...... So today I thought I had better go with our other group that I haven't ridden with for a few months. We did a breakfast ride leaving the liquor store at Rimutaka just after 8.30am. Quite a few KBers turned up on this ride too, namely:
Merv (myself eh!), Lynda Blair, Mr Lynda Blair, Mangell6, Scrosser, Groins NZ, e-rider, Bugsplat - have I missed anyone? other than Mark Dunn who met up with us but took off separately. Of course there were many other riders there too but I'm not sure if they have signed up to this forum or lurk or what.
I figured I'm not racist and I was happy for it to be a multicultural event - I went on this group ride wearing my KB long sleeved T-shirt with my Ulysses badge on it while riding with the other team.
I noticed others started gathering at Caltex Rimutaka right next door so that was probably the KB group that were going to leave a lot later. We saw Mr Melon go buy and later he was waiting at Featherston all on his own as we went past.
We took off with Bugsplat as our runs leader - off over the Rimutakas - a great day for it weather wise as we left. On the downhill side we caught up with the usual stream of traffic - bus driver was OK he pulled over and let everyone past, but a tanker driver was a pain but finally got out of the way about 20 corners too late to have been a courteous driver. The cars are OK we jusy zap by them easily. On through Featherston and onto Martinborough turning at the church to head towards Carterton via the Gladstone Road. Then we all met for a very nice Breakfast at Wild Oats where we ate upstairs in our private "Lynda Blair Room". Lynda are you a part owner of Wild Oats as well as Flying Fish?
Then the team decided (or was it Lynda told us?) that the ride would continue to Castlepoint via Gladstone, the customary run up the watertower road with a stop at Masterton. Not everyone wanted to go onto to Castlepoint, me included, so we agreed we would at least go as far as Masterton with the main bunch. Bugsplat remained our runs leader with me following his tailpipes - and unlike Stoney he doesn't chuck stones because when following him I thought it was a stone off his back tyre coming at me, but no (perhaps as expected) an almighty bugsplat hits on the left side of my visor. Just as well I carry my Slipstreamer polish and rags in my Ventura bag eh!
The team that went to Castlepoint will have to tell the story from here as I happily cruised home with Scrosser most of the way - lost him in traffic from the downside of the 'takas - got home in time for lunch and to check the messages here - never got a chance starting so early in the morning.
There were various groups riding in the Wairarapa where the weather wasn't quite as flash as the Wgtn side but I suspect it was going to pick up - still nice for riding though just a wee bit overcast and breezy and now back home its glorious sunshine as I type this. The Harley dudes all seem to wave at me on my Jappa, only a couple of sour faced old dudes on old pommy shit didn't and the usual brace of BMW riders didn't either. There seemed to be quite a group of old Triumphs and Nortons on the go and a pair of dudes on a new RocketIII who were happy to wave as me and Scrosser went by.
Just snapped off a few shots this time before departure at Rimutaka and when we regrouped at Martinborough. See who you can recognise.
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Originally Posted by roogazza
Lack of 
was the real problem due to a niggly shoulder/pinched nerve which got me up and on KB at 4am.
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