The weekend in Waikawa beach and with a party

Hi,


What a fantastic weekend.  We met Sally and Andrew after work and headed to the Hutt.  Seashore Caberet for dinner.  I had some pea and zucchini fritters and they were good.  Went to grab the trailer from Mike's mother's place and back for a cup of tea at Sally and Andrew's.  And... Man's not hot.

The highs and the depths of the lows.  :-p

Back home and packing in the morning because...  too tired now.

Iced latte Friday morning

Toby has organised his room!

Next morning I did go into Toby's room and was pleasantly surprised to see some organisation has happened in there.  Good on him.

We eventually got packed up - I went to pick up Toby from Tessa's house (he and his mates had a sleepover) and by the time we got back, had lunch, it was time to head away.  Might have been a late start.  Probably 1.30pm by the time we left Wellington.

Camping for the weekend

But what fun - we pitched the tent at Waikawa and I eventually headed to the beach with Toby on the back of the DRZ.  He was quite nervous - gripping me tightly.  We wandered aimlessly around the streets trying to find the entrance to the beach.  Found it finally.  Eyeballed the steep sandy rutted entrance and decided to push the bike down.  Which we managed.  Then we hooned around, two-up.  I headed for the firm sand and got squirrely on some dry stuff but we powered through.

Toby wasn't interested in riding, so he stayed behind me and we blatted around before heading back.  The dry stuff made me slightly nervous and I stupidly slowed down for it.  And... we fell off.  After Toby hauled the bike off my twisted foot, we got back on and pushed it up the entrance way.

I think the handlebars jabbed me in the thigh - I have a terrific bruise and it is quite sore to touch.

Got back to the tent, threw off my bike gear and jumped in the car and I drove back to Lower Hutt for Sreejeth and Anjali's party.  Such a good time there!  Chatting, eating.  And cake!  Nom, nom.

By the time I left at 9.45pm it was an easy drive back.  11pm I pulled up at the tent. Mike had finished all the mowing with Toby contributing while he used the weedeater.  It looked amazing.

Up late the next morning and we all went to the beach.  Mike rode around while Toby and I walked down.  Mike missed us and spent some time way further down the beach.  I went for a swim of sorts.  Warm water.  But I didn't get all wet because I had left all the towels behind at the tent and the idea of standing around for ages with wet togs and hair didn't seem sensible.  There were also submerged bits of wood in the sea getting stirred up by the waves.  I didn't fancy donking any of them.

The water there is also really shallow - as it was, I was ages away from Toby and only up to my thigh.

Riding on the beach

Me swimming - sure there is a dot there!

Waiting for Mike to come back

Toby got the hang of taking off with some herbs and stopping again - more practise needed this weekend coming.  The beach is a good spot for it.

The tent when I got back at 11pm

Sunday was glorious

Iced coffee and bruise

My Buddha bowl attempt - yum!

We left around 4pm and were emptying the car and cleaning the gear at a reasonable time.  I cooked tea and we all ate.  Finished some laundry.

Magnificent weekend!  More please!

Hope this week is fun - we have Wednesday off for Waitangi Day.  Yay!

Hope yours is a good one.

Love,
Angela

The weekend that wiped me out of energy

Hi,

Wow a full on weekend.  I don't think I have the energy reserves to handle weekends that are that draining.  Or maybe it is that weekend after weekend have that level of excitement?  maybe.  Hahahah.

Let's see what I can remember.  Friday night I went home with Mike (pretty sure).  We had a fairly early night because Saturday was fairly busy.

The boys had a haircut at 10.15 and we all went to that.  I went grocery shopping while they got their haircut.  Two birds, with one car trip!

Back home briefly to unload the groceries then Mike and I were off to Red Baron to pick up the DRZ and take it home.  Except, we decided to visit Sally for a cup of tea.  And that I had to ride it because Mike left his boots at home.  But as I took off, it cut in and and out and generally played up.  Stalling as I changed down to come under the bridge and up onto it.  As I let the clutch out, the back wheel gripped to road and slid around as it turned the engine over.  It caught and I rode happily up the ramp onto the bridge.  But it died again around the corner from Sally's house (on the main road still).  Mike joined me and we couldn't start it.  So he pushed it back the 2.5 km to Red Baron while I drove there.

Mike managed to bump start it down the bridge ramp and rode it around a bit.  It ran fine warm.  Red Baron were great and looked at it.  There may have been gunk in the fuel lines, but we now suspect the main issue is a huge reserve!  Keep it topped up with petrol and it runs ok!

We did get a cup of tea with Sally, and then home.  Sorted out Toby and then headed to Matt and Leanne's house for a BBQ!  Great fun!  I really enjoyed myself.  And I got a wee rainbow and flowers tattoo from Celia's youngest.  She gave them to nearly everyone there!  A huge highlight.

After being there for a few hours, I managed to drag Mike away (big surprise!) and to the next BBQ.  Gemma and Henrik were having a combined 40th party.  An 80th!  Oossshhh!  Among friends again - and Celia came to this one too.  Caught up with Ange.  Yep - a great party.  Appreciated that invitation a lot!

Got Mike home at a decent hour because we were up very early for a Sunday for our refresher motorcycling course with Two Bald Bikers out at Wainuiomata.  Big day!  And well worth it.

Outside Maccas together

Mike and I rode to McDonalds in Wainuiomata for brekkie before the course started.  From there, we got to the venue and enjoyed a small group (only 4 students) of instruction on a PC before the practical kicked in.  Around 10.15 we got on the bikes.  They used a radio headset on everyone's helmets which made it much easier.  No navigation headaches and instant feedback on anything you were doing.  It was a really good course.

I am now completely exhausted.  Constant concentration and manhandling the bike all day means by the time it was done (practising emergency braking) I was wiped out.  Mike and I rode home from Upper Hutt and reflected in what we'd learned.  Lots!

My certificate

Back home and we ate and watched Creed with Toby (a Rocky movie - it was quite good).

Fell into bed and not sure I am completely back to normal levels of energy yet.  But the working week looms large.  Best get it tackled!

Have a great week!

Love,
Angela

The weekend with Gumboot Day and bringing the R6 home

Hi,

Happy birthday to Mike's mother for the weekend!

What a packed weekend.  I feel like I need to sleep for a week now.  Anyway, Friday night I got home and the boys were getting sorted.  We eventually left at 6.45pm or so and had an easy drive up the coast.  Mike got to Foxton before we swapped drivers.  From there it didn't seem long to Mangaweka and we found the campground in the dark (closely followed by a campervan of tourists also tryign to find it in the dark).

The campground where we stayed was rustic - the bathroom block was quite old.  But we pitched the tent in front of the car and Toby slept in the car while Mike and I enjoyed the tent.  In the morning we went for a wee walk and the rest of the campground looked amazing - right on the Rangitikei River.  We'd stay there again.

The office was just a wee unattended shed and told us the main office was back over the bridge.  So we took the cash lying on the counter and drove over to the main campground.  A lot newer and fancier.  We paid and Mike got a coffee.

Off to Taihape and brekkie at Brown Sugar cafe.  We went to the Memorial Park for Gumboot Day and enjoyed the sights.

Toby meets his hero, HowToDad man

We suck the marrow of gumboot day

After wandering around for a while, Toby spotted the How To Dad chap and we stalked him for a bit before Toby got a photo with him.  Mike and Toby both seemed a little awestruck.  Hahah.

Mike and Toby watch gumboot throwing

This looks like weird fun!

That's a gumboot in the air!

But once they had met How To Dad man, they were keen to head away.  We then went to the $2 shop to check out the weird stuff before heading south to Feilding.  

Toby steals my chocolate fish

I took the boys to the Focal Point cafe in Feilding and we enjoyed lunch (and another iced coffee) there.

We got to Palmerston North early and tried to see Logan (new Wolverine movie) but it was R16 so that was not an option.  Went round to see Col and had a cup of tea.  Mike and Toby decided to head back home and I stayed for the night.  Col and I went to Lone Star to watch two rugby games.  I saw the Highlanders snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.  Yet again.

Popped in to see Col's sister on the way home and then managed to stay awake to see Iona home from work.  Just!  Up to have brekkie with Iona and Col and then left around 10.30am on the bike.  It was a little windy on the way home, but not too bad.  I hunkered down behind the fairing on the urban motorway coming into Wellington.  And I couldn't find neutral along the Mana esplanade at one point - bit embarrassing.

Lots of bikes!

Our garage now has a lot of bikes in it.  We tried to start the DRZ, but its battery is not working.  We need to take it in for a service, a WoF and register it.  This week!

Another one at Mojos Bond St

And another - Brown Sugar cafe in Taihape

Lots of iced coffees - first one at Mojos Bond St

I did consume a lot of coffee over the weekend.  Two on Fri and two on Saturday.  And maybe a Lewis Road iced coffee on Sunday.  Or two.

Mmmmmm.  A lot of coffee for a non coffee drinker.

Hope your weekend was half as much fun - because that would mean it was still a lot of fun!

Love,
Angela

The weekend with the last of the Bruce tour and Angus pick up

Hi,

What a huge weekend!  Mike dropped Toby off at the station with Sally and Andrew to catch their Kiwi Rail train to Auckland and went to see the panel beater (someone hit our car while Mike was parked at the Tongariro crossing a weekend back).  He then got home and I jumped in and we were off.

We had lovely weather and the new expressway bypassing the Kapiti coast was open.  That filled us with awe and pleasure at our taxpayers dollars building something to make lives easier.  As we went through the Desert Road, Mike realised we were able to meet the train at National Park - and get lunch at their nice station cafe.

Most of my Bruce 2017 wristband collection

National Park train station

Mike having lunch at the station cafe

We surprised Sally, Toby and Andrew and chatted away to them for 5 minutes before the train headed away again.

We drove up through Huntly way for a change.  We hit Auckland traffic and crawled for 12 kms through the southern motorway before getting to the Strand train station a good 20 minutes before the train.

Bye Toby, Sally and Andrew - see you in Auckland!

We headed to the Sampson house (via a pizza place) and stayed up for hours singing with them.

Singstar!

Next morning we headed to Anne's house to pick up Angus (Anne's name for her gorgeous Yamaha R6).  Wally came with us and we dropped him at Peter's house and he collected his bike (also a Yamaha) and it was so good to have him with me for riding the bike for the first time in unfamiliar streets.

Anne's driveway as crazy for the first time on that big bike.  I tried to maneuver it around a bit in her driveway and almost dropped it (it is heavy for me!).  Eventually I had it aimed up her steep driveway - she was keeping the gates open.  But as I gunned it, a car came in!  Yikes.  Fortunately they could sidle down past me.  I tackled it again and finally got it up and away!

As I followed Wally around some suburban streets, I stalled it a bit.  It revs so high I was worried about taking off and popping an inadvertent wheelie.  We wandered around a bike shop while Mike got a new helmet - just in case.  I had a good ride out on the motorway to Whenuapai and then we ate quickly and all headed to the concert.

Parked the car 20 mins from the stadium and found our gate and met up with Sally and Andrew.  Got in and staked out our place about 15 people deep from the stage.  Good location.

Waiting for the concert to start

Toby and Wally loved Jet - the support act.  Marlon William was good too.  But Bruce was in fine form, as usual.  But it was quite different from Hunter Valley and Christchurch in nature.  No requests taken.  He did Johnny 99 which was from left field a bit.

Got home late and didn't get up and away at 6am like I was hoping.  I decided sleep was probably best.  We ended up not leaving until 10.30am!  The bike behaved well.  I put petrol in any chance I got.  First at the services at Papakura.  Then every 170km or so we stopped.

I found it very hard after the first 2 hours - I had forgotten how hard it is to ride a bike.  It isn't as passive as driving a car.  By the time I got to Bulls and got off for petrol, everything was shaking.  My shoulders got sore as I rode, but if I stopped for a while, that disappeared.  We had a late lunch at Turangi - 4pm.  I enjoyed my ride alongside lake Taupo.  Gorgeous day for it!  I lost Mike and Toby in Matamata as they circumnavigated a roundabout twice trying to find the route south.  I knew the way so I took off.  Never saw them again until Turangi.

There was a big accident on the Desert Road.  A truck was rolled over and three fire engines and an ambulance were attending.  I stopped the bike in time as I crested a hill and saw Mike's brake lights come on.  I was conscious of other traffic coming behind, so I sidled alongside Mike on the shoulder and turned off the bike.  We only waited about 10 minutes before the waved us slowly though.  They had closed the road from the Waiouru end - sending everyone via National Park.

Turangi for a refill

At Turangi we decided that we should head for Palmerston North and leave the bike there for a week with Iona and Col.  Best decision ever!  I was tuckered out by then!

And what's more - it was Col's birthday so we timed our visit perfectly!  She has a new smart phone.  Her life is about to be revolutionised.

Got home just before midnight and it made for a hard wake up call this morning.  But we're all at work/school.  Yay!

Great weekend.  But I need the hectic schedule to let up soon.  And I need a lot of sleep tonight.

Have a wonderful week.

Love,
Angela