A 400,000+ km Motorcycle!

It's not everyday you get to see a 400 000 km motorcycle and its rider. The Guzzi owners in the Manawatu Classic Motor Cycle Club certainly took an extra keen interest in Peters 850 Le Mans Mk III with its well used patina 'shining' through the paint and metal of what I believe is still his daily ride to and from work. After much pre meeting chatting the June monthly club meeting soon got underway and once the business side of things was completed Sir Al and Ian outlined the Rongomai Loop as the route for the days ride. For us in the Blue Haze it has always been one of our favourite rides with its mix of open road and tight sections and some wonderful cambers and climbs through the quake prone countryside of the Tararua district. The ride seemed to encourage a good turnout of members riding a variety of more modern machinery and the fine weather probably persuaded a few more to leave the comfort of their sofas, recliners and workshops for a winter spin. After the formalities of the meeting and a cup of tea and biscuit we were hurried out the door to get on our way.
It was at this point everyone was distracted with Billy and his early thirties AJS. Interesting listening to the conversations around the bike with Phil Pearce, one of the oldest club members reminiscing about a similar one being his first motorcycle. What a great machine that seems to go as well as it looks. Eventually we all followed Billy out the drive and hung a right to make our way through to Ashhurst where some of the members headed off for a shorter run. The rest of us made our way to Aokautere before heading over the track to our first stop in Pahiatua to check out the facilities for the 2020 National Classic Motor Cycle Rally that the club is hosting. The converted hospital is going to be a great venue for it. After a tour around the complex we were soon on our way again down State Highway Two to the turnoff to Rongomai. After looping back to Pahiatua through some great countryside we were soon on our way to our lunch stop at the Tui Brewery
A great feed was had by all and we were soon back on the road in dribs and drabs heading back over the track to Palmerston North. It was a great run with some very spirited riding making use of the upgraded road surfaces due to the closure of the Manawatu Gorge road. All to soon we were back in town and making our way home to to more mundane day to day activities. However, our little wander around the countryside was certainly going to make carrying out of those activities a little more tolerable as we looked forward to our next ride and maybe we might get a little closer to clocking up 400,000 kays on a motorcycle/s!