Day Two (Sunday 21 November)



The schedule for day 2:

Travel Time		Distance		Departing		Arriving
0745 > 0800	16km		Lake Taupo Christian Camp				Event at Senior Citizen’s Hall, McLaren Park, Turangi
0930 > 1030	66km		Senior Citizen’s Hall, McLaren Park, Turangi				Event at Taumarunui Memorial Hall, River Road, Taumarunui
1145 > 1245	105km		River Road, Taumaranui				Fuel stop, Waiouru
1305 > 1330	30km		Waiouru				Event at Tui Street and Robin Streets intersection, Taihape
1440 > 1540	81km		Taihape				Fuel stop, Bulls
1600 > 1800	134km		Bulls				Accommodation at Maraeroa Marae, Waitangirua, Porirua. Contact Vanessa Rushton 04 917 7077 for details

Some rain over the night and bikes were all wet. Luckily only one had a problem as a result. But with some help Padre's bike got going.

We headed for brekkie in Turangi. Fried eggs, toast, ham and lambs fry (thou that last one was not for me...) was put on by the Womens Refuge from Turangi. Here I had the opportunity to show my mechanical skills: One of the HD's had lost all battery power. After a few minutes of tinkering we found that a connection had come loose. My 11mm spanner was the one to use and once all tight again the bike fired up and we had a happy owner.

From there we headed for Taumarunui. We had picked up some local riders that included two ladies on trikes. (The trikes would ride us in to the town) The ride started well but soon there was some serious rain going on. Visors and glasses all fogged up and that could be seen on the riding as everyone slowed down heaps. One chap pulled to the side to get his vision sorted and when he tried to come back on the road he dropped his bike on top of him self, luckily there was te tail enders coming through and they lifted the bike off him and no harm done.



Once inTaumarunui we picked up police escort. They took us down the main street then turned around and came back with us. We were officially welcomed and fed once again (I will seriously have to go on a diet after this trip!)

(Here I did run out of steam to complete day 2 as my lack of sleep and all the riding had taken a toll, so at 11pm I crashed. So rest of this is written on morning of Day 3.)

In Taumarunui the mayor held a speech where she told us how she had asked for funds to educate her people. The reply she had from the Government was: "Sorry, we can not afford that as we need $2 billion to build new prisons..." It does make you wonder if that is the way to solve the problems? But being a bike rider one has become used to the "teach by punishment" attitude. This has always bewildered me, as it does not matter what teacher you ask they would tell you that the best (and only) way to teach anything is by rewarding positive achievement.

Anyhow...i digress. After some nice homebaked cake and sadwiches we took aim for Porirua. We expected rain but apart from a light shower (I would have called it low cloud...) we arrived at Waiouru where most (if not all) of the Patriots had spent time at training.

After a re-group we had a plesant, even if it was a fraction on the faster side... ride and we went through a police speed camera, but a group of 30+ riders doing only a "fraction" over the limit was probably a tricky one for the lone police. We rode to Bulls where we would pick up some new riders and fuel. A group of approx 10 bikes waited for us. Some others departed as they had other commitments. This is part of the ride: You join where you can and ride as long as you have the ability. We want as many as possible to show their pledge to the White Ribbon.

The ride to Porirua got a little messy. At the brief before we left from Bulls we were all informed that there was no hurry as we had caught back up with the time schedule. So the ride was to be relaxed. This was also to make it a good ride for the new riders. Sadly that fell through and there was some fast riding. As a result one of the senior Patriots rode up from the rear and calmed it all down. From then onwards the ride was more confined and relaxed.

We arrived at the Maraeroa Marae in Porirua. A group of young guys quickly gathered to hang around looking like they had their own ideas what opportunity this presented them with, but the Maori Wardens were at hand to keep an eye on our bikes and gear while we were warmly welcomed. (Sadly I learned later that Mahu's oilskin pants had been stolen while he went for the toilet. Bummer) The ride had also stopped here last year and it was clear that all were happy to meet up again.

After the welcome we were provided with a top feed and then also some entertainment by the locals.

The setup here was five star! Nice warm showers, food, drink, entertainment and a soft sleeping place on a thick mattress was there for us all. Some of the riders had the opportunity to step up and tell their story for the gathering. It was a sobering experience to listen to what had brought them here. I have always considered every one of us to have a story worth a book and this was once again proven.

My plan was to complete this blog before I crashed, but as said, that did not work out. But here it is now.

Right... I am last in the Marae as everyone has packed up and are ready to leave. One hour too early... Army! What can I say....

Travelled 412Km's today