Thu - 12:01 PM
20-Nov-2008

Hawkes Bay Linen Run 2001

The Hawkes Bay area had planned, along with many other areas, to hold our Linen Run on the 22 July. This came as a request from the National office of the Women’s Refuge to hold all of the WIMA Linen Runs around NZ on the same day. Great in theory, shame one can’t do anything about the weather…

At 10am we decided to pull the plug and postpone our planned ride until the following weekend. The weather was just too cold, wet and horrible. And as we spoke to the few hardy soles who did turn up, having not heard the postponement announcement, the heavens opened up yet again, and we all dived for the cover of our cars!

A week later we were back. This time the weather, although cloudy, was much nicer for a ride. And while only a small band of motorbikes were parked at the meeting place, many arrived with pillions aboard. And lots of household goodies were donated, buoyed by a few members of the public who arrived with their car boot’s full.

We left the Marine Parade carpark and headed around Bluff Hill and onwards towards Taradale. As we wound our way around the hill, it was neat to look back in the mirrors and see all the bikes grouped together. One of the bonuses of having a smallish group.

From Taradale we headed out past the EIT and onto SH50. We continued on past the many wineries of the Gimblet Road area, sitting at a modest 100k. Some of the bigger bikes amongst the group decided this was a good time and place to take off for a bit of a ‘hoon’. Bastards! Here I was leading the pack, and all I wanted to do was take of and join them!

At the Give Way on Maraekakaho Road, we turned left heading in the direction of Bridge Pa and Hastings. Past a few more Wineries, up and over the Railway lines, collecting our speed freaks along the way, then it was past the orchards and onto Havelock North.

Having disturbed the piece of the village of Havelock, we again turned back towards Hastings. One last detour along St George’s Road, had us coming into Hastings from the North. We by-passed the busy main streets of the town, to arrive at our end destination of the Citizens Advice Bureau.

Here we found the ladies of the Refuge busy putting the finishing touches on the afternoon tea for us. Sausages, soup, and sammies, not to mention tea and coffee and biscuits! Yum.

The Y Machine