Cold Duck Rally

[MarkH]

the bitch Tee drew a few smiles ... must get a few more of the "bitches r us" crew there for next yr

still in recovery mode .. had serious monday itis .. must remember to take the monday off next yr ..

leave being applied for tomorrow

Good idea, today I did no work at all - it was pretty good. Can't beat having an extra day off to recover from your weekend.

[chanceyy]

Gutted we didn't catch up. I wasnt too well sat night... but with a bit of encouragement from doc it was all over and I went to sleep.
Will be better next year...promise.

Would seem Monday itis is a common illness.

hmm did you make it up to get ya prize babe ??

bugger on being sick ..

hmm yeah next yr will be more organised

[u4ea]

WOW what a nite at the Duck yet again! Tried to catch up with a few KBers but seems I was more anebriated than what I thought!Rode to Wanganui on Saturday morning to farewell a fallen mate who died on the Paras last week. Then a few of us rode from there to the site. I had a great ride and set up my "Bivvy" .A few times through the night I had to be picked up off the ground as my legs wouldnt work(good dose of home brew saw to that) anyhoo there was no way I was riding home as I kindov broke my ankle bone in my last effort to kiss the ground of cold ducks! Biggest thanx to Sinfull and HRH for making room and transporting me and my steed saftely home.

[MarkH]

For a bit bigger version of my pics and a few I didn't post here you guys can see them on my website here:
http://www.gigatech.co.nz/Motorcycles/ColdDuck09.htm

[chanceyy]

WOW what a nite at the Duck yet again! Tried to catch up with a few KBers but seems I was more anebriated than what I thought!Rode to Wanganui on Saturday morning to farewell a fallen mate who died on the Paras last week. Then a few of us rode from there to the site. I had a great ride and set up my "Bivvy" .A few times through the night I had to be picked up off the ground as my legs wouldnt work(good dose of home brew saw to that) anyhoo there was no way I was riding home as I kindov broke my ankle bone in my last effort to kiss the ground of cold ducks! Biggest thanx to Sinfull and HRH for making room and transporting me and my steed saftely home.

geezzzz babe .. must remember to bring the "trumpy zimmerframe" for you next yr .. ouchy ouchy

if ya need anything while laid up let me know doll ..

heal quick

[u4ea]

geezzzz babe .. must remember to bring the "trumpy zimmerframe" for you next yr .. ouchy ouchy

if ya need anything while laid up let me know doll ..

heal quick

HEHE well yer hopefully I wont be needing that next year..dam ouchy tho..and thanx..now I cant run away at annual haircut time

[chanceyy]

now I cant run away at annual haircut time

hmmm dunno about annual .. since its been about 2 yrs so far ..

hmm well I have to come up your way morrow aft .. so will call in for coffee .. ohh might even have my sissors with me

[u4ea]

hmmm dunno about annual .. since its been about 2 yrs so far ..

hmm well I have to come up your way morrow aft .. so will call in for coffee .. ohh might even have my sissors with me

Thats just mean

[Goblin]

hmm did you make it up to get ya prize babe ??

bugger on being sick ..

hmm yeah next yr will be more organised

Nah doc claimed it for me. Always good to get a prize!

[sinfull]

I kindov broke my ankle bone in my last effort to kiss the ground of cold ducks! Biggest thanx to Sinfull and HRH for making room and transporting me and my steed saftely home.

Damn ! Broken huh ? Crikey and here's me thinkin ya soft bitch, ya puttin it on so'as ya don't have to ride in the rain lol !

[chanceyy]

Damn ! Broken huh ? Crikey and here's me thinkin ya soft bitch, ya puttin it on so'as ya don't have to ride in the rain lol !

thats wot I thought as well Bill .. onya for bringing her home

[Winston001]

What great fun the Cold Duck rally proved to be - this was my second year. I headed up the South Island Thursday collecting 3 friends along the way and we reached the site on Friday afternoon. A group of about 10 of us met up and promptly built a shelter from firewood and tarps which is becoming our tradition.

Doc and Goblin found me fossicking for lengths of timber - great to meet you and I was sorry not to catch up again later. At least you got a prize Goblin - nothing at all for the Furtherest Travelled this year.

Sels1 and Gareth led me over to the dissolute KB group where it was excellent to finally meet some more KBers. We need a flag or something team. I'm hoping to see you all again at South Island rallies as time passes.

Weatherwise, despite the conditions elsewhere we had a sunny if coolish trip north in the SI, only meeting rain in the Wairarapa. The rally itself was dry and pretty windy on Friday night - Saturday morning which I know all about because my tent tried to leap into our fire.

The band FM was top-class, a very impressive unit and at times it was like being at a rock concert. Have to confess being up the front in the mosh pit giving my failing hearing more grief. Worth it though. Saw Chancey is the same locality.

I'll post an email report I wrote this morning of the trip back.

[Winston001]

Yes it was an excellent rally particularly as the only spot of inclement weather was the wind at the site on Saturday. Gave me an opportunity to reinforce and rebuild our shelter which proved to be an excellent structure for us. Jeff did try to burn it down on Saturday night but I think Maurice arrived in time.......

Nice high speed run on Sunday away from Waipawa through to Woodend after a cheeky guy on a Buell passed me. Four of us pushing through 140 - 160k but then I was on my own and back to a more sane pace. Some rain on the way to Wellington, a cop put his disco lights on on the Hutt Motorway for me but must have decided the 4wd in the other lane was to blame.....

Caught the 2:00pm ferry with quite a few other bikes including Red Devils from Nelson. Looks like a new crew, patches were still shiny.

Warmly welcomed by friends in Blenheim where a much needed shower washed the rally smoke and grime off. Topped off by delicious pumpkin and curry soup. Up at 6 on Monday and away by 7 am, still darkish and bloody cold, and frosty. It took quite a few kms to settle into riding again with a bitter southerly wind but at least the sun was shining.

Having witnessed Jeff take one for the team at Hawarden, a steady 110kph was endured.....whenever I remembered. Attempted to visit an old mate about 11:00am in Christchurch but he'd just headed into work so back on the road after warming up courtesy of Subway in Papanui.

I have no idea of the air temp but through the entire trip the Duc ran at 69 degrees, moving up to 71 briefly in North Canterbury. Normally its about 82 operating temperature. Dang it was cold. I had on almost all of my gear except the wets.

Upon reaching Timaru the day had advanced leaving about 4 hours daylight to reach Invercargill so instead of stopping for some hot coffee, I had a cold milkshake.

The sun had disappeared under heavy overcast and conditions to the south were looking rather gloomy so on with the wet weather gear. At this point the zip on the jacket ripped out leaving some minuscule plastic domes to hold everything together for the next 450k. I paid good money - $12.95 at Mitre 10 - for this gear so I was tres chagrined, you just can't get quality these days.

I finally met the rain at Oamaru and from there south it became a journey of endurance. Fortunately the bitter chill wind was light and the main problem was spray from vehicles. Snow on the Kilmog. I stopped every hour to walk around and warm up but each time it only took three minutes on the bike to become cold again.

The sun gave up its uneven struggle after Dunedin and everything went black. Riding from there through to Mataura was a challenge having to guess where the road went at times and even being passed by three cars. The helmet visor was continually blurred by rain and road spray which clung more persistently at low speeds.

Happily from Mataura south the rain fizzled out and the road was wide enough to pick the edges against the lights of oncoming traffic. I think I rode the last 4 hours on adrenaline because I'm still dazed today and cold despite sitting almost on top of my office heater.

Reached home at 7:55pm just short of 13 hours on the road. Michele had turned the heater on, placed a lovely meal in the oven, and made the house welcoming. She is a gem.

Nothing worth doing is easy. It was good to get away from our normally pampered lives and face the challenge of going to the Cold Duck. I'm glad we were all there and we had a great time. Thanks for your company everyone.

[u4ea]

Damn ! Broken huh ? Crikey and here's me thinkin ya soft bitch, ya puttin it on so'as ya don't have to ride in the rain lol !

Now thats mean!Was looking forward to the ride home as thought it would sober me up!Im soft now matey..2 dam crutches and not allowed to do any thing... vacuming has become a new challenge

[Monamie]

looked for you & Goblin doc but to no avail .. kbers & Central Districts riders are in the gully on the west side (only one gully camp site) we had the most awesome seating & fire all weekend .. so see you there next yr

We will be there next year my dear Spent a lovely cosy weekend watching kids sports and played Inline in Wangas on Mothers day-it was freezing over there.