The weekend earlier than final, Colin and I kicked off a good bit of motorbike remedy by taking over the New Zealand Distance Riders North Island 800 (800km in 12hrs). We even managed to persuade Brett, Glen and John to affix us. Sadly John needed to pull after catching some dodgy Ozzie virus…
For us, our journey began with getting as much as the experience begin in Ohakune. After a morning of getting issues sorted at dwelling and loading up each the Connie and the Tremendous Ten, I pottered over to Sanson to satisfy up with Colin and Brett.
Now we simply needed to resolve how one can get to Ohakune. It turned out {that a} journey up the Parapara’s was simply the ticket and we had an amazing experience up earlier than making our approach to experience HQ and bike scrutineering. Naturally the Connie whistled by means of, in spite of everything, she is barely run in.
 |
| Essential begin km picture |
Then we lastly had the possibility to have a fast meet up with Chris and Stella however sadly did not have sufficient time to have a very good chat about their Iron Butt Rally journey – oh effectively, we must always see them once more in February on the TT…
After discovering our digs and dumping some gear, we popped out for dinner earlier than heading again to experience HQ for the route unveiling. The Paras ended up being on the menu…
Again at our motel, the route was sorted and loaded onto GPS’s after which it was time for some shut-eye.
Subsequent morning noticed us searching down a good brekkie on the town (with about 100 different riders) earlier than lining as much as begin.
 |
| Our workforce, Brett hiding behind Glen |
 |
| Chris and Luke |
 |
| Stella giving us a wave |
 |
| The Goldwing boys |
 |
| Colin, me and a few nutters! |
 |
| Considered one of Chris’s Connies 😜 |
 |
| Lengthy distance farkles galore |
 |
| Tremendous Twisty 1600 begin |
This 12 months, together with the NI800, there have been 2 NI1600’s being run – a “customary” 1600km in 24hrs and a “Tremendous Twisty 1600” which was designed to supply a bit of bit extra of a problem…Naturally, Luke, Chris and Stella have been starters for this…They bought away about half-hour earlier than us.
After watching 5 different teams go away earlier than us, we have been lastly let off the chain at about 9:15 and left Ohakune with just a few spits of rain chasing us out of city. About 10-15km South of Raetihi these spits of rain went elsewhere and we ended up on a pleasant dry run down the Para’s to the primary checkpoint in Whanganui.
 |
| No want for gas, engine working, fast cease and gone… |
You may discover within the above pic that some intelligent individual is in his fluro wet-weather gear. He clearly knew one thing…Not far North of Whanganui we rode into the rain. After which it bought wetter. This wetness was then adopted by gusty wind and much more rain. After which a bit extra rain and wind. General, lots of wetness – with wind.
North of Hawera on the Coast street, it appeared to get even worse and it was attention-grabbing enjoyable attempting to take care of a good tempo whereas avoiding among the massively slippery bits of shiny tar. This is a we pattern of among the circumstances.
A bit extra splishing and splashing bought us to CP2 at Rahotu the place all of us agreed that it was a tad damp.
Extra of the identical climate chased us up the island to our first gas cease at Oakura the place I additionally purchased some lozenges for a sore throat that I used to be engaged on – not preferrred.
The following leg was an affordable hop as much as Te Kuiti and it featured a complete lot extra rain and but extra slipperyness. We nonetheless made affordable time however did I point out that it was moist?
 |
| Take a look at the beautiful blue skies… |
Leaving Te Kuiti we needed to make our approach by means of just a few sections of street works and new seal however ultimately the rain eased off and the street out to CP3 at Raglan was even dry on locations. Good, cos that little bit of street shouldn’t be too shabby 😜
Sadly, we now needed to flip round and do the Raglan street once more 😜. This will have put a wee smile on our dials and test the video for among the motion 😜.
Finally the enjoyable needed to finish and we rain into our outdated good friend “torrential rain” once more someplace North of Te Kuiti. Oh, what enjoyable…
The experience from 8 mile junction to Taumarunui was significantly memorable. Discuss rain Trev, discuss slippery Trev. That is usually a magic experience however this time round it was an actual grind and it appeared to take ceaselessly to make it to Taumarunui.
From there, it was a barely good experience South to Ohakune because the rain eased off a tad. We touched down on the end at round 18:50, moist and prepared for our burgers earlier than heading again out into it…
