the fuel filter and see if that was clogged up.

**george formby** · 18th November 2012, 23:15

Cheers all, Jas & I had a great morning joining in for the Twin Bridges road, great to see everybody having a ball.
Al, sorry for not recognising you going in to Kaikohe, what where you saying? Can I have a shot on your bike, hmmmm? Jas said Monique said she's dumb for missing the turn off, but her guardian angel made her day.
First time I've had a bit of a fang in eons too. Gaaaawjus!

**Mom** · 19th November 2012, 05:12

Originally Posted by george formby

Cheers all, Jas & I had a great morning joining in for the Twin Bridges road, great to see everybody having a ball.
Al, sorry for not recognising you going in to Kaikohe, what where you saying? Can I have a shot on your bike, hmmmm? Jas said Monique said she's dumb for missing the turn off, but her guardian angel made her day.
First time I've had a bit of a fang in eons too. Gaaaawjus!

Another big day at the swamp I see looking at the time you made this post

As always, great to see you. Jas looks so happy on her bike, she was having a great time on Twin Bridges Road from what I saw.

**blue rider** · 19th November 2012, 05:36

yes a great weekend, good company, delicious shortbread.

thanks m&m for organising it againg next year

**Maha** · 19th November 2012, 05:46

Happy Birthday Stephen (swbarnett)....still on the younger side of 50 I see?

**BlightyBiker** · 19th November 2012, 07:13

Thanks to Mom and Maha for organising such an amazing weekend! I thoroughly enjoyed myself despite the weather trying to kill me on several occasions

I've not met such a nice bunch of people in a very long time! I felt extremely comfortable and welcome. Thanks for taking the time to organise all the small details and I look forward to the next one. Most definitely worth the money!

**GravelRashKid** · 19th November 2012, 08:53

Originally Posted by nathanwhite

I've learnt a fair bit about my bike and about me on my bike.

Likewise. And to think I've been religiously avoiding gravel for the last 20 years. Saturday gravel/dirt/rain was the most valuable and intensive skills development in years.

Thank you all for a fantastic weekend. A diverse and compatable bunch of people. Great fun night and day.
I'm also keen to do it again this coming weekend!

**george formby** · 19th November 2012, 09:17

Originally Posted by Mom

Another big day at the swamp I see looking at the time you made this post

As always, great to see you. Jas looks so happy on her bike, she was having a great time on Twin Bridges Road from what I saw.

She is still absolutely buzzing from the ride & joining the group. She admitted to being really nervous riding in "public" for the first time. And thank you for the tips you passed on, much appreciated that you noticed & took the time to mention it. I've brought her up to speed on the various power band colours. I'm still amazed it was Jas that had to do the obligatory u-turn, though. We have been down that road a heap of times.... Heat of the moment & all that I guess. Might get her a sat nav for Crimble.

Thank you both for organising the ride & including us.

Till next time...

**Maha** · 19th November 2012, 12:50

Originally Posted by BlightyBiker

Thanks to Mom and Maha for organising such an amazing weekend! I thoroughly enjoyed myself despite the weather trying to kill me on several occasions

I've not met such a nice bunch of people in a very long time! I felt extremely comfortable and welcome. Thanks for taking the time to organise all the small details and I look forward to the next one. Most definitely worth the money!

...heres what you did, riding in a large group, riding in a smaller group, riding in really shit weather for an hour or so that needed a decent amount of concentration, leading a group of about 7-8 bikes, riding on an unsealed road that wasn't in the best of conditions due to recent logging activity, and all done with a smile.... you (and others) did really really well...most impressed.

**nathanwhite** · 19th November 2012, 13:09

My bike is all clean again! Only took a couple of hours with a hose, brush, WD40 and a rag.

Now I just have to start saving my pennies again to get the pipe replaced. Then get insurance.

Photos? I hear you ask. I will start on those tonight. Or maybe tomorrow. Whenever.

**blue rider** · 19th November 2012, 13:14

Originally Posted by Maha

...heres what you did, riding in a large group, riding in a smaller group, riding in really shit weather for an hour or so that needed a decent amount of concentration, leading a group of about 7-8 bikes, riding on an unsealed road that wasn't in the best of conditions due to recent logging activity, and all done with a smile.... you (and others) did really really well...most impressed.

yes....that face when blightyrider came back from the ride into the room was priceless, as if she were not quite sure she did all that. Looking at her gear, she must have.