there were two cameras running... one behind... mine and one in the victims ride. Will be making a short vid between us to screen some time soon at a BBQ
Parental advisory: Your kids may accidentally wake up and realize the bullshit that fills our world.
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Ahhh, suck. On another bummer note, the video footage for the bush bashing didn't come out! I have every file from before and from after, but that particular on the camera stopped and hid the evidence. Shame, as it did look spectacular from behind.
Parental advisory: Your kids may accidentally wake up and realize the bullshit that fills our world.
Was really looking forward to this trip so buzzing to get going early friday morning. 9a, couldnt come fast enough. Mrs Cowboyz had to drop Master Cowboyz in town in the morning returning about 9 and we were packed up and ready to go. Met down at Ashhurst Mobil to find quite a group down there. All expected showed up but noticed that Slydesigns and co have not made an appearence. We said we were leaving at 9.30am so on the bikes it was. GPS turned on at 9.32am leaving Mobil.
Made sensible pace through to Kimbolton which we passed through at 9.57am. Dogs and Pheobe were waiting there along with a workmate on a cbr. They were out of their seats outside the cafe and running for the bikes as I came through so carried on through to Taihape. Was very very surprised to lead the way through Mangawekas but the bike felt good and we were in cruise mode.
Fair bit of roadworks along the way but made Taihape in 1hr 11min with our average speed only 89km/hr.
Big regroup and we were about to head off when 86 noticed some issues with his bike and things not being connected (let him carry on with that story if he wants to) but its not good. So 47mins later problems repaired and we are on our way again.
11.30am. Head up desert road. Plenty of traffic around but didnt take too long for the bikes to get round them. Few cringes here and there but everyone made it through without incident. Dropped my sunglasses somewhere over the desert road which I didnt realise until we stopped for a smoke break up western access. They cost $2 so wasnt that bugged about it but then turns out Dogs had found them on the road after being run over by a car they were still good so I dont have to buy a new set. This is good.
12.55pm we hit SH41. Alot of road works along here right now and half way across the rain started. It wasnt heavy, just enough to make the road wet. It was about here NZSarge bailed and retraced his steps back towards the sunshine of manawatu. Unfortunately mate, you turned round about 5 mins early because once we got over the saddle the sun came out and the stretch down to Taumaranui following the Yods would have been one of my favourite parts of the trip. It was fantastic holding pace and didnt take long to get to Taumarnui with a average speed of 103km/hr.
First gas stop here at 1.25pm. Took 17.2 l so quite happy with that considering the load on the bike. Discussion began about lunch and I didnt really want to stop at Taumaranui cafe cause it is shit but was outvoted by others stomachs so lunch it was. Food was very average but some entertainment with bets going to decide if we were being served by a waiter or waitress. I still vote that was a chick.
We had planned to pick up a tent and coffee stop at my parents place in Kihikihi so quick check that was still the plan and some didnt want to go that way. decided 13 going 4 not. Text my parents warning of the onslaught of bike arriving but then 5 mins later no one wanted to go to kihikihi because time was running out so Mrs C and I headed off alone to pick up the tent.
2.38 we hit 8 mile alone. Settled in to a sedate pace and averaged 90k/hr over the road. Coming up to the 8 mile junction nobras showed up behind us. He must have had a fair bit of pace on to catch us up considering we left first.
Carried on to otorohanga turning off down Ouruwhero road. Another favourite section of the ride being as I used to live here so knowing the road rather well with a fantasic mix of 45s to big sweeping corners. Little disappointed I didnt get to share this road with the other riders but so be it. Averaged 98k in some fairly high winds but at least it wasnt raining.
Got to parents at 4.06pm. Figured the others were in a hurry to get to Ngatea so in no rush to get going we hung out at the parents for a few coffees and hot crossed buns.
6.10pm. Left parents thinking we should try to get to Ngatea in the daylight. Hooked up to pirongia road. Found myself wondering why I didnt think these roads were this good when I lived up here. Something about taking things for granted really. Out west of Hamilton through to Ngaruawahia we stopped at the BP at 6.50pm and asked if they had seen any bikes come through. The lady put some thought into it before I said, "there would have been a bright red ninja and a couple of yellow daytonas" Her eyes lit up and she got a little more excited than required and said "the daytonas. yes yes I remmeber those. oooohhhhhh ooooohohhhhh. yeah they left about 6pm.
I just thought FUCK. If I had known that they were not that far in front of us we could have rejoined the group. Oh well, headed out to Taupiri. Tahuna road was great. Kinda lost the groove a bit and the wind was taking its toll but still made reasonable time averaging 96k/hr and getting to Ngatea at 7.59pm. Stopped for fuel and smokes. I had some idea where we were going but wasnt sure so fired off some texts and had a couple of smokes before a car pulled up with menie, lizzy, gsvr who had been in to the bottle store. Stories quickly come out about the zooki being pushed. Bugger. Got some instructions which Mrs C and I interpreted differently and spent some time making a couple of left and right turns before finding the house we were staying at.
Bit of help from Mrs Meanie and the Yods and the tent was setup in no time. Rain was fairly steady and looked unlikely the the coro loop would be on in the morning but you never know with Waikato weather. Had a bbq and couple of drinks and talked some shit for a while before hitting the hay.
Slept really well in the tent but rain and wind were quite heavy. In the morning it became very apparent the coro just wasnt going to happen. People started making plans to disperse in varying directions. We sat round with the weather closing in more and more and it was decided that the sunday lunch might as well be scrapped as well.
Spent the morning looking at the zooki and found a shagged alternator and it became apparent very quickly that 600k from home is not the place to pull a bike to bits. Came up with varying ideas on how to get it home still Yod settled on the most adventurous and decided to ride it back and swap batteries along the way. Worked well too.
86 and sarah decided to head south and gsvr decided to go to Hamilton so we followed them out and decided to stay at parents for the night. The rain was just there making everything wet and so I decided to go striaght down 27 and across to cambridge on to TA. BAD idea. Neither of us enjoyed this section at all. The road was sooooooooo striaght and sooooooooo long it didnt take long for us both to get sick of it. Waved 86 and sarah goodbye at 26/27 interesection and gsvr followed us to the cambridge turnoff and we stopped for a smoke. Made it through to parents and Mrs C headed striaght for the spa. Parents were at a wedding in Tauranga so had the house to ourselves for the afternoon. Spend afternoon mucking round on computer and relaxing.
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Sunday morning was pretty much spent eating. 6 of us eating a lunch that was being prepared for 100 so surfice to say, we didnt leave hungry.
Meanie had posted up on KB a change in route so spent some time working out timing and which way they were going to hook up. Decided that it was impossible to work out so we would just do our own thing on the way home. As it turned out we stopped at the waipa dam and about 3 mins later the sound of bikes coming round the hill with No Bras in hot pursuit of Dogs. I ran out to the road and waved him down. Didnt take long for the rest to show up.
Followed Yods out Mangakino up to the top of western access. Really really nice following just smooth pace riding. No brakes, just cruising. averaged 107k/hr. It was really nice.
Headed down western access at the back of the group to find Yod, Mrs Meanie and No Bras on side of road chatting, I brushed it off and carried on through to Turangi at 2.25pm to find that No Bras had run out of gas. Not turning out to be the best day.
Met a guy at the servo who was racing a pocket bike. His father was riding his R1 and had all good things to say about it. Meanie had gone back for Nobras so we chatted for a while and it was getting later and the group planned to go round the mountain via National park. Wasnt keen to do that route in the rain so headed off striaght down desert road towards home at 3.25pm. Half way through the desert road the sun came out. Forgotten what it looked like to be honest. It was warm on our backs and an hour later we were in Taihape enjoying a hot chocolate.
The odo was reading 99910 so trying to work out if we would get across viinegar hill before 100000 mark or not. We were counting it down on the striaghts. Turns out the 100000 mark didnt come till the Colyton striaghts. Nice to see
the bike still runs after 100000kms. The odo reads 100000 rather than 0000000 which is a good thing I guess. At least I know it is its first 100000 km.
Stopped for a compulsary photo session and smoke to celebrate and headed for home.
6.15pm we pulled into home.
Fairly up and down weekend. Didnt really get what I wanted out of the trip but it was fantastic to have Mrs Cowboyz along. Her first big trip on the bike and she did a great job. Our first night sleeping in a tent together. Quite keen to do more camping now. Following Yod was just magic. Really enjoyed riding at pace without having to worry if you are going to make it round the next corner or not. Mrs Meanies riding improved 100000 fold. Was fantastic to see her riding with confidence and the little ninja winding out. The time we spent following the ninja her lines were solid and very smooth.
There is a difference between riding in a group on a long ride and riding alone. At this stage I dont think that long group rides are going to be our thing. The freedom and planning are just not what we are looking for so this will probably be our last long group ride. You wont get rid of us that easily so still be around for cafe rides and coffees.
Best place to stay in Hawkes Bay here
Nearly all men can stand adversity and hard time, but if you want to test a mans true character, give him power....
YouTube Videos
MY PICTURES
Holy hell!
Hey YOD check out this thread!
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=601
lok at post #7 sounds like whats up with your bike.
Shame about the ride being changed and Cowboyz mums not being a stop.
The weekend was ok. I had some issues with some things that just come with the territory of group riding and are magnified the longer the ride is.
There are plenty of differences between riding alone and riding in a group. Many include when to stop, where to eat, pace or relax, making time, getting to places in X ammount of time when on your own you may just decide to get places later. When in a group you are either catching up or waiting. Then there is the competative riding where pace and passing get out of hand and you find yourself watching someone else cringing at their riding waiting for something bad to happen when they could be thinking that the pace is fine and have no issues at all with it. Really hard to get a group of riders to hold the same pace safely. At some stage there is a decision to stop,carry on, change route, go down this road or that, explore or not. When alone there is only one person to make a decision. In a group there has to be a concensus. It is not a negative thing it is just the way things are.
Best place to stay in Hawkes Bay here
Nearly all men can stand adversity and hard time, but if you want to test a mans true character, give him power....
YouTube Videos
MY PICTURES
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