Palmerston North Square Trust helicopter swim (ride)

[cowboyz]

Even though the forcast was average to shit 59 bikes showed up at Phil Turnballs this morning in support of the square trust helicopter ride and many more fronted to sign the petition and offer a donation.
The plan was to run out the marshalls followed by the new riders followed by the experienced riders with a 30 minute delay.

The square trust helicopter guys set up a BBQ and with the mobile coffee shop everyone was catered for.
New riders and marshalls headed out at 11.30am and 86gsxr and Myself headed out at 12 with the experienced riders. The roads were very very wet with several places with streams running across the road and big ups tot he riders for the respect showed for the road, conditions and other riders on the ride. We pulled into Balance to see the new group hoping off their bikes so the timing was perfect. Alot of hail on the ground was a very good testament to what a great cause the rescue helicopter is with all the riders willing to ride in less than desirable conditions. I was lucky enough to have my (very manly) heated handgrips on high and feeling quite toasty.

Run through the gorge and back to the chopper hanger where the square trust put on another BBQ and the raffles were drawn. A few spot sprizes kindly donated by Phil Turnbulls were also gladly recieved.

About $1300 for the square trust helicopter was raised which is a fantastic effort.

Thanks again to Chanceyy for all the work that went into today. Big ups to the out of town riders that put in the effort attend.

Quote of the day.
"Its just water - I eat water for breakfast"

Some pics added to my sig.

[86GSXR]

Very good report. Your handgrips were very macho too Excellent ride, thanks to all who put in the effort to make it the success it was

[blacksheep]

great ride guys,made all the better for the good company!

[chanceyy]

Well the bourbon is going down well at present.

I would like to take this opportunity in thanking everyone who has supported this event, those who turned up today in less than ideal conditions esp some of those newer riders who have never group ridden before, and those who came from wellington, masterton & other outlying areas.

I would like to take this chance to acknowledge the work that Robert & Paul from Phil Turnbull motorcycles, the two pilots Jarrod and Andrew with the fundraiser liasion Kylie Harcourt (based in Taupo) have given me in the organisation of this event.

And by no means least of all the support of the Ashhurst and manawatu riders, Esp cowboyz who planned the route & rode it a few times, & Mowgli for all your work at the Ohakea base & for the massive fundraising effort out there .. absolutely brilliant & Oscarnz who has been my main sounding board. To all of you guys who marshalled lead the ride & were tail end charlies. Sincerely thank you .. without your assistance & support this ride today would not have gone quite as smoothly for sure.


I am grateful that everyone got into the spirit of the ride and rode to the conditions, next time we will try & have better weather ...

[NZsarge]

iieeeee! Man that was a bitterly cold ride home but it's done and dusted now, not too bad altogether really though.
The water only made it through the jacket on the way home as it was non stop heavy rain all the way back.
Time to sit down in front of the box and wait for 6 am to roll around.

[chanceyy]

iieeeee! Man that was a bitterly cold ride home but it's done and dusted now, not too bad altogether really though.
The water only made it through the jacket on the way home as it was non stop heavy rain all the way back.
Time to sit down in front of the box and wait for 6 am to roll around.

Give that man a DB ... on ya sarge .. thanks for your efforts today

[Jiminy]

This is what my day could have been:
Lazy sleep in the morning
Wake up and watch a DVD under a nice duvet, waiting for the 2pm morning sun to shine through the window
Gear up and ride into the sun for a couple of hours, it's nice and sunny over Wellington today
While drinking a hot chocolate, troll on a famous biker site for a bit of educational reading about fancy hair color cops

Instead, this is what my day has been:
7.30: Wake up to switch my alarm off (7.30am doesn't normally exist in my week-end schedule!)
9.20: Wake up again - ARGLLLLL, I'm late for the ride! Oh, well, I'll still ride to Palmy and see if there are a few people left behind
11.32: First shower when leaving Otaki - Et Meeeeerde
11.45: Take the direct route to Pahiatua to catch up with the ride as I won't make it to Palmy on time
12.15: Arrive in Palmy - Does Pahiatua even exist?
12.17: Heavy shower now. Should I stop and put my rain gear on? No, sure not, I'm only five minutes away from Phil Turnbulls now
12.50: Arrive at Phil's after a few detours. Rain has stopped 5 minutes ago.
1.00: Leave Phil's to check where the hospital is, then back to town to find a nice little restaurant - quickly, please, it's raining hard again!
1.35: Give up and go to McDonald's - Oh, the rain is stopping again
2.25: A crappy burger and a hot chocolate later, back at the hospital. Leave my helmet and gloves by the bike and go meet with everyone in the hangar. Hi everyone, how was the ride?
2.30: Heavy rain starts again - Oh, well, I'm in the hangar now
2.32: *+&%)+*&!!! My helmet and my gloves!!!
2.40: Hot chocolate #2, yeah!
3.00: Back on the road again. The rain stops soon after leaving Palmy, looks like there was a nasty magic rainy cloud just over the area. Sinfull: which gods did you talk to, again?
4.45: Back in sunny Wellington! Good news: my wet gear is nice and dry when I take it out of my saddlebags. Maybe I should wear it one day?
4.55: NO MORE CHOCOLATE IN THE HOUSE, OH NOOOOOOO!

Seriously, I've enjoyed meeting with the few of you I had the chance to talk to, it was well worth braving the rain and the cold. Bikers are always a friendly bunch, especially around a BBQ

Thanks to Phil's crew and the guys at the gas station for pointing me in the right direction when I was lost and about to give up. And thanks Chanceyy, Maha, and everyone else for organising this and the other rides, it was for two causes well worth the effort, and there was a great crowd around that BBQ.

Jiminy

[chanceyy]

This is what my day could have been:
Lazy sleep in the morning
Wake up and watch a DVD under a nice duvet, waiting for the 2pm morning sun to shine through the window
Gear up and ride into the sun for a couple of hours, it's nice and sunny over Wellington today
While drinking a hot chocolate, troll on a famous biker site for a bit of educational reading about fancy hair color cops

Instead, this is what my day has been:
7.30: Wake up to switch my alarm off (7.30am doesn't normally exist in my week-end schedule!)
9.20: Wake up again - ARGLLLLL, I'm late for the ride! Oh, well, I'll still ride to Palmy and see if there are a few people left behind
11.32: First shower when leaving Otaki - Et Meeeeerde
11.45: Take the direct route to Pahiatua to catch up with the ride as I won't make it to Palmy on time
12.15: Arrive in Palmy - Does Pahiatua even exist?
12.17: Heavy shower now. Should I stop and put my rain gear on? No, sure not, I'm only five minutes away from Phil Turnbulls now
12.50: Arrive at Phil's after a few detours. Rain has stopped 5 minutes ago.
1.00: Leave Phil's to check where the hospital is, then back to town to find a nice little restaurant - quickly, please, it's raining hard again!
1.35: Give up and go to McDonald's - Oh, the rain is stopping again
2.25: A crappy burger and a hot chocolate later, back at the hospital. Leave my helmet and gloves by the bike and go meet with everyone in the hangar. Hi everyone, how was the ride?
2.30: Heavy rain starts again - Oh, well, I'm in the hangar now
2.32: *+&%)+*&!!! My helmet and my gloves!!!
2.40: Hot chocolate #2, yeah!
3.00: Back on the road again. The rain stops soon after leaving Palmy, looks like there was a nasty magic rainy cloud just over the area. Sinfull: which gods did you talk to, again?
4.45: Back in sunny Wellington! Good news: my wet gear is nice and dry when I take it out of my saddlebags. Maybe I should wear it one day?
4.55: NO MORE CHOCOLATE IN THE HOUSE, OH NOOOOOOO!

Seriously, I've enjoyed meeting with the few of you I had the chance to talk to, it was well worth braving the rain and the cold. Bikers are always a friendly bunch, especially around a BBQ

Thanks to Phil's crew and the guys at the gas station for pointing me in the right direction when I was lost and about to give up. And thanks Chanceyy, Maha, and everyone else for organising this and the other rides, it was for two causes well worth the effort, and there was a great crowd around that BBQ.


Jiminy

and this man definately deserves a DB ... Jiminy Top effort coming even after sleeping in ...

blardy funny read .. bling deserved ..

[sinfull]

Made it All the way round the ride relative dry ( not soaked through to the bone that is )
But left the hanger at an inopportune time and the raindrops were rather large all the way to shannon, where the soden gear was swapped for a few bourbons (not to mention the brandies to start the thaw)
Bloody good dusting of snow on the hills we travelled, (prolly why it never soaked in that quick) Slid back into the wrung out gloves and locked the elbows for the last 40 odd minute freeze home to a hot shower !
Great day all and Many thanks to the guys and ladies for the catering on site !!
Good effort to those who braved the conditions !
My oppologies to the lads who went the wrong way lol turns out whiskers thought i was putting him crook and deliberately trying to send him the wrong way, when i was frantically pointing in the correct direction (so of course the other 4 followed his lead ! Is this not an honest face hello ?)

Gods ?? what gods Awwww haha yeah them gods !! sigh !! Honest face i tell ya honest !!!!

[rottiguy]

Hey a man who shouts another biker a warm coffee can't be all bad
Was fair pissin down for my ride to shannon town to, only interrupted by passing trucks giving me the full monty blast of crapola
all in all not a really bad day out, great cause to.
Just think how great it will be when summer rolls around

Made it All the way round the ride relative dry ( not soaked through to the bone that is )
But left the hanger at an inopportune time and the raindrops were rather large all the way to shannon, where the soden gear was swapped for a few bourbons (not to mention the brandies to start the thaw)
Bloody good dusting of snow on the hills we travelled, (prolly why it never soaked in that quick) Slid back into the wrung out gloves and locked the elbows for the last 40 odd minute freeze home to a hot shower !
Great day all and Many thanks to the guys and ladies for the catering on site !!
Good effort to those who braved the conditions !
My oppologies to the lads who went the wrong way lol turns out whiskers thought i was putting him crook and deliberately trying to send him the wrong way, when i was frantically pointing in the correct direction (so of course the other 4 followed his lead ! Is this not an honest face hello ?)

Gods ?? what gods Awwww haha yeah them gods !! sigh !! Honest face i tell ya honest !!!!

[banditrider]

I was lucky enough to have my (very manly) heated handgrips on high and feeling quite toasty.

Was impressed when I flicked mine on coming into Pahiatua and both grips worked (RHS had died a few weeks ago). Must have just needed a bit of water for lubrication or something technical like that.

Good ride even with the little bit of cloud moisture gently pitter pattering on one's helmet.

My water-logged ramblings: http://banditrider.blogspot.com/2008...elicopter.html

Piccys: http://picasaweb.google.com/andrew.l...HelicopterRide

[cowboyz]

you know, with all that was going on I didnt even look at the chopper! Bugger! Just realised.

[chanceyy]

you know, with all that was going on I didnt even look at the chopper! Bugger! Just realised.

ohhh well I guess we will definately have to do it all again just so you can check out the chopper

[cowboyz]

super. Next time when your on the phone organising everything ring God and tell him to sort the weather out.

[chanceyy]

super. Next time when your on the phone organising everything ring God and tell him to sort the weather out.

well unfortunately against popular opinion I dunna have god on my phone list ... you might have to organise that