WIMA Hawkes Bay Linen Run 1994 for the Napier Womens Refuge. This was the first Linen Run to be held in the Hawkes Bay area. The photo is taken at the start of the run at Stortford Lodge, Hastings and shows the array of people and machines gathering to take part in the run.

I decided to bite the bullet this year and introduce Hawkes Bay to the fun and benefits of holding a Women's Refuge Run, or Linen Run as they're often referred to. This entailed a little patience, a little hard work, and one hell of a lot of time! But the outcome was well worth it all.

I arrived with half an hour to spare expecting only a few already there, and a last minute rush of bikes come departure time. Boy did I get it wrong. The other WIMA members all abused me for being late, and I myself was overcome by the turnout so far. And the bikes kept on trickling in. We had the support of near-on 70 bikes plus many extra pillions by the time we got the-show-on-the-road.

This shot was taken at the end of the run where it finished in Tamatea with the donated goodies, representatives from all the local bike clubs who participated, and the reps from the Napier refuge as well.

The route as mapped out had us tripping through Hastings, across to Havelock North and then onto Clive where we rested and regrouped before it was hats on and off to Napier. With almost every imaginable size and age of bike taking part, the procession would have been something to see. I for one enjoyed the never-ending line 'of bikes in my rear vision mirror.

Our destination was the Tamatea Hotel where the publican had very generously opened a bar up just for us. With thirst quenches available including free tea and coffee, a barbecue provided to feed the worms, plus music and entertainment from the local Rock 'n 'Roll club, the day ended as it began - memorable!

The Y Machine