Our local group, Vespa Club Waikato, met at a new franchise café Robert Harris. Originally started here in Hamilton/Kirikiriroa in 1952 by Robert Harris to bring coffee culture to the locals, and eventually all of New Zealand. They are the biggest coffee roasters in New Zealand, no doubt helped by supplying BP service stations throughout the country.
Ten scooterists on 9 scooters got together for a pre ride coffee and I led them on a run to the north sort of east of the city. We started on good city roads in an 80kmh speed limit before turning off into lesser trafficked roads. We meandered along through the dairy country that surrounds us and I had decided to use a road that I had never been on, Uapoto Road. It started well but turned to gravel part way along it. No problem, just keep going as it is in very good condition. That lasted for a few kilometres then we were back on "finished" roads with a tarsal surface. We were turning back towards town via good but less travelled roads when we were detoured near Ngaruawahia. This town is the centre of the Māori Kingitanga movement and home to the local iwi, Tainui.
While we were detouring I realised we would end up on River Road, a favourite road back to town so I turned left with the crew behind me and we headed for lunch at one of our favourites, The Keg Room. Beers, wine, soft drinks, pizza, seafood baskets, chips and sundry other food was enjoyed before we all headed our seperate ways after a great ride in very agreeable weather and great company. We covered approximately 65km taking about 1½ hours to do so.
Taking up our share of the parking.
Enjoying our coffee.
A stop after the gravel to stretch legs and chat about the experience.
Proof that they warned us.
Back at the lunch venue.
⚠️ Last edited by pigletpilot on Mon, 23 Oct 2023 19:34:47 +0000; edited 1 time
