Smattering of rain early this morning, so off to Wellington motorcycles about 10.30am – petrol stop first though. Start of the longest bike ride so far for Louise – not planned at all though!

After a couple of coffees, picked up Louise’s bike with a fixed clutch lever – unfortunately the original lever broke, I thought it might and we were ready for  being slightly more expensive than originally quoted.

Up to Mount Victoria (on the easier route) to have a panoramic view of Wellington.

The Wellington Artillery Volunteer Corps must have been a very fit outfit indeed!

Chatted to Louise and thought we’d ride up to Petone, via Newtown this time, for another coffee. Our normal cafe seemed closed, with no tables and chairs outside, even though the sign said it was open. We gave it a miss and went into town on a search for a different one. The Screaming Turtle looked like a nice cafe – I don’t usually get to make that sort of choice when we’re two up! It was nice to have a break from the wind and watch the world go by while having a strong cup of latte – well the world of Petone anyway!

Louise was obviously in a mood to go riding so we chatted over our options. It seemed like we were going over to the Waiarapa, so I made sure she realised that it could be a long round trip. Up and over the Rimutuka again – all good experience!

Up to Masterton for a petrol stop at about 5.30pm, before the stations were likely to be closing – also gave us enough fuel to either go on or back.

Rode out a little further for a break at a picnic spot (and a quick game of hide in the trees or bushes from the traffic) where we decided that rather than just return the way we had come, or indeed even that direction over the back roads, that we’d continue on and do a loop around Palmerston North. The Manawatu Gorge was going to put about an extra 30 mins on the trip, so I suggested we cut across the Tararua Range at Pahiatua.

As we got to Pahiatua it was getting a bit colder, and we were going to gain some altitude we stopped so that Louise could don my warm inner (we’d not planned ahead enough to put Louise’s new quilt liner in the top box) and to change gloves to a warmer pair.

With hindsight, this might have been a bit much for Louise on only her 7th trip out. We got halfway up the Tararua Range and it was obvious that louise was struggling, so I pulled over into a slow vehicle lane to sort it out. She didn’t seem to be riding as well as normal and was riding a little slowly (comparatively speaking that is!). Her winter gloves were proving too much of a change in riding style – I know exactly what she meant! So we changed back over to her normal gloves and I put on my grip warmers, planning to stop for a surprise coffee on the other side and let her warm her hands up.

We stopped at Summerhill and I went for the coffees which gave Louise a chance to calm back down after having her confidence levels severely dented. A lovely coffee it was too!!

However, we now needed to get moving as learners have a curfew of 10pm, and Louise hasn’t had experience riding in the dark. However, as the sun was going down there was the worry of sunstrike too,Louise donned her sunglasses. The wind had been quite strong all day too, at least I had a fairing to help me…bless!

Sunstrike there was! I kept close in front so that Louise could see me rather than try to see the road – always difficult even for an experienced rider! We stopped after the sun went down so she could take the sunglasses off.

We stopped again at Otaki well after dusk, to make sure Louise was coping. She was, but by now was looking forward to getting home!

We finally arrived about 9.40pm after a really nice ride, if a pretty long one!

Total distance 354km (about 221 miles)!