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May 2020 Newsletter
Address newsletter correspondence to:Raewyn
Moodie [email protected]
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28th of the month to be included in the next
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From the editorWell Level 3 has arrived but still no rides or meetings.We will see how the rules go for Level 2!Meanwhile I want to do a big shout out to Sandy Senk and Lou Waller who havebeen doing a fabulous job of ringing our members and checking up on people. (Theyeven rang us!)A virtual thank you bouquet to each of them!I have included a special story from our dear Peggy who has had 25 1/2 years ofmembership with Ulysses. She shared her Ulysses journey at the South Islandremembrance service last year and I thought it would be fun for us to read it and getto know one of our own a bit more! (No one else sent me through any other storiesabout what they have been doing!)So enjoy reading and please feel welcome to send me any articles about yourselvesand what you have been up to!
Raewyn Moodie #9872Newsletter editor
President's Report
What’s been happening under lockdown?Our number one priority has been to keep in touch with our members. Our twofantastic Welfare officers, Sandy Senk and Lou Waller, have been brilliant. We wantto say a huge thank you to them for such a sterling effort!Our North Island remembrance weekend is due to be held on the 8th of August inTaupo. At this point we have a booking with the Taupo Convention Centre, but this isheld as a pencil booking for us pending government advice regarding Covid 19levels and whether large gatherings are allowed to go ahead by August. Pleasecheck the Auckland branch website or facebook page for further updates as theycome to hand.Our committee is functioning well by holding meetings using Zoom technology. A fewhad some technology struggles moving to this platform but we got there!Our extended family had an online quiz night, so I decided to run one online for theUlysses NZ members. Tim Stewart has taken on hosting these on Saturday nightssince, and it has been a lot of fun testing our general knowledge against one anotherand having some general banter with members from across NZ! Raewyn and I evenwon one week!Personally, Raewyn and I have enjoyed the lockdown as this has been a time to de-stress. Slow down a bit and get on with a few of those round to it jobs. We even gotthe tractor out and rotary hoed up some lawn and put in a vege garden which we areenjoying fresh veges from every night.Raewyn has been working from home conducting Zoom meetings, emails, trainingsessions etc. We have been missing our grandkids lots however, and as soon as we
are allowed to, we will be on a road trip to Blenheim to reunite.
Our bikes have been feeling a bit lonely sitting in the garages. Some have receivedextra polishing and cleaning but we are all looking forward to the time when we canride together again!Craig Moodie #8602Auckland Branch President
The bike was grateful to get a polish but that's as far as it got from the shed!
Coming Out of LockdownAround the world we have seen a lack of prompt, decisive action, blame shifting,infighting and politicking, which has resulted in the pandemic running away at analarming rate.I am so glad to be living in New Zealand. Having a co-ordinated, science based planwhich keeps people informed, and a general public which is largely united in fightingthis pandemic, appears to be working. Hopefully it will not be long and we can moveanother step towards life as we knew it.One of the major topics of discussion at the committee meeting was working onplans as to what we do as restrictions come off. Meetings and social events are likely to be some way off yet, but it may be possibleto bring back the rides once the easing of restrictions allow.I am personally looking forward to that day. The rides will most likely be different from pre Covid 19 rides. Changes like bringingyour own lunch and finding a place where we can distance to eat them, could besome of things we may have to do to keep safe.Once the pathway is clear to resume some activities we will email the club with theplans.
Looking forward to meeting up again.Cheers,
Craig
My Ulysses Journey by Peggy O'Neal My motorcycling started when I got my motorcycle license at the Coca Cola RidingSchool at Western Springs in Auckland on a hired bike when I was 24. I had alwaysloved bikes and had a couple of friends I rode pillion with during my teens. The plan was to buy a bike but I gave the money to my Mum for a trip. So my bikejourney stopped for a number of years. When I was 41, I was looking for a job and thought if I had transport I could gofurther afield. I was also studying at ATI and used to see Piaggio scooters outsidethe library. Piaggio is surely Italian for Peggy! I thought I gotta have one, so I did inMarch 1994 and I subsequently joined Ulysses September 1994. I was given Grant Donnelly’s contact details but was also told he would be going toTaupo ‘this weekend’ and that may be too far for me – I had already done 3-4 solotrips to Matapouri Bay on the Tutukaka Coast, about 190km each way, so wasalready a fan of the open road. Taupo was only another 100km and little did heknow I had already planned to take my scooter to Taupo to show my mate from myteen pillion years. I deferred that trip until March ’95 the following year, going to my first Ulysses AGMat Taupo. I have only missed one AGM since I joined Ulysses. I have found UlyssesAGMs always fun and great to rekindle friendships and make new friends.
My first rally was a very new experience. I had never really been camping before(my parents purchased a batch at Matapouri Bay and sleeping in the tent on the frontlawn didn’t really count). I put my hand up to help as I thought that would help memeet more people. I ended up being barmaid, and yep you meet heaps of peopledoing that job. I was a bit disappointed when the sheriff got me at our next meeting.
He extolled my virtues at the bar and then fined me for not leaving my post! You justcan’t win can you! I met some lovely people at that rally. I’ve been to many rallies over the years. Waiheke Island with a very limited crew puton a rally every two years at New Years, including the millennium. I invited mymother to that one (yep to a four night motorcycle rally). She loved it. The site wasright on the beach and very flat to get to the water.
One ‘gentleman’ at my second rally in Tauranga was giving me stick about myscooter so I asked what his first bike, he had a Bantam. I had great delight in tellinghim “This is my first bike and 200cc!” MUCH bigger than his first bike, it had to be tocarry me. I commented to a friend once about the number of scooter tyres I was going through.It turns out the miles you do on the scooter contribute to that! Who would havethought! Another ‘gentleman’ informed me “Peggy, it is a commuter not a tourer!”
We were down at the Catlins at the time! At the end of 2000, I was nominated for the Ted Parker Memorial Award, amAuckland version of the Odyssey Medal. The person who nominated me was soexcited he told me he had done it and then I was terribly excited, (supposed to be asecret). In February I was told I had got the award and not to tell anyone and go toKerry to get a vest made. (Me, keep a secret? Yeah right.) I told my Mum and AuntyTot, who I figured wouldn’t meet anyone who would know what they were talkingabout. I was subsequently presented with the vest at our AGM and cried and criedand then took to show my Mum. By this time, she had had a massive stroke, so Iwas glad I had told her when she could understand what I was talking about. I love doing the long trips, and at regroup points, I always left early so I wouldn’t holdanyone up. One trip I was riding with BRONZ and we left Taupo to regroup atWhakamaru, I went and got petrol and took off, missed the corner in the fog and losta bit of time getting back on track. Near Whakamaru, a couple of our group passedme and I wondered what held them up. Turns out I was Leader of the Pack, they allchatted too much at the petrol station and thought they were well and truly ahead ofme. The pep talk when we left Whakamaru was “Let’s see if we can keep in front ofthe scooter this time”. My first motorcycling trip to the South Island was the Southland AGM in 1996. I rodewith two couples who were both towing a trailer. We’ll use that ‘rode with’ termloosely, we arranged meeting points. I’m always the first to leave, they catch up andovertake, except when going to St Bathans. The turn off was closer than we thoughtand they mucked around too much before leaving, thinking they had heaps of time tocatch me up. On our map, it looked as though there was something at theintersection where we turn left. There wasn’t. Just another lamp-post. The guyswere expecting to catch me on the road and were hoofing it. One managed fullbrakes to stop and turn. The other rode straight past the turn off.
My scooter had a wonderful last trip: the Marlborough Rally in Blenheim. My scooterand I went via SH43, the Forgotten Highway, Wanganui and the Akatarawa’s over toUpper Hutt. These are both interesting roads and very worthy of a detour. At the rally Saturday morning we had a debrief for the Poker Run and off you go. Iwas all ready, so just hopped on my scooter and was off. I was Leader of the Packcoming into Blenheim and a ‘gentleman’ looked up, saw all the bikes on the bridgeand thought he would turn right. He had missed seeing me and turned right in frontof me. I went over his boot and landed middle of the road. With help, I walked to thefootpath and waited for an ambulance. Fractured and compressed vertebrateeventually found! Yep I was in extreme pain if I moved! 10 nights in Wairoa Hospital,flight back to Auckland via Wellington. Scooter was written off at about 104,000km. It had taken 7 ½ years to clock up that mileage. Time to go shopping!
Four months after that accident, a wee ride was planned to North OtagoAGM in Oamaru. First stop, Taumarunui Rally – what a shock! On the lastleg from Te Kuiti to Taumaranui, the road narrows and is windy, piece ofcake. BUT I had literally just come off a Vespa and didn’t know how toovertake. As the trip went on, Taumarunui Rally, March Hare Rally, NelsonRally, Oamaru for AGM, I soon settled down to overtaking. Lorraine, Tonyand Marlene patiently waited when I lagged behind – this keeping up wasa whole new ball game. Many years ago, Frank Foster commented that he never saw me at theRemembrance Run. I was there, but never saw him either. Turns out hecrossed the ditch! Hmmm. If he can do it, so can I. Since 2003 I havebeen to the South Island Remembrance Runs at Murchison and HanmerSprings ten times. (’03 ’04 ’05 ’07 ’09 ’10 ’11 ’15 ’17 ‘19). It is great NorthIsland Remembrance is the following weekend so I manage to get to bothRemembrance Runs. I’m still getting over my first Brass Money in 2009. It had snowed andsnowed and snowed. I was petrified to take my bike down to thecampsite. Thankfully Mike took it down for me. I spent the rest of theweekend wondering how the heck I WAS GOING TO GET IT OUT. Fortunately, the team had a plan and they were going to shepherd all thebikes up the hill. I had three shepherds and when one asked if I wouldlike him to take my bike up the hill I was off it in a nanosecond – if youcan believe I can move that quick. I was embarrassed that I had to gethelp, but heaps of bikers had been falling over all around me, includingvery experienced riders. I guess it was pick Peggy up or bike and theytook the easier option and got me and my bike to safety! I had nearly 16 years and about 195,000km on the BMW and loved it tobits. A couple of spills and I am very dubious when I come across railwaylines. The incident that impacted me most during the BMW years was atMatawai during the Gisborne Rally in 2006. I was walking and steppedinto a hole dug for a gate post about two feet deep. I broke my knee and
had six months off the bike and two years later Total Knee Replacement!Therefore walking is not always good for you so I don’t walk when I canride!
I had been looking for a new job and new bike in that order. I got a newjob, so the focus was on a new bike. Red was my preferred colour but Ireally didn’t know what I wanted. I sat on quite a few bikes and went overto Botany Honda to ask a few questions about handlebar risers. I sat onthe Honda CB500XA. The colour chart says it’s brown and has orangestripes. I couldn’t get the grin off my face and said, “I think I’ve bought abike”. They knew my budget, gave me $2000 trade in for my BMW,without looking at it. I love my new bike and last year was my first SouthIsland trip.
One thing I’m very proud of is a letter from the Governor General of New Zealandwho wrote it when I had done 100 blood donations. Very special treasure to keep. The certificate says I have now done 250 donations. I am a platelet donor so youcan donate every two weeks. My blood is worth bottling and is what makes me stayalive and ride and helps many others stay alive. One of my very special highlights was 2013 at Rotorua AGM when I was made a LifeMember of Ulysses. That was an awesome experience and I felt so honoured, noone had even hinted that I had been nominated, so it was a complete surprise! Yep Icried then too. My name is now listed among the many other precious stalwarts ofour club. I love riding and commute every day rain, hail or shine. The new Waterview Tunnelcuts out about eight sets of traffic lights for me and just as many minutes. I love it!
For me Ulysses has been wonderful. It has got me out and about to places I’d neverthought existed. I’m looking forward to whatever other rides are ahead for me. Thanks everyone who has shared this journey with me! Ride Safe and take care outthere.
Lockdown Update: what some ofus are up to
Cheryl celebrated her birthday with takeout coffee and met someone else while out!!Happy birthday Cheryl!
Saturday night Zoom quiz hosted by Tim Stewart has been a lot of fun. Check outthe Ulysses NZ fb page for the link each week!
CLUB LIBRARY
If you have a book or DVD of interest to other members and you would be happy toplace it in the library please let Terry know, 0210558832 or 09 8175068.
Click this link and save it to see the list of books and DVDs available to borrow nowand it will be updated as new titles are added.https://www.ulyssesauckland.org.nz/library.
Things can change between news letters!
To keep up-to-date with our Branch. Visit our website for the latestinformation www.ulyssesauckland.org.nzWe also have a face book page. Join the Auckland Ulysses Facebook page. This is a great way to keep in touch withone another.It is a closed group (to post messages), so you need to apply for membership. Sendyour name and membership # to the Secretary for verification. Note that if you usean alternative name on Facebook, you need to email these details as well.
AUCKLAND BRANCH OFFICERS & COMMITTEE
Office holdersPresident Craig Moodie #8602 [email protected] President Ian Methven #7764 [email protected] Secretary Tony Kay #9940 [email protected] Sig Falkenhaug #6587 [email protected] Committee membersVance Barrett #5897 [email protected] Moller #5401 [email protected] Benton #8668 [email protected] Boyd #9443 [email protected] O’Neal #2849 [email protected]
Other roles Quartermaster Tony Kay #9940 [email protected] Runs Coordinator Chris Moller #5401 [email protected] Officer (West/Cntral) Sandy Senk #4220 [email protected] Officer (South) Lou Waller #8435 [email protected] Clive Thomas #2383 [email protected] Charlie Truell #8956 [email protected] Editor Raewyn Moodie #9872 [email protected] Administrator Adrienne Dodge #9247 [email protected]
ABOUT THE NEWSLETTERAddress newsletter correspondence to:Raewyn Moodie Email: [email protected]
The newsletter is distributed by email around the 1st of the month but always beforethe monthly meeting. Eleven monthly issues are produced, January being themissing month.If a printed copy is required the annual subscription will be $30. The printednewsletter is available for pick-up at the monthly social night at the ManukauCruising Club. Copies not picked up by hand will not be mailed out.The editor encourages correspondence, criticism, suggestions and praise.
AUCKLAND ULYSSES POSTAL ADDRESS;PO Box 96219, Balmoral,AUCKLAND 1342.Web site: www.ulyssesauckland.org.nz
Copyright © 2020 Ulysses Club N Z - Auckland Branch, All rights reserved.
