Well once again ladles and germs, your effervescent purveyor of surrealistic ride reports is on the prowl again today.
I was informed at last moment by Donor, that the 2009 Coast to Coast ride required my attendance. Being that Donor and I have hardly ridden together lately, I was more than enthused to be in his company.
So late last night 2330hrs, I quickly registered online of my intention to attend. All good and well I thought and chuckled to myself. Up at the crack of dawn, when dogs lie still and cats scamper for the warm spot on your bed - I was bustling about at 0630hrs, get in a large bowl of rice bubbles and brown sugar (just love that "snap, crackle and pop").
Locating my accoutrements and panoply of riding, I donned gear and hurly-burlied myself to chez Donors (only to find him gone to pick up ... an Ambulance!), with that plan scuppered I zootled off to Blue Thunder who would be riding one of St John's ST1300 Ambo bikes.
Eventually it seems the whole crew of St Johns has turned up - and I discover Donor is driving!Turns out that they needed two to crew and had no-one qualified to drive, so Donor steps in for the 2nd time in a year and takes one for the crew!
So, with one Ambulance and two Ambo bikes (plus the Big Ol'Hornet and I), we make our way to Karioitahi Beach. A pleasant ride and by the time we got there, the rally was in full swing, bikes were coming and going - finding a place to park up, I awaited for our little party to depart. The organisation was great, little pre-cut squares of plywood were provided for stable parking on the sandy shores of the event.
It was here I discovered that my late, late entry was not in the system so I had to fork over all the cash in my wallet. Skint I was except for some coins rattling around my personages. For my $35, I got entry and a rally badge to be sent to me at a later date.
Also scored a free bag of goodies, I munched down the muesli bar, pocketed the pen and stashed the rest in the Ambulance (which at this moment is still ensconced in said vehicle!). A wee lad was passing out chocolate pebbles, which I also wolfed down.
Eventually, we geared up after some confab about the directions and setting of waypoints into GPS units and the game was afoot! Actually, I knew this would be a pernicious and vexing day for me, the milage was limited and there would be a lot of stops, not my cup of tea at all, no sir, I do not like it!But, there was the greater good to consider and I resigned myself to enjoying the day!
Pic 1 : The registration table was a very busy place, the Lifesaver club put on a $10 brekky, which looked absolutely scrummy!
Pic 2 : Donor (Nigel) and his off-sider Graham, posing like manly men surveying the land under their dominion (basically the place where they were standing on)
Pic 3 : The Ambunaught that would follow the rear of the rally
Pic 4 : Cycle 1 and Cycle 2 (original call signs designed by Donor)
Pic 5 : Blue Thunder going over details with one of the administrators of the rally
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