s Our pre Christmas ride around the Coromandel Peninsula had fallen victim of inclement weather and postponed - at short notice it was resurrected for this week, and invitations sent out to other good bastards who may wish to join us. The ever keen Mickey was bitterly disappointed to miss out - an appointment with the dentist, and a new chopper being screwed in. Jeff, Wade (my younger son on first overnight road trip, and first big ride on his new Harley), and I met at The Roadhaus Café, BP South to refuel both machine and rider before heading to Thames, first stop The Warehouse. We'd arranged to meet a contingent of regular riding buddies (and the requisite Good Bastards") from Pauanui keen to join us for the day, Mike C and Greg on their Harleys, Richard on his Honda "Nearly Harley". I was very pleased to have swapped by normal leather jacket for a much lighter (but still armoured) summer jacket I've used in the Nevada desert - phew, it was hot! Off we went, enjoying the very windy and not too congested coastal road, ever mindful that the next corner could come with a truck or errant camper van over the white line, reducing options (if there was the luxury of an option) to either head on, or of the edge onto rocks... The slower traffic was quickly passed, usually after obligingly pulling over, the single exception being a feral local, a lank haired and bitter woman who gave the impression of being resentful of Jafas on their Harleys, and did everything short of running us off the road to impede us - bad karma to her . We stopped just before Te Kouma to take in the view and obligatory photos, and to chat to agroup of Swiss motorcyclists here for a couple of weeks, decked out in new gear, resplendent on hired BMW GS adventure bikes. Back on the bikes for the short run down into Coromandel town for coffee and cool drinks, intrigued by the Toyota Landcruiser parked across the road, loaded with hives (obviously laden with bees), while the 3 bee keepers wandered off, all dressed up in their bee keeping gear (no head gear). They eventually returned and drove away, followed by a cloud of bees - the Land Cruiser did a u turn at the end of town, and so did the bees before heading off to places unknown - we were intrigued as to if the "chasers" would keep up, or if they'd become victims of the move. We'd been talking up the legendary pizzas at Luke's Kitchen 20kms of magnificent windy road across the guts of the peninsula at Kuaotunu - cold beer, pizzas, magnificent beach - very difficult to leave. Lukes is a hidden gem (and long may it remain so - wouldn't want too many jafa's cluttering up the place). The contingent from Pauanui left us at Whitianga, Motel 6 on Albert being our over night stop - very humble digs, but clean and fit for purpose. a quick and refreshing shower, shorts, T shirt and jandals, then off to find a pub for dinner - beer, burgers and pinot noir being perfect fare after a day on the road. A light drizzle meant wet weather gear was order of the day, drizzle turning into much heavier rain as we progressed towards Tairua. The tight corners we'd previously enjoyed at pace were instead taken with a great degree of caution and prudence, the shiny tar patches like ice after a few days of brilliant sunshine. As the rain stopped, so did we, at Bugger Café in Pipiroa, for breakfast - our last stop before heading home, our brief sojourn safely complete. A photo sent to his Mum caused a stir - son Wade had flogged her new Schuberth helmet... Comments are closed.
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Don MalcolmA perfect day involves being on my Harley with a long ride ahead.
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