After the Grand Challenge, we went for a wee ride

[Hitcher]

After having ridden nearly 2,000km over the weekend of 12-14 October getting from home to Turangi and completing another Grand Challenge, after catching up on our slumbers we woke on Monday morning and said "Let's go for a ride". So that's what we did.

Before posting a ride report, here are some holiday snaps clicked in exotic locales along the way. Fabulous prizes will be awarded to carefully screened participants who manage to correctly place the location, with bonus credits for anybody who can provide additional local "colour".

The bikes are a 2005 Yamaha FJR1300T and a 2007 Suzuki GSF650SK6 Bandit. The Hot Blonde (TM) is the incomparable Mrs H. Sir Cumference was behind the camera at all times, in the interests of public safety and good order.

[Hitcher]

And a some more, for good measure.

[Grub]

Jeez you guys really had it bad .... hadn't come down enough by Sunday huh?

Pic 1 looks suspiciously like part of the road out to East Cape from Te Araroa. Pic 4 is at the Cape?. "Babe" is Ngawi (but that doesn't gel with the other pics - was that a trick one?). I have met the church but can't remember where or when.

I didn't do very well did I

[merv]

Pic 1 Whirinaki Beach, Napier in the background.

[Grub]

Pic 1 Whirinaki Beach, Napier in the background.

Bugger ... !

[Hitcher]

Pic 1 Whirinaki Beach, Napier in the background.

Correct. Just beyond the Red Imported Fire Ant movement control zone, across the road from the home stay.

[merv]

Pic 2: Young Nick at Gisborne. I'm busy trying to watch TV so not really concentrating here.

[merv]

Pic 5: Tokomaru Bay wharf.

[Hitcher]

Pic 2 and Pic 5, correct.

Young Nick, or Nick Young to be precise. Pointing at his eponymous Head in a bronzy inanimate kind of way.

The Tokomaru Bay wharf. Built in 1940 and is the second-longest pier in New Zealand. Victim to terminal concrete cancer, just like its longer brother.

[merv]

Pic 6: Raukokore Historic Church. Going well here, better look at the others a bit harder. Haven't been around that road for 9 years.

[Hitcher]

Pic 6: Correct. This Anglican Church was built about 1894, and is precariously perched on the headland, flanked on three sides by the sea, at Raukokore in Waihau Bay on East Cape. The church is on a bit of a lean thanks to the same storm in 1968 that sank the Wahine.

[nadroj]

Seems like you had to stop at plenty of beaches to do your washing ( and Mrs H's). I bet something was out of bound for few days after the big ride...

[Hitcher]

I bet something was out of bound for few days after the big ride...

What goes on tour, stays on tour.

[Bonez]

You actually had some stops on tour Hitch and had a look around? Same on you. Glad you both enjoyed the jaunt.

[merv]

OK pic 4: Anaura Bay.

Pic 3 doesn't look so familiar to me but is that the road into Anaura Bay? The sweep of the bay just doesn't look like I remember it. Feels more like further South but then I'm taking it the photos are in travel order.