Six riders today, and a couple more came to the meeting point to socialise. It was gusty with some drizzle. Ben Becker agreed to lead us to Omaha Beach Cafe for lunch. 

Along the way, we turned right from Wilks Road onto Dairy Flat Road. There was a line of trucks which delayed some of the riders from making the turn. One rider gave his bike a bit of throttle to catch up to the rest, and a cop coming in the other direction took umbrage and pulled him over. It's the first ticket anyone has got on a mid-week ride, as far as I know. We bought the rider lunch as a small compensation for his ordeal. 

The drizzle turned to showers, some of them heavy, and then the showers turned to persistent rain, so we abandoned our plan and stopped at the Puhoi Valley Cafe and Cheese Store for lunch instead. 

Thanks to Don Baverstock for being TEC.

October 22 - Charlie Tee
Nine riders today, and another who came to the meeting point to socialise. There was a heavy shower just before we left but it was almost over by the time we saddled up, and although there were a few threatening clouds, no further rain fell during the ride. Ole Falkenhaugtook us to Hopin Stopin cafe in Taupiri via Highway 22, Rotowaro and Glen Afton.

We came home via Rutherfurd Road, Waikare Road and Island Block roads. At the intersection of Waerenga and Falls roads, we came across a recent accident between a ute and a small car. The ute was in a ditch and the car was extensively damaged along one side. We didn't stop as there were already many people there, but we saw a fire engine heading for the scene a little later. I thought we might also see an ambulance, but maybe one came from a different direction.

Ice-creams at Pokeno rounded out the day nicely!

Nine people came to the meeting point today, three of them to socialise and the rest to both socialise and ride. Brian Henry led us across Woodcocks Road to Sandspit for lunch. We were joined there by a seventh rider, who was delayed coming to the meeting point by a flat tyre. It was gusty but not wet.

After lunch we went our separate ways home. I took Kaipara Hill Road west, then Makarau Road and Haruru Road back east, getting in my gravel fix for the week. The gravel roads were easy riding, apart from the wind, and a bit of damage from the storm a couple of nights ago. There were a couple of substantial trees down across part of the road, some areas where runoff had scoured grooves across the road, and a flooded area. Just keeping the ride interesting!