Anyone fancy a coffee in Eketahuna on Sat 17 October??

@EVLED said "I hope this doesn't mean that there won't be any more silly little challenges..."

Seems to me that we can help the NZ economy back onto its feet by buying lots of coffees/teas/beers whatever. My maximum coffee/tea/beer consumption usually coincides with riding my bike. Winner!! I can buy gas and pies as well.

Plus I have really enjoyed the banter and contributions over the lockdown and it would be really nice to meet a few more of you in person. But I realise life is pretty busy.

So rather than organise something complicated how about we just get together for a coffee?

I'm thinking it will need to be somewhere between Palmy and Wellingtoon, where there is a campground plus all sorts of accommodation and, obviously, a coffee/tea/beer shop. If we made it a Saturday then the locals could squeeze it into a weekend and those farther afield but still afflicted with jobs can maybe make it a long one, or just drink a LOT of coffee and do it all in a day. Peeps can make the ride there and back as big or small as they like.

(If people were keen we could meet for coffee in the morning, go for a gentle local pootle and then get together for a few carbonated beverages later, before departing the next day, but lets not get carried away)


So...
Anyone interested?
If yes, where is the centre of gravity of the regulars on here?
Timing - I'm thinking early to mid October so things have warmed up a bit but can be anytime really. I've got commitments mid September.

Whaddayareckon?

yuppers, good idea.

I've been know to ride quite a distance for a coffee...

In!

Yeah, was planning a trip north as lockdown locked us down so plan b is to wait till its a bit warmer and have another go.

I'm interested but not too far away, the bloody 450 only does gravel roads and I'm old & slow!

Momentum gathers slowly then.
Lets sort the geography first... where is everyone based?

I'm thinking Palmerston North is as good as anywhere. Only 2 hours north of the ferry if any mainlanders want to come.

I doubt too many will come from Auckland but you never know. 7 hours.
There's a few on the way down and a few around Wellington.

Happy to hear other peoples thoughts and suggestions

I'm in. I'm half way between Palmy and the ferry. Happy to meet further north if needed to make it happen.

I'm up for a get together Have an event planned for labour weekend so end of October taint na gooud fa meee. Being Palmy based a lower north venue suits me dooon to the grooond

I'm in! Happy to dream up a route for a pootle (and take suggestions) if you like :)

Is there a better spot to meet between PN and Wellington?
If peeps are going to come from the mainland I'm thinking it might be better nearer the ferry. But only if there's a better location.

My thoughts about timing would be to avoid things like Labour Weekend as people may have stuff lined up already. Do school holidays make any difference to people?
Term 4 starts 12 October. So before or after that depending on the answer.

Martinborough? Eketahuna? Lots of good gravel over that way...

Start in one local, finish in another?

I've had a meal in the Eketahuna pub...was ok.
Plus there's a coffee shop there
Campground - check, five stars on Tripadvisor.
Stuff to do and some killer gravel roads.

I think we have a winner

Good work team. All this and no zoom conference. See what COVID has done for us, we've all turned into socially distant productivity machines!!!

Next job is when. I reckon one of the following weekends ....last in Sept or any of the first three in October. Misses Labour Weekend and last option kids are back to school

If that is ok with people Ill stick up a poll and the majority can decide

A couple of little rides on in the first week of Oct: http://www.distanceriders.org.nz/

September works for me.....Spring is great riding in Manawatu/Wairarapa

Eketahuna is OK. Lots of riding options from there. Twisty black top and gravel abound. The campground is OK. Cafe and pub food is more than passable.

Weekend of Friday 18 September is good for me as are either the weekend of Friday 16 Oct and the one after, at this stage. The first ten days of any month are tight for me.

I can make any weekend work...

Please dont mention 'work' and 'weekend' together again, thats like mixing 'grandma' and 'spa-pool'....

If they let me out of Melbourne (and back in again afterwards) and you Kiwis let me in without a few extra weeks of quarantine, I'd love to show my ugly mug there.

That's a double shot black with a dash of milk, thanks

I'll check the rental joints in Welly once a firm date is set.

If there's some help with a bike for the weekend....
(ANYthing is fine, Postie to crotchrocket.... and if I have to stay on the tarseal, so be it