Chanceyy does the Saturday Coro ... ooer!

[gijoe1313]

Well, it was well over two weeks ago when I get an innocuous message from Chanceyy. It was she who gave over her pride n'joy "Betsy" into my safe keeping.

Turns out she was riding up to Te Aroha to surprise her parents and part of a rally she was participating in. I'm sketchy on the details, but I think somehow I had to get some bikers together that could go around the Coro semi-safely and competently. For the Saturday just gone.

So I bang out some PM's ... and who do I end up with?

TOTO
Badger8
Kasper
EatOrBeEaten
Gremlin

and of course Chanceyy and the teller of this sordid tale of woe and misbegotten, ill-fortune of a tale! With much hullaballoo and remonstrating, somehow the late start of 0800hrs was postulated by me.

Gremlin in the beginning was lamenting how that time was as ungodly as having a bath once a year, whether he needed it not.

Anyhow, BP Takanini was the RZ and I was gleefully up bright and early and awaiting for the others to appear. The weather in my vicinity was like a majestic waterpainting of subtle hues of blues and the subdued colouring of the sun's rays spreading it's benevolent hand upon the land below.

Badger8 rocks up first with a mighty belly demanding fuel and vittles for him and his mechanical iron horse. The enigmatic TOTO then ambulates onto the forecourt, ready for riding.

Then lo, I saw a parting of the sky, pigs were flying, the sea boiled blood and I felt the denizens of hell shiver as their plane of existence dropped to freezing! Gremlin! Early! With EatOrBeEaten as a pillion! In a short time, she has done the impossible and got Gremlin up early!

I was floored. I had to literally have a lie down to get over the shock. The feline on a Beemer aka Kasper makes an appearance after only 2 hours sleep! Even the Gremlin was astounded by this assertion that she got even less sleep than him before a ride out! This of course is patently impossible since Gremlin has had NO sleep on a ride out! :slap:

By then 0830hrs rocked around and then we left for Kaiau. A pre-ride ride to meet Chanceyy in Kopu so to speak!

So, the game afoot, we mounted our time-spatial relocators and transmuted ourselves to Kaiaua, pleasant ride and it went nice and quickly. The ride to Kopu from Miranda through the desperately straight boring bits fortunately fell by the wayside, the ominous clouds surrounding the top half of the Coro had me grinning in glee inside my bone dome. I knew this was going to be a Coro I would enjoy more than normal!

But dear readers, I bore you with my dribblings and usual farce presented as a muted dialogue of travelogue ravings ... here be some visual reinforcement of my previous recountings of the meeting of the August body of bikers that would accompany Chanceyy on her excursion to the Coromandel (know as its usual sobriquet among bikers as the "Coro Loop")

Pic 1 : A Hornet swarm!
Pic 2 : Gotta love those Big Ol'Hornets!
Pic 3 : Om nom nom ... sausage meat is da best thing for a growing lad aye!
Pic 4 : A "Bee"mer in the swarm
Pic 5 : "Oh dear, my hair is in a mess and it's not my best side!" Gremlin in the background is wondering where he left that half eaten kit kat from last time has gotten to ...
Pic 6 : EoBE is wondering if that veggie pattie is a crabby pattie! TOTO being Patrick Starfish in the background. Gremlin is still wondering where his half eaten kit kat has gone to ...

[gijoe1313]

And thus the ride to Kopu, among the elements, free with the thoughts of previous grizzles in our lives melted into the tarmac ... the elegiac symphony our group composed as we wended our winsome ways towards the waypoint of Kopu and to our meeting with Chanceyy beckoned.

As we pulled into the flying stallion that was once graced upon Mobil, we filled our thirsty steeds and disembarked upon a dis-used part of the forecourt to await Chanceyy. Through the will of the biking gods and the locus of spontaneous serendipity, Squiggles also pulled in to fill at that location!

TOTO went through 20 questions as he and I went through the roll call of the UNI SMC club to alight on the rider's name! (TOTO couldn't remember and he saying things like "prez of the Uni club!" "Bomma!" "Jafa!" "Motorbycyclist!" etc etc )

When I saw Squiggles walk out of the shop, I :slap: and knew who it was immediately!

Anyway, I had told the rest of the group when Chanceyy pulled in that they needed to put on wets, Badger8 had already confirmed that wet weather was pelting the route of our intended travails.

Onwards! I was rubbing my gloves in anticipation of the wet weather riding to come! Y'see my dear reader, I use these opportunities of outdoor liquid dispersal to wash my riding clobber, since they become encrusted with the detritus of many kilometers of travel and become a bit "whiffy"

Well the ride to Whitianga was most interesting, the rain permeated my clothing and I was well happy, there was water, water everywhere and the rivulets of rain beat a steady percussion upon my helmeted nogging. The cagers were taking it easy and the opportunity to pass was taken at judicious points to ensure upright locomotion. An impromptu stop at Coromandel township was needed by TOTO since the rain was causing his bladder to shrink at an exponential rate ... I thought silently and to myself how odd this to be ... since he could have just leaked his urine into his leather suit, ensuring he was warm for a while, no need to stop and the rain would eventually displace the spent bodily fluids and thus saving time and effort.

Whitianga eventually twistied into sight and large puddles were a source of amusement, fountaining rivulets of water to both sides. The stop was welcomed by all (except for yours truly) Kasper took it as a need to try and throttle me since she had never been so wet! Pfft, I only emptied a little bit of water out of my boots, so truly it was only a small amount of rain! Anyway, local pub was found, gear squelched off and goodly amounts of food and beverage was swigged back. Gremlin, a source of amusement as he tried desperately to not be photographed.

Enough of my infantile diatribes! Moar piccies! (incriminating pictures of Gremlin will be posted in his own salubrious thread dedicated to that wunderkind of riding! Oh wait! Look! A link! http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...&postcount=132)

Pic 1 : EoBE "So, this is like Glasgow only the weather is better, actually - it's just shite" Badger is looking at the half eaten kit kat that is stuck to Gremlin's backside.
Pic 2 : Kasper is wondering if those boots make her ankles look fat, I think it's worse than that - it's cankles!
Pic 3 : The motley few await Chanceyy to pull up. They didn't recognise her when she did and thought I was wandering over to randomly talk to a random biker!
Pic 4 : Chanceyy giving her steed of freedom the go-juice it demands for the ride ahead
Pic 5 : Chanceyy about to tuck into a great plate of food at Whitianga, EoBE is wondering if she should tell Gremlin that half eaten kit kat is melting onto the floor
Pic 6 : Kasper suffering the effects of lack of sleep, a bad hair day and she is hungry and waiting for the food to arrive!

[gijoe1313]

From the rain spattered harbour of Whitianga, we mounted our collection of asian created marvels of transportation and ventured forth into the haunts of the Coromandel, festooned with rain clouds, the treacherous allure of slippery roads, tar snakes slithering toward us - eager to bite and the glorious spectacle of twisty roads to come!

So with aplomb we rode our way into dryer sections, chasing away the dragons of moisture - I was in my own private heaven, nothing like the prospect of riding from total wetness to that dry clammy state due to the wind wicking away the evidence of roads well ridden and enjoyed.

Tairua breezed up quickly and a short stop was made, I know most are not enamoured of the continual ride in the saddle as I am, so I made allowances for my accompanying mad troupe of titillated riders wallowing in my wake!

It was here Kasper felt the need for a lie-down, when you saw her photo in the previous post, you can understand how she needed a quick cat-nap to restore her vitality.

Of course yours truly with the posterity capturing electronic device needed evidence of this furtive behaviour on the Coro! so in the best traditions of gijoe1313 surrealistic snapshots of surprising vehemence, I give you Kasper! She who kips on cold Coro forecourts!

Pic 1 : EoBE and Chanceyy engage in some tete-a-tete about whether Gremlin is actually conscious at this point, the poor lad has had to get up at a frightfully early hour to engage in some wet weather riding!
Pic 2 : Kasper deciding that pretty clouds in the sky suddenly feels like a warm bed and the hard forecourt is a voluminous pillow of softness
Pic 3 : Ooh Hornets! I do so lurve my pretty Big Ol'Hornets
Pic 4 : This panoramic section brought to you care of Matrix cheap arse shots c/o gijoe1313
Pic 5 : This is zen and the art of non-motorcycle riding
Pic 6 : Chanceyy bemused by all this larking around and like me, just wants to ride! Good lass! I like the cut of your gib!

[gijoe1313]

From the tiny township of Tairua to the awesome twisties of Whangamata, we traversed our way across that landscape - the biking gods, happy with our sacrifice to the ride parted aside the clouds to allow us to enjoy the 2nd part of the Coro loop in the eloquence and sublime entrancement that sings to the soul of bikers.

There were twisties, and they were good, for lo, the company enjoyed the passing on of it's treasures. Movements from left to right, apexes seized and released for later enjoyment, marvelling in our repose to feel the tyres feed back our caressing of the controls and weighting of our bodies, the lean intensified as sighting lines through corners improved, throttles played as a virtuoso would play their instruments! Not straight were the roads! Great was the curves on display! Mighty were the engines of war cladded in shrouds of metal and plastic, beating out their mighty staccato as a refrain to the biking gods!

As glorious as these feelings soared within my mortal frame, the silent note of passing was a mote in my innermost thoughts, as the 55kph S-bends hove into sight, I signalled to my august company to reduce their metered speeds, slowing down gradually to a stop where a moment could be taken to reflect on others who have passed on ... this area, sacred ground, bereft of joy and large on pain, witness to tragedy and turmoil of family's grief.

A moment spent to reflect.

With that moment, we by the grace of greater powers to be, took astride our earthbound freedom units and rode to our next rendezvous.

Pic 1 : TOTO, Power Ranger and leader of the Patrick Starfish Fan Club
Pic 2 : EoBE finally tells Gremlin about the half eaten kit kat melted on his derriere
Pic 3 : The prospect of more riding really gets the crew enthusiastic ... Badger8 taking a moment to try and find his man-bra to wear again
Pic 4 : A moment of reflection
Pic 5 : At the location where a moment was taken

[EatOrBeEaten]

Jesus, what the hell am I doing in that pic in the pub? (no not the sucking one :P )

Hehehe, awesome ride report as ever, lovely to meet chanceyy and Kaspar (and thanks to Gremlin for the pillion )

[gijoe1313]

Through the Coro we rode,
We magnificent few,
To the gods of the ride
We were true.
The propelling of our bodies,
mind and hearts
Through the twistiest of parts.
No more needs to be said
No more could be done
For ride we shall,
Till at the end we depart.

And from Whangamata, we rode to Waihi - there to stroke ourselves and sun on the warm forecourt of the BP there. Rainsuits were doffed, socks squelched footprints to dry on the tarmac. Replenishment of fluids to the fore, irony since so much liquid was on display before!

From here we rode the Karangahake gorge, embraced by its spilling rivers of alluvial richness, hoarded and dispersed by the labours of man. The roads were kind, the traffic light and our group slalomed it's way through the close embrace of its sheer sides and drops. TOTO and Badger8 and company deigned to ride ahead, my captaincy up front no longer needed - content I was to ride near the back, taking my time and supping in the natural splendour of NZ's lush and evergreen landscape.

At Paeroa, we made our departure from Chanceyy, she had other assignations to attend to and the rest of us to make our way back to Auckland. Of course, I postulated the long way home - only Kasper needing the firm beckoning of a padded mattress and horizontal declination upon it ASAP.

From there we rode back, taking in for the most part, the mendacity of roads to home - the Hunuas provided a much needed boost to finish off our ride proper. The twisties and the straights giving us the thrill to match our insatiable need to ride (okay, it's probably just me who wants to keep riding .. and riding .. and riding ... and .. )

By the end, we had reached where we had started from, by this stage only TOTO was keen to ride to my place - where we had a quick chat, got some lube back onto our well used chains and everyone back to their respective place of residence.

A well ridden trip! Safety first and uppermost, with all conditions ridden appropriately. Thanks to one and all for making it a most memorable Coro loop I have done in a while (they are all good to me, but this had that appertaining edge that increased my enjoyment to no end! )

Chanceyy, I hope that was as good as it could be considering the day!

To the rest, you all know that when I say "come, follow me ..." by now, you should really know better!

Pic 1 : EoBE is wondering whether she should slap Gremlin for "showing her a nice time" by pegging it on the Big Ol'Hornet
Pic 2 : Mmmm bikes, mmmm warm, mmmm dry ... jeez I dunno! need some HTFU pills I reckon!
Pic 3 : Ooh looky, my Big Ol'Hornet is whispering to me "Why aren't we riding huh? huh? HUH?"

[chanceyy]

I really think it needs to be called Chanceyy's swim around the coro loop ..

regardless of the weather & the one or two wee slides off the slippery stuff it was an awesome ride with great company. Still smiling today on the way home regarding that ride & grateful my gear dried out yesterday to be more comfy today lets book some drier weather next yr guys .. am dragging more of the crew down this way to the rally next yr .. hmm loop or poker run .. think the loop will win out again


thanks guys .. will write some more later ...bed is calling

[TOTO]

Mr Joe's skills of painting a picture of a day's adventures are proven once more.

Was really nice to meet you Chancey and finally put a real person to an infamous KB cyber personality

Was a really nice day to be out on the coro even with the encontered moistness. The last leg was perfect when the weather dried up and we still had almost half the coro to go


Oh and that bridge on the way to kaiawa, that is a nice bridge

[chanceyy]

Mr Joe's skills of painting a picture of a day's adventures are proven once more.

Was really nice to meet you Chancey and finally put a real person to an infamous KB cyber personality

Was a really nice day to be out on the coro even with the encontered moistness. The last leg was perfect when the weather dried up and we still had almost half the coro to go


Oh and that bridge on the way to kaiawa, that is a nice bridge

Likewise Toto .. and remember to send me a pm re your guys trip down here checked out some roads tonite ... just perfect

[TOTO]

I really think it needs to be called Chanceyy's swim around the coro loop ..

regardless of the weather & the one or two wee slides off the slippery stuff it was an awesome ride with great company. Still smiling today on the way home regarding that ride & grateful my gear dried out yesterday to be more comfy today lets book some drier weather next yr guys .. am dragging more of the crew down this way to the rally next yr .. hmm loop or poker run .. think the loop will win out again


thanks guys .. will write some more later ...bed is calling

Next time you should come a little further up north to auckland and it will be my pleasure to show you around what we call the Northland loop

[EatOrBeEaten]

Special mention as well to the gremlinny one for ceasing to play nice about two thirds of the way through. It's a bit of a gamble to start getting the pegs down when your pillion recently binned and has an element of The Fear still, but all ended well and he didn't get a slap....

[musicman]

Sounds like it was a fun ride, I would say I'm sorry I couldn't make it, but considering it was raining for half the day and I'm a total nana in the wet, I'm actually glad I didn't go!

An impromptu stop at Coromandel township was needed by TOTO since the rain was causing his bladder to shrink at an exponential rate ... I thought silently and to myself how odd this to be ... since he could have just leaked his urine into his leather suit, ensuring he was warm for a while, no need to stop and the rain would eventually displace the spent bodily fluids and thus saving time and effort.

What the hell??!?! Remind me to never ever ride behind you in the rain!!

[TOTO]

What the hell??!?! Remind me to never ever ride behind you in the rain!!

I did actually signal them not to follow me into coro town and that i'd be back in 1min. When I opened the door to get back on my bike , I see all those bikers parked in front of the toilet staring at me .

I was like "what? :"

[gijoe1313]

Sounds like it was a fun ride, I would say I'm sorry I couldn't make it, but considering it was raining for half the day and I'm a total nana in the wet, I'm actually glad I didn't go!



What the hell??!?! Remind me to never ever ride behind you in the rain!!

And there was this one time, at band camp ...

[sinfull]

Well i must say, i do enjoy your ride reports Mr Joe !