All in all, it was a lovely lunch where the chatter only died down when the food arrived!
Gemma
#9484
We spent quite some time there as we were shown how each of the machines worked and shown some products that were designed and made on the property for local supply and export to other countries.
Thanks and goodbyes had, we set of back to Shifty’s for a beer, burger and chips.
Another nice evening with the Ulysses fellas. 
Karl Fox
#10539
With around 70 members from many branches, New Plymouth, Whangarai, Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington and Rotorua turning up at TSB Topec camp grounds. There was a choice of cabins or bringing your own caravan / tent and even a couple of bikes with pop top trailers arrived.
Friday night was good to relax with a happy bunch people – some new and some known.
Saturday started with a nice early breakfast and a cuppa. Around 10am, +-20 odd riders gathered for the ride instructions with stands up at 10.30am-ish.
Thankfully most of us threw on our wet weather gear, well most of us… as it rained and rained hard! 1st stop was Kapuni Gas Field, where we learned about how LPG was processed. Then through more rain, we arrived the Urenui Hotel for lunch where we all enjoyed a feed with no rain. After lunch we enjoyas a meandering ride back Topec via Bertrand Rd bridge Lepperton, albeit through a lot of rain!
It was certainly nice to be back in warm and dry clothes and a hot cuppa while a few stood in front of the fire.
Tea was an awesome roast with potatoes, veggies, meat with crackle and gravy. The rest of the night was spent chin wagging over a few drinks after fines were liberally handed out by a Sherrif and his Deputy. There were quite a few raffles which were won and handed out!
Sunday morning was a nice early start with most packing up their gear and having a brekkie, where good byes were exchanged before everyone heading home. Everyone, that is, except the clean up crew who stayed on to ‘pack down and clean’ all the facilities before heading home.
Taranaki’s rallies do not disappoint … everyone felt welcome and had a great couple of days. This was another spectacular event led by a couple of notable “Captains” … Blair Campbel #2772 dedicated a great amount of time to make this another successful event and Helen Bayliss #9681 dedicated her time effort and energy to ensure that everyone was well looked after on the food front. Both did an amazing job! And thanks to those who pitched in without being asked.
Well done Team Taranaki!!
Check out the awesome videos by clicking on the links at the bottom of the page!
10:00am stands up with riders/teams leaving at 3 minute intervals.
I teamed up Bill & Margaret, Harry and Kevin.
10:36 – Stoney Oaks was our first destination and the first photo for our team.
10:58 – Road Works just before Midhurst saw us waiting about 10mins for the green light. Getting the green, we slowly moved on,
passed the long line of vehicles in the other direction for at least 1 km.
11:37 – Eltham’s stop was the Toy Wall, which for the life us we couldn’t find! We wandered around looking for anything that looked like a toy. Bill even went up the lane to see if we missed something. Still we took the photo and moseyed on to Rahotu for the last photo.
“Oh well fellas, we might find it one day” (even my granddaughter knows where it is 
LOL).
12:26 saw us at Krafty Cups House at Rahotu with a quick photo then a nice cruise back to town arriving at our finishing point, The Treehouse.
Prizes were given out to a number of ‘achievers’. Jacques van Wyk, won with the least km’s traveled and it would seam that Bill & Margaret Kidney were last with the most km’s. I came 10th.
Whats left. Well lunch, drinks and chin wags. BUT mean while in the carpark . . . someones little ride mate was left in the sun lol.
Karl Fox
#10539
Thursday was Ulysses Club’s 1st Pie n Pint ride for the season.
It was good to see 8 keen riders meeting up at the Honda Hub at 5pm.
A nice warm avo with blue skies, dry smooth roads.
Awesome ride ending at Shifty’s.
Suns up, I feel good, the bikes running good, ready to ride.
Off to the gas station for gas and air up my tires then setting off to our meet point at 3A turn off.
Graeme had followed me from town, we pulled up to group of bikes at 3A and about to get off my bike when I noticed, that the bikes me and Graeme were sitting next to, weren’t from our group.
I looked a few bikes ahead to see some puzzled faces looking at us, so i pulled up to our group chuckling to myself as Graeme realized and moved as well. The other group just happened to be going to the same place as us. 11:00am Stands up and 14 happy riders took to the road despite the overcast skies. Reaching the Awakino Hotel at 12pm.
We ordered lunch & drinks and made our way to the outside tables.
It wasn’t long before lunch was in front of us. The burgers looked yummy.
My hotdogs and curly fries were 10/10 as usual and I didnt hear any complaints from the others about their food.
Thanks Sean and staff of the Awakino Hotel, good to see ya again.
After a good feed and chats it was time to hit the road for a racey ride home.
9:45am Sunday morning, being abit of an ugly day with rain and wind to boot.
Looking forward to getting out of house, I decided to still go, so geared up and jumped on my bike ready for a good days ride, thinking there were gona be other riders.
However as I pulled into the car-park of the New Plymouth Club, it was obvious I was the only one to turn up ON A BIKE!!!
Despite the weather it was still a pretty good turn out of around 24 bright and happy people. Shortly after meet and greets we received our instructions for the hunt.
I tossed my helmet in Marks car and jumped in with Graeme and Ken for next coupla enjoyable hours.
Each car leaving at intervals of 3-5 minutes. Our little trip took us around the city, out to Spotswood, Westown, Fitzroy arriving at “The Fitz Bar” around 12:20ish for lunch.
While Bill tallied up the scores, it was time for drinks and chin wags.
Bill finished and went over the hunt scores before giving the winners a kewl little trophy.
Lunch was a choice of roast pork or beef with veggies. My lunch, rum and coke were kindly shouted for me. (haha, chuckle to ones self) could be my reward for being the only biker there.
Lunch was pretty damn good washed down with another rum & coke.
One chuckle I can share, was the girl bringing out Jacques lunch, was told a man with a tan Indian motorcycle sweatshirt, she came out looking for an Indian man with a tan sweatshirt.
Lunch was done, time to part. Another great lunch with a great bunch.
Afterwards, I decided to have my ride for the day, so I rode out to Okato and back. And man what a wrong time to go, once again I rode into a storm with winds blowing me along the road at 45% angle. But It certainly makes you appreciate a good weathered ride after riding in storms.
Ending my day happily getting home.
Karl Fox
18 keen, happy riders turning up at Z Inglewood around 10am.
Chin wagging over, we set off for another awesome day of cruising about 1040am.
Nothing but blue skies, clear views of Mount Taranaki, NO wind and most of all there were absolutely NO ROADWORKS on our whole journey.
The only road stoppage was about 5mins waiting for cows being taken down the road.
Arriving in Hawera at 12pm, destination Marracbo Cafe for lunch.
All the meals looked yummy, thanks to Bill, we both had the best ever bacon, egg with melted creamy cheese sandwichs (not cooked) washed down with a cuppa.
I certainly recommend this cafe to anyone! the staff were present and eager to help with anything.
Lunch being over, was time to cruise, next stop was Fern Lodge (Inglewood) for a well deserved beer before heading home.
Thanks Ulysses Taranaki for yet another great ride.
Once again, I had a greatly satisfying day, having done 201km’s (gate to gate) of fun with some great friends.
See you all on the next journey folks.
Written and photographs by Karl Fox #10539
Meet and greets about 9.45am in Inglewood at Z. Stands up 10.15am.
Beginning of the ride was cloudy with a slight threat of rain (was nothing more than a coupla spits.)
It was a pretty good cruise. Coming across quite a few camper vans heading to town. I dont think I’ve seen so many newly formed lakes in that area before from flooding.
Reaching the Whangamomona Pub, the sun came out. Everyone ordered their meals and drinks. I had my flask of tea and toasted sandwiches.
During lunch, the weather turned up the heat drying the roads and giving us nice blue skies for the ride home.
Cheers Ulysses Taranaki NZ for another good ride.
225km’s from gate to gate.
Written and photographed by:
Karl Fox #10539
