Sat - 06:56 AM
06-Dec-2008

Linen Run - Hawkes Bay style 2002

Saturday arrived and the weather was - well dodgey! But not as bad as last year, which was a bonus. Instantly I knew that many Hawkes Bayites would not venture out on their bikes, so the numbers on the run would be down. Oh well, their loss.

There were already a few bikes gathered at the BP at Stortford Lodge when we arrived. We gathered under the canopy of the liquor store to avoid the last of the rain shower and hoped that we wouldn't get to much of the wet stuff on the run.

It was great to see Gail Menzies, our lone member in Wairoa had arrived to wish us well. She unfortunately had other things planned for the day, but it was great to see her again and catch up.

By the time we left we had 15 bikes, many two up. Not a bad turn out given the weather. Once again I had been coerced into being the leader of the pack. Our nominated leader hadn't been able to make it --Shirl you owe me one! The bonus was that we stayed pretty much together.

Even more of a bonus was that it didn't actually rain on the ride! We wound our way around, through Flaxmere, Hastings and onto Havelock North. Then onto Clive and Napier, where we travelled around the hill and onto the Tamatea Hotel, our final destination.

Waiting for us in the Lounge bar, were the ladies from the Refuge with hot food and hot coffee - yum. Also waiting for us upon arrival, were a couple more bikes! They'd been running late and rather than try to catch us up, they went straight to the end destination.

Once we had warmed up, there were the thank you speeches from both Tania, our Area Rep, and from the Women's Refuge as well. The donation pile was added to by the late comers which created quite a wide range of goodies to be donated to the Napier Women's' Refuge. Then it was off back home for everyone.

Thanks to Tania for organising everything - you did a fine job!

The Y Machine