Despite a bad forecast ( and a little wind ) the weather couldn ’ t have been much better for the Cold Kiwi
so much water in . Just some more stories to add to the collection . Sunday morning dawned clear and still , with blue skies . There was a fair bit of tent related carnage strewn around the site and tales of holding tents down by their poles at the height of the wind at 2:30am . After a coffee and goodbyes , all that was left was the trip home . I was just as keen to get off SH1 heading back , so took the Rangiwahia turn and followed the scenic route down through Kimbolton , stopping for a feed at the Hansens
Store and Cafe . This is one of the best roads in New Zealand and worth the detour on any trip south , taking you off the main drag from just after Taihape until Feilding . As for the Cold Kiwi , the three of us had a blast . We didn ’ t know what to expect but found good buggers at every turn and a well-run , wellthought out event by the Ruapehu Motorcycle Club . It might not have had the snow of the Desert Road years , but it ’ s well worth a visit . We all swore we ’ d be back next year . Dig out your tent and sleeping bag and I ’ ll see you there .
With the back tyre pressure dropped to 18psi , Editor Ben got the R80GS to the top of the dirt hillcllimb ... just
Photo : Rhys Meredith
42 KIWI RIDER