Wheel alignment

Thursday 7 November 2019

Summer has come early!

Thanks to our Australian cousins pushing some of their second-hand weather to us across the Ditch, we've had a week of hot dry weather ranging from the high 20's C to mid 30's in some parts.  A great opportunity for getting out and doing stuff before it turns to custard this weekend.

It started with a bit of gardening, then as Jennie and I happened to have a clear calendar at the same time, a spot of fishing one afternoon.  Didn't start off well though.  We launch at a ramp at the end of our street.  Whilst getting the boat ready, I neglected to lock the trailer jockey wheel (shown in the photo below) in the "up" position.  This had the wheel bouncing up and down onto the road and as it only had a plastic hub, it had destroyed itself and disappeared before we got to the ramp, also yanking out the trailer electrical plug,  That dragged on the road and was a sorry sight - bugger!

Intact jockey wheel before setting off

The wheel is only used for positioning the boat in the garden so not a big deal other than coughing up $50 for a new wheel and an electrical plug.  Jennie didn't even call me a complete plonker so the ego didn't take too much of a battering.

Fishing was a bit slow but we didn't worry too much as the weather was so stunning.  As usual, Madame caught more than me.  I'm sure it must be due to the amount of time I spend cutting up bait for her out on the water, sigh.....

A beautiful day offshore

The cats woke me up early this morning demanding a feed so it was a good opportunity to have a quick breakfast, jump on the bike and test my new Revit Tornado 2 mesh jacket (see previous post) with the liner removed.  Setting off in 19 degrees C, it was a little cool on the arms as I only had a T shirt underneath, but certainly not unpleasant.  As the temperature climbed into the mid-20's it was absolutely superb - a great buy.

As I got to Whitianga, I noticed an old DC3 flying low over the water.  As they're few and far between, I guessed that it was a scenic flight from the home base at Ardmore, just south of Auckland where the Warbirds are based.  A quick diversion to the grass strip at Whitianga and it had just landed, disgorging its passengers.  What a great sight.  (This is the link to the DC3 website: Fly Back In Time .

Passengers disembarking for a look round Whitianga

Security is just a gate with a "Restricted" notice on it!

After that excellent interlude, it was on to Cooks Beach, a really scenic location on the eastern side of the Coromandel Peninsula, not far from the famous Hot Water Beach.  In the background of the photo below, sea fog was present although it burned off pretty quickly.

Just spectacular - Cooks Beach and Mercury Bay

Mercury Bay was so-named after English explorer and master mariner Captain James Cook landed on the shores here to observe the transit of Mercury in November 1769.  The observation point was apparently pretty close to where the bike was parked in the photo!

Sea fog burning off - eastern end of Cooks Beach

Whitianga waterfront on the way home

Time to head home for lunch, a very pleasant round trip of about 170 km.  On arriving home,  I noticed that my front T31 tyre was a bit chewed towards the edges.  The shoulder is a softer compound and clearly, the high road temperatures combined with the twisty route and coarse chip (not to mention enthusiastic countersteering!) had taken its toll.  Apart from this, they are proving to be pretty durable.  4000 km so far on this set with little wear and they grip well in all conditions.  They were fitted in early winter when the OEM pure sport tyres were found wanting.  It will be interesting to see how they wear with the higher summer road temperatures.

Front T31 - a bit rough around the shoulders

Finally, a shot of Sam and Annie this afternoon vying for a comfortable spot on our bed.  Annie has pretty much accepted Sam now (see Sam's arrival a few months ago HERE).  She's half his size but still bosses him about from time to time to keep him in his place!  Sam's about a year old and Annie is 8.

Sam and Annie vying for a comfortable spot


All in all, a pretty good week and roll on summer!


18 comments:

  1. Ahhhh Cook's Beach. My brother and I built a cottage there (for someone else, of course) about 35 yrs ago...or so - where does the time go - a very pleasant spot - as is most of the Coromandel.
    Our western weather has been highly erratic, but looks like summer temps are looming next week - nary a day under 30 and some over 40......of well.......

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    1. Hiya Jon! You wouldn't recognise the western end of Cook's Beach with all the multi-million dollar houses but there are still plenty of baches.

      Hope that you stay well-dehydrated on 2 wheels - it's pretty insidious from personal experience.

      Take care....

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  2. You are welcome to our weather sir! Please send some of yours over here. ;)
    That DC3 is an actual DC3. You don't see many of those at all. Is it still on active service....?

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    1. Hi Dave,
      Betsy was built in 1944. It's privately owned for all sorts of scenic flights round NZ but has been repainted in the same livery as one of the RNZAF planes that went out of service decades ago.

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  3. Your welcome, you can also have some of our bushfire smoke too.
    Looks like a fantastic days ride Geoff. Love the shot of the bike on Cooks beach.

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    1. Hi Steve,
      Funny you should say that! The TV weather forecast last night showed a satellite map with a big brown smudge heading our way. They said to watch out for a few spectacular sunrises and sunsets.

      Cooks Beach is gorgeous on weekdays as only a few people live there permanently. Most are weekenders.

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  4. And to think that here in Philadelphia we are getting ready for winter.

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    1. Hmmm....that's what happens when the world is round 😁

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  5. Dark and cold season is in full force over here, snow is in the weather forecast for the weekend. Your posting makes my day a bit brighter, thank you Geoff.

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    1. Hiya Sonja!
      Sorry to hear that you have got the bad weather already. If it's of any consolation, we are due for rain all this weekend but we really need it. I should have posted a few pictures of flowers in the garden for you!

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  6. Geez Geoff, you're game mentioning Cook...

    Looks like a pearler of a day. I'm looking for the same tomorrow but not that hopeful...

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    1. Hi Andrew,
      All in the context of the era mate. There again, I'm old enough not to care about being PC 😁. Stunning day today, and you might just squeeze another one in tomorrow. Forecast up this way is just for the odd shower. You just want to avoid the hassle of cleaning big chunks of mud from your off-roaders if it's a bit damp 😄

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  7. Beautiful weather, and photos Geoff. Glad the trailer issue wasn't worse, I pull a 30' trailer for work, and one of my biggest fears is leaving the landing gear down or forgetting safety chains and have the trailer pass me.
    Love the blue water and beach photos, also it's been a while since we've been to an air show so thanks for sharing, maybe next summer. Right now we're enjoying a rare sunny day after a week of dense fog, then hunkering down for the gloomy, wet winter.
    Hello to Jennie, and the kittehs.

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    1. Hi Brad, nice to hear from you! I know what you mean. I wasn't even in a hurry so I guess that it was a senior moment! I love air shows too, especially our WW1 and 2 displays. Unfortunately, the queues are normally miles long. Take good care of yourselves over winter and good wishes to Brandy and the handsome Basil.

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  8. Well Geoff - It seems like you're certainly having a fair old time up in your neck of the woods. Good to see the T31s earning their keep. How's the fuel economy coming along with all those twisties to enjoy?

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    1. Hi Lee,
      Trying to enjoy my riding before I get too ancient! :-) . Will we see you at the IAM AGM on one of your many machines? Haven't looked at the economy for a few days. Will probably check it out when I do the social run to Rotorua on Sunday. Besides, the words "economy" and "790 Duke" aren't exactly bedfellows!

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  9. Geoff - Yes I'm planning on being at the AGM. Not sure which machine it'll be yet though. I need to select two for the chop if I'm to buy a new V85TT at some point. That made a good impression on me.

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  10. Good stuff! Tony, Lloyd and I are planning totake a couple of days to get there and the same back.

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