June End of Month Ride

Winter rides are always fraught with the possibility of a combination of cold, rain wind or occasionally even snow. Our June end of month weather forecast the previous day indicated  a suitable mixture of the above, so expectations for a large turnout for our end of month run were low. The following mornings early rain did not bode well so the rain suit came out just in time to greet the sun as the weather cleared. Heading down to Manawatu Motorcycles on the XJ certainly confirmed the change in weather fortunes and the sight of six and soon to be seven other bikes was an affirming message about the weather for the next few hours. The only big decision to make was where to should any of the promised weather eventuate.

Warren suggested we head out around some of our 'less travelled' roads to the west and see which way the dark clouds were heading. The bikes were fired up and a nice cacophony of four stroke and two stroke sounds echoed around Andrew Young Street as we left. Warren on his 'spannied' Suzuki GT380 leading the way, closely followed by Sir Al on his Honda VFR800, Ian on his Suzuki VX800,  then Dion on his NS400R, Bruce on his Honda VFR750, Kim on his Honda NSR 250 and Rich on his trusty Suzuki T500. We were soon making our way out through the western burbs of Palmerston North. It wasn't long before we were zig zagging our way through the countryside to eventually zag our way to the first stop just before the rise into Bulls.
Warren soon had us on the move again and heading through Bulls with a right turn at the State Highway One and Three crossroads. This had us heading off down Parewanui Road and then on to Raumai Road, Santoft Road and back to the State Highway and finally up to Marton. This was a great little run and one I hadn't been on for a decade or two. Not a lot was happening in Marton so we were able to park up outside the local bakery.  We had a good feed of the usual pastries washed down with tea and coffee.  Whilst we were munching on our food the locals were coming in for their Sunday lunch roast dinners. They looked and smelt very tasty, especially on a cool winters day! Next time. After certain members of the group began reminiscing about Linda Lovelace we decided it was time to refocus on more important seventies and eighties cultural phenomenons; our motorcycles! We then headed back towards Palmerston North over more familiar roads via Halcombe and our final stop at Mount Biggs School. As the troops dribbled off back home those of us who got to hear Warren give the 380 a fistful of gas still have the sweet sound of three expansion chambers disappearing off into the distance ringing in our ears. Ah the memories. That is what this is all about. Rekindling old memories and creating new ones with like minded people. It was certainly worth the time and effort to come out on such a winters day to share that something special you only get from riding heritage motorcycles!