Manawatu Rant n Rave

**86GSXR** · 5th January 2008, 01:11

We've made it back to the UK and the cloud and cold. Nairobi was in the process of being burned down due to the riots over the elections, but we made it through the airport with no probs!

I've had the distinction of riding two Honda's in two different countries in two days. Sarah and I hired a couple of XLR 250's for a quick ride around Zanzibar, mine had knobblies but I still managed a decent pace. In 30 degrees, great fun, and I was a bit naughty and did it in shirt sleeves. The 'helmet' was a complete joke, looked like a kids Christmas gift!

Back in the UK and Sarah's brother very kindly lent us his CBR 1100 Blackbird. Had all the gear this time and gave her a good blast around the M and A roads. Bloody froze, but kept it upright!

Back to NZ soon, must say it will be nice to chill out after the amazing sights sounds and smells of Africa

**NZsarge** · 5th January 2008, 04:03

Originally Posted by 86GSXR

We've made it back to the UK and the cloud and cold. Nairobi was in the process of being burned down due to the riots over the elections, but we made it through the airport with no probs!

I've had the distinction of riding two Honda's in two different countries in two days. Sarah and I hired a couple of XLR 250's for a quick ride around Zanzibar, mine had knobblies but I still managed a decent pace. In 30 degrees, great fun, and I was a bit naughty and did it in shirt sleeves. The 'helmet' was a complete joke, looked like a kids Christmas gift!

Back in the UK and Sarah's brother very kindly lent us his CBR 1100 Blackbird. Had all the gear this time and gave her a good blast around the M and A roads. Bloody froze, but kept it upright!

Back to NZ soon, must say it will be nice to chill out after the amazing sights sounds and smells of Africa

Must say I was wondering how close you were to all those going's on.
Glad to here all is well and look foward to hereing all about it when you get back.

**chanceyy** · 5th January 2008, 06:34

Originally Posted by 86GSXR

We've made it back to the UK and the cloud and cold. Nairobi was in the process of being burned down due to the riots over the elections, but we made it through the airport with no probs!

I've had the distinction of riding two Honda's in two different countries in two days. Sarah and I hired a couple of XLR 250's for a quick ride around Zanzibar, mine had knobblies but I still managed a decent pace. In 30 degrees, great fun, and I was a bit naughty and did it in shirt sleeves. The 'helmet' was a complete joke, looked like a kids Christmas gift!

Back in the UK and Sarah's brother very kindly lent us his CBR 1100 Blackbird. Had all the gear this time and gave her a good blast around the M and A roads. Bloody froze, but kept it upright!

Back to NZ soon, must say it will be nice to chill out after the amazing sights sounds and smells of Africa

definately good to hear you missed the riots & stuff .. we were talking bout it last nite & wondering .. see you soon hon .. take care .. off to a track day today even have a couple of pit bitches today

at least they are not brollie dollies

**GSVR** · 5th January 2008, 06:41

Good one Alister ans Sarah. A few of us are off to the Trackday today.

Kenya looks like it may be on a downhill for bit. Good thing you trip wasn't booked for any later or you wouldn't have enjoyed it at all with all the worry.

**Meanie** · 5th January 2008, 07:42

Hey Al, Sounds like you and Sarah are having a fabulous time
Like Sarge i had wondered if the trouble over there had affected your trip, you probably timed it right, especialy if it gets worse.
No track day for me today i have my eldest son and his girlfriend up from Christchurch, they are heading back sometime today so id better be here to make sure they go

, I meant send them off

Have a safe trip back and we will catch up with you when you get back

**86GSXR** · 5th January 2008, 22:09

Thanks guys

Yep, we were very lucky to have avoided Nairobi when the trouble started. If you saw the state of those slums I reckon they riot just for something different to do. Mind you, the corruption is pretty bad and I don't blame those guys for being pissed off with empty promises and vote rigging which is what it seems it was about!

Have a bloody good day at the track, hope they have another one planned?

See you next week

**cowboyz** · 5th January 2008, 22:27

great to hear from you 86. Fantastic day at the track today. Could have done with a daytona as a pacesetter but there is another one on the 2nd march so that is all good. catch ya when you get back.

**yod** · 6th January 2008, 17:39

didnt do the trackday, didnt want to embarass cowboyz, geez I'm a nice bloke, aye mate

had to head to Napier yesterday so had some fun on the way up but I finally did the infamous Napier-Taihape road today

- first 40km - firkin spectacular road....really really really good with a bit of everything and in top condition
- next 15km - gravel and a fair bit of traffic, arse
- next 8km - sealed, tight and steep, fairly skinny, no road markings and a bit of soft tar in the heat - yeehah
- next 20km - gravel but not much traffic anymore so a pleasant enough pootle but y'know, it was gravel and I was on a roadbike so arse really
- last 65km sealed thru to Taihape, bloody nice racetra....err....road

definitely glad I did it as the sealed sections really are awesome roads, but 40 odd kms of gravel in the middle is an arse. If it was only 10-15 then it would be worth doing again but its a pretty long haul on an RF!!

Met up with a nice couple on a CR and a DR so we kept each other company through a good portion of it

stopped in Taihape for a wild bean coffee and met a chap on a very tidy 1973 3 cyl 2-stroke Suzuki GT750. Wow. Bet I never see one of those again. Apparently the traffic plods had them back in the day. What a sound, pissed off I didnt think quickly enough to get a photo too, bugger.

was right in the groove by now so meandered down the main road and then fired thru vinegar hill at pace

**cowboyz** · 6th January 2008, 17:47

Originally Posted by yod

didnt do the trackday, didnt want to embarass cowboyz, geez I'm a nice bloke, aye mate

Going out with you is not embarassing but it is a bit of a pain to have to keep going back to apologize.
should have come to the track
should have come to the track
should have come to the track.

**yod** · 6th January 2008, 17:50

pic 1 - stopped for some liquid, very hot and dusty
pic 2 - err....glad I went the right way at this point
pic 3 - nice camping spots throughout the area, might return (in a CAR)
pic 4 - nice rivers too, wouldnt have minded a quick dip at this point
pic 5 - finally back on sealed road...phew.....
pic 6 - hmmm....where have a seen a wheel this grubby before??

**yod** · 6th January 2008, 17:51

Originally Posted by cowboyz

Going out with you is not embarassing

yeah, not so bad now I'm not riding a honda aye

**GSVR** · 6th January 2008, 17:58

Originally Posted by yod

yeah, not so bad now I'm not riding a honda aye

Yod whilst sitting at my keyboard and reading your post I was pondering as to if you might yodel inside your helmet when you up on those hillcountry roads?

Nice pics BTW but theres none of Cowboyz.

**yod** · 6th January 2008, 18:13

Originally Posted by Garry H

Yod whilst sitting at my keyboard and reading your post I was pondering as to if you might yodel inside your helmet when you up on those hillcountry roads?

Nice pics BTW but theres none of Cowboyz.

methinks you think too much....I'm just concentrating on keeping upright

plus I can't yodel for shit - you offering lessons?

I found cowboyz sitting in his carport, fondling his bike, a couple of hours later - I think he might have had a bit of fun at the track yesterday...