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Ulysses Club
of New Zealand
Rotorua Branch
Rotorua Ramblings…… NOVEMBER 2014 issue 18
The month started with a fantastic afternoon and evening with Peter Hobdell’s Band with great music, dance and enjoyed by all who were there. What a great run to Stump Bay on the shore of lake Taupo on the 9th of November joining the Turangi Branch and many other Ulyssians for a BBQ. In all over 80 bikes were counted and the event was a great suc-cess. We extended the ride by returning to Rotorua around Lake Taupo with an ice-cream or coffee at Whakamaru. On the 16th with Hartley RIC about half a dozen took off to Scotsman’s Valley, returning via Karapiro with very good weather all the way. The Mystery Ride on the 23rd lead by or new member Murray Anderson was also well attended and those who took part had a great and enjoy-able ride. So all in all 3 good runs this month, not a bad effort and no doubt the improvement in the weather made these rides very enjoyable. I am looking forward to some twilight rides in the near future which we can discuss at our Branch meeting on the 30th. At that meeting we will also finalise details of the Christmas Parade on the 6th of December. Hope to see you all there at the usual place and time. Ride safe,
Peter #8136
To open Branch website, click onto: www.ulyssesrotorua.org.nz
EDITORIAL CO ORDINATOR’S COMMENTS
Next Branch
Meeting
Sunday 30 December
2014 at
7.00pm
Hi all, My Goldwing needed a new rear tyre, so off to the reputable local motorcycle shops for the best price. I was comparing “apples with ap-ples”, but in this case it was Dunlop Elite 3’s—not apples!The 3 prices I were quoted were $330.00, $390.00, then last, but not least, $490.00. When I queried this last price with the salesperson, he said, “There is not much “Movement” In motorbike tyres, but I could give it to you for $480.00!!” It certainly pays to spend 10 minutes, “Shopping around”! Well, another Christmas is just around the cor-ner! Hoped you have marked you diary for Saturday 6th December, because that is the day of our Branch Christmas Party at Stuart & Andrea’s home. No “pressies” this time, only eating, drinking and socializing. Cheers,
Tony B. #2436
2013-2014 Rotorua Branch Committee Co-ordinator: Peter van der Maat 349 3021 [email protected] 027 224 5100
Secretary: Bruce Quedley 347 8659 [email protected] 021 616 736
Treasurer: Hartley Gray 348 0555 [email protected] 027 229 6407
Newsletter: Tony Baker 345 7607 [email protected] 022 345 7607
Committee: Bruce Roe, Graeme van Praagh, Mal (Axle) Bain, Jan Matthews, plus the above.
LAKESIDE CAFÉ & CRAFTS On the Lakefront, Memorial Drive, Rotorua. “Where we meet every Saturday morning at 10:30am”
Our hosts: Colin & Norma Craig
Our Branch Christmas Party will again be held at Stuart & Andrea’s home, 119 Kawaha Point Road, on Saturday 6th December,
starting 4pm until………
Please bring a salad or dessert and your own drink. The Branch will supply the sausages.
Recognition at last – I have been shown my name in your last meeting minutes, so I was discussed right there –
at the meeting ! Next you will be taking odds on my gender !
See your elder statesman Bob McKenzie made the front page of the local rag. Then another senior member,
Tony B made the back page of the Driver Directions supplement.
I am told Jim Bolton stepped up to be the guest speaker at a meeting soon – great !
Good to see the flag out at the Lakefront – I now know when I can turn on my listening device planted in the
sugar bowl to “get the goss”.
My listening device at the Putaruru café last Wednesday didn’t pick up any talk at all – did you all go some-
where else ?
Good to see your old mate Neil hanging around again !
Remember – the other guy is not necessarily a dickhead, even if you are a saint !
Couldn’t miss the loud pipes on a Suzuki 1400 last week – is that legal ?
NOAH THINGERTOO SAYS :-
ROAST DUCK EVENT (ex Cold Duck Rally) Fri., Sat. & Sun. 5th ,6th , & 7th December
To be held at River Park Event Centre, 797 Pourerere Rd, Waipawa Further enquiries, phone Jim Bolton 021 1169733
Remember to bring some gold coins
with you each meeting for the Sheriffs
fines. It is a fun thing and the money
goes to St John
“I only take gold
coins for fines”
TURANGI BRANCH FOR LUNCH
Peter and Lynne led off from Lakeside Café on the dot of 10.30am with 6 riders and 5 pillions.
First stop was a regroup at the Whaka Car Park as the traffic lights were against most of us
and we did get a bit behind. Next stop was at the Taupo jetty toilets where it was so busy
there was little room to park. Please change the words “little room to park” to “few parking
spaces”!
Back onto S/H1 passing the Liquorice Café at Motuopa on our right. Another 5 minutes down
S/H1 to turn right into Frethey Drive and down to the lake edge which is called Stump Bay.
The Waiotaka Reserve is a beautiful spot right on the lake edge with a dilapidated old yacht
club building on a large grassed area with clean, tidy toilets.
The Turangi members had set up a flat top trailer under a large gazebo and it was here they
had the BBQ food all set out and what a BBQ! Smoked trout, pork, beef, lamb and ham.
Beautiful salads all grown from members home gardens.
The next big decision to be made, do we go back to Rotorua via Broadlands or into Turangi
and around Lake Taupo via Western Bay Road? The majority wanted Western Bay which
suited Marlene and me because we had never riden clockwise around Lake Taupo, only anti-
clockwise down the Western Bay Road, into Turangi and onto Taupo. Now that we have been
both ways, I think anti-clockwise is best as one gets a better view of the lake etc from that
side of the road.
Cheers,
Tony & Marlene
Every Thursday a group of riders from Whakatane, and another group from Hamilton, with a couple of members from other central branches, usually about 8 – 12 in total, meet for lunch. This ride is obviously weather dependent over the winter months, but I have joined them whenever my work commitments (and the weather) allow. Over the last few months we have enjoyed coffee, sandwiches, pies, whatever, at Arapuni, Mt Maunganui, Te Puke, Bethlehem, Te Poi, Waiotapu, Tauranga, Okoroire, McLaren Falls, and many other great food destinations. Sometimes the venue for the following week is decided before we all ride off, sometimes it is not decided until the weekend. The venue is advised to all those interested by email. If anyone would like to have a pleasant lunch on a Thursday, let me know and I can arrange for your email address to be added to David Coy’s email list. David is a Hamilton Branch member. Cheers, rubber side down,
Flash #1272
************************************************
First time - it rained, second time - too much fog, third time - lucky!!
The third time the day was a little windy ...but what the hell, let's do it. We set off at 10am sharp!! Three trikes out-numbered by four bikes. Leaving Rotorua, on the thermal highway, we rode towards the Mamakus, turning off onto Highway 28 towards Okoroire. Where was Hartley, our leader, taking us ? Hope he knows where he's going. He must have come from around these parts in his earlier life? Progressing through lush Waikato dairy country dotted with new homes on beautiful back roads towards Te Miro and Hautapu. We saw rolling countryside with green, lush paddocks you would never normally see. Eventually we arrived at the Red Cherry Cafe on the corner of Forrest Rd and the Cambridge/Hamilton State Highway. After a hearty lunch and “chewing the fat” we headed through Cambridge past Karapiro, onto again, pristine back-roads towards Arapuni dam where we alighted at one of Hartley's secret spots -- the Arapuni swing bridge hanging over the power station. Into the saddle again and head for home through Putaruru. A great “day ride”, again up to Hartley’s usual high standard. Thanks Hartley, Graeme (Luigi)
Sunday 23rd November was probably one of the best rides Marlene and I have been on. The areas we rode through, the weather was clear and warm , the countryside was fantastic, interesting, and all the roads were in great condition for riding bikes on. We had 12 riders turn up for the run—3 trikes, 1 Can-Am and 7 bikes. We turned left off SH 5 at the Waiotapu Pub (very dangerous corner this!), onto the Waiotapu Loop Rd, then Nicholson Rd to ride through the Ngakuru township. Into the Waikite Valley and then onto Reporoa. From there we went to Goudies Road, which you may recall was used for setting speed records and the Porsche had a big crash a few years ago. From there we went on to Taupo via Broadlands Road. Lunch at Taupo where we split up into 2 cafes as the town was very busy—especially the lake end where all the cafes are. From Taupo we gassed-up at Waiaraki BP. At the roundabout, Neil turned right onto SH 5 to head-off back to Rotorua and home to Tauranga. The rest of us turned left onto State Highway 1, then left at Ohakuri Dam Road and onto Parsons Rd, Nicholson Rd and back home via State Highway 30. Thank you everyone for a very enjoyable ride.
Tony & Marlene Baker # 2436 and #7843
“Axle” Cracks the 110mph Barrier!!
Morning Tony,
My first ride on Meremere Dragway @ the first round of the Track Series for the Modified Bike
Class netted me a best of [email protected]
I had three qualifying runs, then went on to run three rounds in eliminations to the semi final. I was
eliminated with a bad start, but no worries , I’m sitting third in the points.
It’s early days with still three rounds to go January 10, January 31 & March 1.
We are loving this bike.
I ran the drag pipe on yesterdays ride, it performs well, but too loud for the street (Yes, we all know
that from Hartley’s Mystery Ride! Ed.). I’ll revert back to the factory ‘trumpet’ for the street.
Cheers,
Mal 'Axle'Bain
# 8688
Rotorua Ulysses Run Coordinator
021 646 764
07 357 5660
“Go Axle” - Editor
The next travelling mode for “Axle” and Lynda - maybe?
Rotorua Christmas Parade 2014 We still need more members and bikes please for our Christmas Parade “Float” on Saturday 6th December. At this stage we have 2 motorbikes and 3 trikes with one member electing to walk alongside the “float” - we need a couple more motorbikes and 3 more walkers please.
Assembly time is 11.30am at the latest. The Parade starts at 12.00 noon from Rangiuru Street.
DATE DESTINATION MEET TIME IN-CHARGE
5—7 Dec. 2014 Auckland Rally. Motu Moana Camp,
Blockhouse Bay, Auckland
Email: [email protected]
See Ulyssian page 38 Peggy O’Neal
Saturday 6th
December
Rotorua Branch Christmas Social.
Stuart & Andrea’s home, 119 Kawaha
Point Rd. Starts 4pm. Bring salad or
dessert and your own drink.
119 Kawaha Point Rd,
Rotorua.
4pm start Stuart & Andrea.
021 972 535
26 Dec 2014—
27 April 2015.
Waikato Branch,
“The Northern Odyssey 2015”.
Will be given a map of
approx. 1,000 kms of
North Island roads.
26 Dec.—
27 April
2015
David Coy. See
Ulyssian page 41.
20—22 Feb.
2015
Whanganui’s, “Almost Back to Basics
Summer Rally”. See Ulyssian page 40.
Mangatepopo Camp, SH
47.
Darryl & Lorraine
Greeks, Phone: 06
345 6624.
Rotorua Branch Runs List
