The annual Fish and Chip run to Tauranga has a keen following, particularly by those Harley people who for whatever reason have forsaken holidays in exotic places to remain close to home, and who look forward to the opportunity for a day on the road on the second day of the New Year.
Most assembled at BP South in plenty of time to enjoy a coffee and exchange New Years greetings and wishes with friends, mostly of long standing. Road Captain Rob led 25 bikes out of the very busy car park, headed for Ramarama, then into the hinterland, country roads familiar to most of us, ticking off Ararimu, Pararimu, and Miranda. At Ngatea we headed into the heart of the Hauraki Plains, reminded that what was once swamp is now pasture only by hard work and drainage, that to glance over the top of the stop bank was to realise that we were actually well below water level... Almost every farm has at least one red shed, some big, most small, dirt floor, corrugated iron painted once during construction 100 years ago, now dull and weary, streaked with rust and showing the ravages of time, the worst collapsed and broken, a reminder of years gone by. Sharemilkers cottages, lonely and damp on small unloved plots, their temporary and ever changing residents unmotivated by short tenure to add any personal touches as they struggle towards their own farm. It is evident that many of these houses are approaching the time where they too will be abandoned and left, the memories of generations of residents, forgotten. The forecast gave odds of 40% for rain, and as we approached Morrinsville, these odds lengthened considerably and the dreary clouds and light rain that had lingered in the distance finally caught up with us, so while stopped in town for a coffee and much needed pit stop, most struggled into wet weather gear, an act that often sees the rain disappear. Alas, other than the occasional brief respite, the drizzle remained with us for the rest of the day, a nuisance more than anything, not cold enough to be a real concern. Prudence encouraged one or two of the group to peel off and head home, perhaps with hindsight the best option! Our long line of bikes was often broken up as corners were over shot and before long, we were in a group of two, unsure what happened to everyone else - at least until we'd summited the Kaimai Ranges in almost zero visibility and were closer to Tauranga. I could see one headlight then two, then many more forming up behind us so as we neared our destination, Rob could again lead us down to the waterfront, parading along the main streets to the delight of kids and dads, enjoying the noise and spectacle. We knew Bobby's Fish & Chips on the Tauranga waterfront would probably be closed, and this was the case - Crads, our generous treasurer and all round good guy, doled out $20 to each of us for lunch so we wandered off in small groups to seek out an alternative, the "official" ride having ended, and most opting to head home as and when suited. Lunch over we mounted up, hopeful and optimistic that the fine spell we'd been enjoying was a harbinger of things to come, alas not, the rain started as we left the car park and didn't stop until we arrived home many hours later. At Linda's behest we stopped at a cafe in Paeroa, she keen for a pot of tea, Jeff and I ready for a coffee and a break from the rain and traffic. I noticed as we enjoyed this temporary refuge that there were puddles around each of Jeff's boots, boots that after many years of sterling service are well overdue due for replacement. He maintains that water (and lots of it) runs down his legs and actually fills the boots up faster than it can leak out through worn out seams around the sole. I was appreciative of a recent investment in new boots, a quality brand, lace up, calf length and polished religiously before every outing to preserve watertightness. No wet feet or me😀 The holiday traffic was unlike anything we'd ever seen, the gridlock heading into Tauranga starting at Athenree, 50km away. Little did we know that the traffic to Auckland would be much worse, reduced to a slow crawl from Ngatea, providing nearly 90km of frustration. Being on a motorcycle offered some benefit, allowing passage much quicker than those in cars (albeit they were much drier than we were!), particularly as we opted to again head inland, a decision which proved to our great advantage. We could again achieve respectable speeds, even when compromised by poor visibility and slippery roads. So, perhaps not the most pleasant of rides, a reminder that motorcyclists are subject to conditions most motorists don't have to contend with, many of our group also reminded that those slick patches of tar seal really are very slippery ! All I need now is a couple of hours of sunshine to give Sabrina the wash she deserves in preparation for the next trip - Son Wade has suggested the Coromandel loop! Comments are closed.
|
Don MalcolmA perfect day involves being on my Harley with a long ride ahead.
|