Manawatu Rant n Rave

[banditrider]

Some of us are back: http://picasaweb.google.com/andrew.l...00808TaupoLoop

[cowboyz]

nice pics. looks pretty icey on the desert road there. It was good to do the run up vinegar hill albiet a bit ginger. By the time I got back to vinegar hill the sun had done its thing. Lets just say I am pleased there were no police on it on the way back.
Looks like fun though. I spent the arvo sleeping and watching Olympics (someone has to do it)

[banditrider]

Plenty of cops on the rest of the loop. Damn lucky between Turangi & Taupo...and on highway 50...

[banditrider]

Waffle, waffle: http://banditrider.blogspot.com/2008...har-hills.html

[Owl]

Some of us are back:

I guess that was you I followed through the last part of the gorge and Napier Road?

[banditrider]

I guess that was you I followed through the last part of the gorge and Napier Road?

Yep, bejeebas the traffic was slow!

[yod]

absolutely superb ride

SH5 was magnificent

[cowboyz]

is there a competition for the worlds shortest ride report going on?

tell me what I missed!!

[chanceyy]

we went out we found gravel, change of plans headed to halcombe & hunterville for lunch

primo day, a few spits no tickets & a whole heap of bikes out & about

there ya go thats short

[banditrider]

is there a competition for the worlds shortest ride report going on?

tell me what I missed!!

Cowboyz departed at Taihape and everyone else had a great ride!

[yod]

alright alright....gimme a minute or two....got photos to sort too

[cowboyz]

Cowboyz departed at Taihape and everyone else had a great ride!

Oi!

I was out for a good time not a long time.........

had a bit of entertainment coming back over vinegar hill. Firstly found a driver (think he was just coming home from playcentre judging by his age) who thought it would be good to pass on a blind corner coming towards me. He would have been alot lighter as I was all over his car but managed to find a line round the outside of the corner.

Was very entertaining it was.

[cowboyz]

alright alright....gimme a minute or two....got photos to sort too

I wait in anticipation........ (not like it will be the first time)

[Meanie]

Photos
Too knackered to do a ride report
http://picasaweb.google.com/James.an...erRide10082008

[yod]

Arrived at Ashhurst first for a change, over the next 20 minutes a nice collection of steeds gathered in readiness, as well as some random car loaded with wood and a woodchopper at the wheel.
After convincing the aforementioned woodchopper that he really wouldnt be able to keep up in a hyundai, he swapped it for a kwaka and we were off.

The dry sections on vinegar hill were mint. Where it was damp we took care, as it wasn't long after 9 and there was still a few icy patches showing. Good warmup for the days riding. We hit SH1 and pootled off to Taihape for the norm; a pie and coffee.

The woodchopper headed back as his hyundai, woodpile, couch and tv were all feeling lonely. The rest of the crew were made of sterner stuff and carried on into the breech; the icy wilderness that is the central plateau.

The closer to the high country we got the more snow and ice surrounded us. Magnificent views in all directions and we took the opportunity to stop for some photos in the snow, with the mountain in the background. Mint. Some cheeky sod thought a load of snow through my visor would be a good idea, then she went and hid behind my wife, no fair.

The darker corners of the three sisters were still icy and covered in grit so it was a pretty gentle pootle through there. Brilliant adventure to do the desert road in those conditions. The heated grips were coming into their own.

Gloriously sunny north of the plateau, as we stopped in Turangi for some property evaluation to be done at Al's residence. BR and Mark had a tighter schedule than us so they decided to gas up and get going while we arsed around some more. Good riding with you chaps, hope the rest of your ride was as good as ours. Took advantage of the snow-throwers guilt to swindle a spin on her mighty beast. MUAHAHAHAHAAA......cool fun. You really needa bigger bike Mon!

The daytona riders decided to swap steeds and then we pressed on to Taupo. This was later referred to as "Al's pootle". Long story. We were all very, err, "sedate" until a certain kwaka rider decided he simply couldn't take anymore and took off like a scared rabbit. You could almost hear the rest of the crew; "oh....alright then...". Things weren't quite so sedate up the hill from there....nice to stretch the legs tho.

Stopped for a good feed and coffee in Taupo and perused a rather nice black 1050 Tiger parked outside....go on Al, you know you want to.

Gassed up and headed off towards Napier. Apparently I was a bit of a pootler and (yet again) a certain kwaka rider decided to nip past and force the pace nicely. Cool. Then another kwaka rider (who really needs a bigger bike) decided to nip past as well. WTF?? Oh well....the pace was fine and the little red ninja was putting some spectacular lines in so I just tacked on her tail and got in another good zone. Finally into some twisties and hello, we're off. Sarge did his disappearing act while I glued myself to the Concours and we got into a farkin sweet zone, shortly the big gold daytona made it's presence felt as it went in search of the FZ1 and things got even more rapid. What a bloody awesome road. Dry and predictable = bloody good pace. The Big Bird and the Concours were nicely in sync as usual and the km's flew by. For some reason I enjoyed it a lot more going Taupo -> Napier. (I've only done it the other way in the past).

We paused to let the group regather just short of Bayview and to shoot some shit. (We never miss). Then carried on for gas and a snack/smoke/coffee/etc.

Dusk was settling in as we headed out through Taradale for SH50 and the run home. And WHAT A FOOKIN SURPRISE, a certain kwaka rider decides to force the pace again. Oh....alright then. Superb run through 50 at pace. Absolutely superb. The growl and thunder of multiple steeds being used as the biking gods intended is the shizzle. Loved it.

A brief pause at the end of 50 where we decided it was too cold for a brief pause at the end of 50. Had a spectacular night blast home with the two daytonas from there.

Rear tyre is well and truly toasted. Decided the woodchopper should have come the whole way more often so I don't have to do so much typing in future.

Yet another great Manawatu ride with the usual top notch crew.

Thanks all.