Annual Remembrance Ride, 8th November.

 

On Saturday morning the Waikato/BOP chapter gathered for the Annual Remembrance ride.

This year was exceedingly important to the Chapter as we had two members pass during the year, Brian Shadbolt (Shads) and Kathy Moulden.

20 bikes were at the meeting point in Waihi this was an outstanding turnout.

8 were from the Waikato, 7 from the BOP and 5 from Auckland, it is always good to see the Auckland guys along.

This year we also have a friend of Shads join us Merv on his Harley rode over from Papamoa.

The two oldest bikes lead the ride, Pete and Sue (51 T-Bird) and Allen C on his 71 Bonnie, the weather was perfect with no wind and a blue sky.

We left Waihi after the welcome and briefing and rode through Whangamata to the Coroglen Pub for lunch.

This bit of road from Waihi to Whangamata was Shads favourite bit of road to ride that is why we decided to head in this direction for this run.

At the Coroglen we were entertained by the numerous bikes also riding the Coromandel loop some wheel standing up the road and others trying to wheel stand up the road. You could sit there all day cheering them on waiting for someone to flip!

The next section of the ride was up to Whitianga and over the Hill to Coromandel itself.

The view from the top of the hills looking towards Auckland were just amazing, the water was all sorts of shades of Blue. Here we stopped at another pub to freshen after a torrid 70 kms in the saddle.

Then it was down the Thames coast to the Tapu Hotel for the final stop. This road was pretty busy as it seemed everyone was out enjoying the sun shine but the day was about remembering not racing around the Coromandel loop (or the Coromandel GP as it is affectionately known).

At the Tapu Hotel Trev proposed a toast to our past friends before the farewells commenced. I noted as Trev was speak when looking at the Remembrance plaque that it was ten years since the Passing of “Po”  in a bike accident in the Hawkes Bay, where do the years go.

Those listed on the plaque (which is a Pre Unit timing cover) now are, Po, Horse, Morgs, Rod G, Shads and Kathy let’s not forget them.

With the farewells completed the Auckland crew were heading over the Tapu Bridge back to Auckland, The BOP crew heading east at Paeroa and the Hamilton guys decided it was a good idea to head west to the Tahuna for another pint (and that’s a story for another day as well).

 

It was a great day’s ride, 437kms completed by myself and Maxine from start to finish.

The weather was outstanding and the tide was in when we did the ride over the Coromandel which made the scenery just outstanding.

There were also loads of other bikes out on the road enjoying the first fine weekend for a while.

 

A special thanks to everyone for turning up making the day a special one especially Merv for coming along I hope you enjoyed yourself.

 

As a reminder The Remembrance ride next year is set for the weekend of the 7^th & 8^th November 2015, it will be a ride to Gisborne and back, staying the night in Gisborne.

 

 

Ray Hayward.

TOMCC Waikato.