MMMMM 2008 26-27 July

**clint640** · 25th July 2008, 09:21

Originally Posted by tri boy

It will be interesting on Sat morning Mike.
I think the weather will determine things to some extent, but at any time decisions can be made to withdraw, hold up, reasses etc.
Lots of wise old cookies on this ride, so common sense will prevail I'm sure.

Yep, that's the plan. We'll see how it goes, there's the option of bailing out 1st thing Sat, or at Minginui, from Minginui we could cut out to my place at Rotoiti & maybe investigate some local hot pools then wait out the storm in front of the fire with a bottle of whisky. The lake house can sleep an extra 10 or so if required.

Cheers
Clint

**clint640** · 25th July 2008, 10:03

"SATURDAY: Rain with isolated squally thunderstorms. Winds tending northerly, strengthening in the afternoon, gusting 110km/h. Changing to showers & gale westerlies later.

SUNDAY: Showers, frequent & heavy at times. Strong westerly winds."

The above forecast is kinda similar to what is being predicted at present. It was the forecast before last years Grand Challenge. I did a thousand miles through that weather, mainly in the dark, on Rosie's 250. It was fun.

Clint

**Rosie** · 25th July 2008, 10:51

You guys keep warm and ride safe, and I'll see you at Clint's on Sunday afternoon

**marks** · 25th July 2008, 10:53

Gunna Eli and I are going to join the soft cocks

We intend to have another go at the same route (minus staying on the station of course) as soon as we get a promising weekend

ride safe guys

and post lots of photos

thanks for all your trouble organizing this Clint

**clint640** · 25th July 2008, 11:49

Originally Posted by marks

Gunna Eli and I are going to join the soft cocks

We intend to have another go at the same route (minus staying on the station of course) as soon as we get a promising weekend

ride safe guys

and post lots of photos

thanks for all your trouble organizing this Clint

No worries, we might have to organise a summer version.

Latest forecast indicates that the worst of the weather will be hitting after 6pm tomorrow, & mostly passing through overnight, so there's a good chance we'll have a clear run to Journey's End. On Sunday we can bail out down the Waioeka if required.

Cheers
Clint

**offrd** · 25th July 2008, 14:53

Well i am all packed and ready to head to Taupo!

I see there is now plenty of space at the pub since the tough guys found some hard thing called the couch to get over...

See you guys 9am!

TC all!

**clint640** · 25th July 2008, 15:26

Originally Posted by offrd

Well i am all packed and ready to head to Taupo!

I see there is now plenty of space at the pub since the tough guys found some hard thing called the couch to get over...

See you guys 9am!

TC all!

That's the spirit mate, see you in the am.

I'm off now too, so call me on the cell before 6, or leave a message at the lodge if anybody needs to get in touch.

Clint

**marks** · 25th July 2008, 15:42

Originally Posted by offrd

I see there is now plenty of space at the pub since the tough guys found some hard thing called the couch to get over...

TC all!

Well I suppose we deserved that

**MXNUT** · 25th July 2008, 16:49

[QUOTE=clint640[B]No worries, we might have to organise a summer version

Would definately be in for a summer version, but i guess this ride would have to be called the mmm

**tri boy** · 26th July 2008, 13:08

Like the (ex) good catholic boy I once was, I "pulled out early", and snuck out the back door after letting 4skins (tail end charlie) know i wasn't going any further.
(Bloody Grex helmet was fogging so bad i couldn't see squat, and in MHO the ride was getting above my comfort factor).

Even the ride home was wet/miserable/blowy.
Hope you lot are safe n sound. Will post what meager pics I took on day one later.

**marks** · 26th July 2008, 15:47

Originally Posted by tri boy

Like the (ex) good catholic boy I once was, I "pulled out early", and snuck out the back door after letting 4skins (tail end charlie) know i wasn't going any further.
(Bloody Grex helmet was fogging so bad i couldn't see squat, and in MHO the ride was getting above my comfort factor).

Even the ride home was wet/miserable/blowy.
Hope you lot are safe n sound. Will post what meager pics I took on day one later.

Stanley and I are happy to hear that you got home safely

.

How far did you get?
I gather you had rain?

can I come to yor next ride seeing I wussed out of this one?

cheers

Mark

**young1** · 26th July 2008, 16:26

I am just home to.

Ride yesterday was great, sunny all day. I met Triboy and 4 others (I think) at Pio Pio (plus one extra, another guy out having a ride joined in for a while). Good ride to Taupo via through the Pureora forest. John and Chris we bumped into at gas stop in Taupo so 8 of us got to the accomodation at the lodge with Clint and one other coming in a bit after us. A great meal, good fire, good stories, electric blankets, all good.

5 more riders turned up this morning so 15 left the accomodation with Triboy heading home.

The ride through the Whirinaki (is that it) forest this morn was superb. Rain set in at the end when John, Chris, myself and one other (sorry cant remember all your names) decided that the forecast for tomorrow was not good (gales in the Naki) so left for Taupo.

Very wet ride there. I gassed up and headed home through Benneydale. Lucky the rain stopped but I had to stop at Benneydale pub for coffee and use of their fire, my hands were frozen. Lucky I had dry inners which I put on. My next purchase for the bike will be hand warmers.

Some wind before Benneydale, mostly a tail wind luckily. From Awakino onwards the wind got worse the closer I got to home so think I made the right choice to head home when I did.

Thanks Clint again for organising the ride.

Will post pics later.

**tri boy** · 26th July 2008, 16:50

Glad your home safe Mike.

The easterly was good to run with, would of been a bugger going west-east though.
Mark, I pulled the pin at the entrance to the forrest on the Taupo-Napier rd.
I couldn't see the differing tar grades due to fogging, let alone try and pick out ruts n holes, so I pulled the safety pin.
Hats off to the nutters/real men that continued. One hell of a weather system.

Pics from Fri.
Pic 1 At Te Uku.

Pic 2-4 Te Papatapu rd

**tri boy** · 26th July 2008, 16:55

Few more.......
Pic 1. Fast old fulla.

Pic 2 "Where'd the road go?"

Pic 3 "Tis down thar!" (Hauturu Rd slip) Lost about an hr backtracking.

Pic 4 Sat morn chat.

**young1** · 26th July 2008, 20:08

1) I was so so lucky, a sheep jumped out at me while I was riding through through the Awakino Gorge (honestly) I thought it was heading away from me so did not slow much, only to see if do a ewe(!!) turn and make a dive for the bike. You can see the damage on the fairing. If I had been 20cms closer to the side of the road or if I had been 1 second later it would have hit my front wheel and taken me out!!!
2 and 3 The bikes this morning before the rest joined us