Nikau Cave Cafe via Port Waikato (May 24)

[rogerh]

I left the cafe and went south to SH35 along the coast. Weather did not improve any as I went south, but was not too bad, and wet gravel is better than wet seal anyday. Only the extremities got wet and cold.

Thanks to Cary for the organisation.

See you all again some time.

[Bass]

Shit I enjoyed that!!
Well wrapped up for the weather, some good tyres on The DR and the suspension well sorted out, I was surprised at how comfortable she was in the wet. Much preferred the gravel to the seal, but.
Excellent afternoon
Thanks Cary

[Cary]

There was 3 of us keen who probably didnt realise it was adventure riding, none the less it was bloody mint ride, thanks to Cary for the directions once we got to the tuakau bridge.

Thought the fact it was on Adv thread might give it away

I, me, gave correct directions, Andy i'd be proud!

[OnCam]

haha yea i just click read new posts when i check the forums, noob mistake.. but i wasnt alone!

[dino3310]

A nice hot bubble bath, AND a KTM that ran fine ALL day.....

Actually, so did mine as is happens...

A pity it wasn't a longer ride, weather finer etc etc....Thanks all!

was that you who went through gordonton at 3:00

[Waihou Thumper]

was that you who went through gordonton at 3:00

Yep, that's right, on my way home, it was bloody miserable...

[.chris]

Yep, that's right, on my way home, it was bloody miserable...

What do you mean, it was lovely out there!
Running back up the motorway doing 120kph and feeling the water seeping further and further up my arms was not a nice feeling, but at least by that time my hands were numb so I could not feel them.
+ shopping list - winter waterproof gloves

Just look how clean my backpack is now that it is dry, (this was taken about 5mins ago)

[dino3310]

Yep, that's right, on my way home, it was bloody miserable...

miserable alright mate, i live around the corner on reid road if ever ya need a pit stop, you looked like you needed a hot coffee.

[Bass]

Just look how clean my backpack is now that it is dry, (this was taken about 5mins ago)

Ditto.
Got home and hosed down the bike, the boots and the backpack. Then got the wife to hose me down.
Gotta love good rain gear.

[Waihou Thumper]

miserable alright mate, i live around the corner on reid road if ever ya need a pit stop, you looked like you needed a hot coffee.

You know it is miserable, you are wet and cold so you keep going...
I know if I stop that close to home, I may not get going again....
Mind you, I could have put everything in the drier and then had that coffee....
Many thanks for the offer, should have waved me down then, got out there and held up the sign!
Next time! Ta!

[Crisis management]

Seeing as I missed out on this (been fuming all week about it) I took yesterday afternoon off for wee wander down that way. Very pleasant weather, no stroppy cockies, no entanglements with ditches, a good coffee at the cafe and a chat to the owners.
The roads are in great condition although there is a bit of variety in the surfaces, going from piles of gravel to hard pack at random but the stock was well behaved and apart from one nervous horse & rider (I stopped to let them past and for a short chat) there was nothing too exciting.
I came back up a part of highway 22 and practiced my Rossi manouvers.....apart from giggling my head off I suspect I looked a real n00b, trying to get your knee down on the 990 must be the ultimate in pointless exercises. You almost need to catch a bus to get from one side of the bloody bike to the other! Entertaining tho.

Must get down there more often.

[xwhatsit]

no stroppy cockies, no entanglements with ditches

Me too... when you're dawdling along at the very end of the pack, looking at the scenery and keeping both feet on the pegs and arse on seat, life tends to go a bit more smoothly

[Taz]

I was 2nd to last but all you guys had rarked him up by then!!