pumping the suspension for grip and over the top we popped. I was pumped! And bloody glad I’ d not broken anything for the ride home- time to put it away and keep it that way. I was stoked to get the prize for best road-legal bike hillclimb at the evening prize-giving. So … we celebrated with some bourbon and cokes before heading back to the tents. Around midnight the wind started blowing. Really blowing. Blowing hard enough that we helped people tie their tents down to their bikes. One father and son slept in their riding gear and helmets because their Warehouse tent was letting in so much water. 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 across the site and tales of holding tents down by their poles at the height of the wind at 2:30am.
HEADING BACK... AGAIN 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. It might not have lived up to the wintery 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.
30 KIWI RIDER