The 500 Corner Ride

From Taihape via Apiti

From Taihape via Apiti

From Taihape via Apiti

From Taihape via Apiti

The official November VJMC/Blue Haze run took sometime to get underway. Our quick getaway was foiled by a lack of air! You would think that the word 'service' was an important word in the vocabulary of Petrol Service Stations, but no. I had to go to four stations before I was able to find an airhose that was working. To busy selling lattes and gourmet pies! Paul W was on his Kawasaki GPz 750r, Dion on his Kawasaki KH400, Sir Al on his Kawasaki KH750, Kim on his Yamaha RZ250 and myself on my Yamaha XJ750. The route was to be up to Apiti via the Pohangina Valley, through Rangiwahia and then to Mangaweka, State Highway 1 and up to Taihape for fuel. The return journey was to be through Vinegar Hill and back home. The trip up the valley required extra attention with a lot lose seal on the road and despite a subdued pace a few of us had a few whoppsie moments. At our first stop at Apiti we got to talking with one of the locals who proved to be a bit of a character. His story was he had decided to retire to Apiti and he had 'the largest shed in town. Apparently it is filled with all sorts of racing cars from the sixties along with a motorcycle that he uses to explore the countryside. Next stop was Rangiwahia with a lot of talk about the great road we had just come through. We then carried on through to Mangaweka and up to Taihape for a refuel. It was then back to Mangaweka International Airport for one of there famous toasties and a cup of tea. By now the temperature must have been getting pretty close to 30 degrees so it was good to get back on the bikes and cool down. The run down State Highway one was the usual boring one and the run through Vinegar Hill was tempered by a lot of traffic returning from the Round Taupo Cycle Race. A quick stop at Stormy point to view the scenery and we were back on the road. Paul W thought he could do the whole trip on one tank, but had to duck into Feilding to refuel.