One of the advantages of semi-retirement....

[Blackbird]

..... is that you can pretty much please yourself after years of the corporate rat-race.

Like today actually - late breakfast, check emails, do a couple of hours of mathematical modelling for my old employer (only whilst waiting for the dew on the roads to dry off a bit, hehe) then out on the bike.

Outside the weekends, Coromandel roads are practically deserted... joy, joy, joy! A sandwich by the water at Kuaotunu, coffee in Whitianga and back to Whangapoua for an ice cream. (Hey you Coro Loopers, support fellow KB'er Fergie (Steve - in the first photo) by stopping off at his wonderful dairy on the waterfront at Whangapoua beach rather than just blasting between Whitianga and Coromandel - it's well worth the stop.

Said goodbye to Steve and attacked the Coro hill, being a bit cautious in the shadows as slimy green stuff grows on parts of the eastern side of the hill at this time of year. Half way up, see a 'busa whistling down the other way. Highly likely to be Rotor (Shane) from Coromandel slipping out of work for a late lunch.

Yep, growing a bit older and having a fair degree of independence from the "system" is pretty damn fine on a day like this

[tri boy]

Noice.
Congrats on 2000 posts.

[Cajun]

Nice blackbird,

enjoys the spoils of life.

[Swoop]

Very pleasant!

Yes, I agree on the Coro loop midweek. 10/10!!

Edit: Yes that place is a nice snack/lunch/rest stop!http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/pi...pictureid=1070

[vifferman]

Good for you, Geoff!
Of course we're all jealous though...
The best I could manage today was a two-and-a-half hour lunchtime, out in the sun, but I traveled only 20km or so (by the tourist route, natch).

[chubby]

Hate you, Hate you, Hate you, Hate you, Hate you, Hate you, Hate you, Hate you, Hate you, Hate you, Hate you, Hate you (out of pure envy)

Good on you.

[yod]

nice for some!!!

blackbird's are just the bees knees aren't they....

[007XX]

I'm with Chubby on that one...and green is so not my colour

They say youth is wasted on the young, well, I reckon it is but solely if we use that youth purely to further ahead in rank in the Rat Race.

Good on you Mr Blackbird!

[fergie]

totally agree there Geoff, thanks for the plug. there is a free coffee for the best caption for photo 3

[Blackbird]

totally agree there Geoff, thanks for the plug. there is a free coffee for the best caption for photo 3

BASTARD

[Bonez]

totally agree there Geoff, thanks for the plug. there is a free coffee for the best caption for photo 3

Nice arse.

[Mully]

there is a free coffee for the best caption for photo 3

Geoff, left, and the Blackbird unable to make eye contact after the "I ride you, then you ride me" debacle

[riffer]

Nice stuff Geoff. Glad you've not retired to the garden.

And I'll remind Fergie that it's his fault I'm here on KB.

Back in 2003 I'd just purchased my FZR750R, and I was searching for info on them and found his email address. I cheekily emailed him (he had a nice one very similar coloured to your blackbird back then) to find out more and he put me on to this site.

So cheers Fergie. Five years nearly on here now. And still loving being back on bikes.

I must do the Coro loop one day the burdens of parenthood and work don't constantly intrude.

[martybabe]

Mate that does look mighty fine, so semi retirement bit of a trial eh good onya mate, long may it continue but don't wear a groove round that loop ,I may wanna use it one day, don't wanna be stuck in a blackbird rut.

[Rotor]

Yer Geoff was me on my lunch break. Just like the day before only had a fellow kiwi biker named Micheal who was at the petrol station in coro filling up so we both went over the hill. We were just cruising a long (cold tyres and damp corners) and at the bottom of the hill Micheal desides that he needs a lie down so him and his 650 go down. So Micheal is of in the meat wagon (split lip, Cut hand, Hurt leg) but hes fine. it was a good first crash for the 18 year old. Bike came off better than the rider, its now at a mates waiting to be picked up.
so that was exciting
Rotor