On this day in History...

Ride with us and celebrate the day the world FIRST saw a Goldwing,
34 years of Honda Goldwings !!

Original Honda GL1000 GoldWing (left)
The original Honda GoldWing was much, much more than just a new motorcycle.

Introduced at Germany's Cologne Motor Show on this day.. 26 October 1974.

Powered by a revolutionary 999cc liquid-cooled horizontally opposed four-cylinder engine, the Honda Gold Wing opened new possibilities never before considered by the experts in the enthusiast press, much less the consumer public in general. What to make of this open-class machine with world-class power and cross-country capabilities? Honda Goldwing customers made new friends, took to the open-road in droves, flocked to Coromandel on Goldwings, travelled, ate and drank their way across New Zealand and the world , and helped inspire an industry-wide paradigm shift toward long-distance motorcycling.
And on and on we go!

A journey....

This is your notice that Goldwingers do not garden on long weekends.

First….  
CHANGE OF MEETING VENUE.
For this ride ONLY, please all meet at 10:00am in the car park of the KOPU STATION HOTEL.
It's on the corner of the Thames-Paeroa Road and the Kopu Bridge Road. There is a Mobil garage across the road. 
Kopu is South of Thames by 5Kms.

We've published some handy scalable and zoomable Google Maps below..

Brief Itinerary:…
10:00.... Arrive Kopu,
10:15....  Depart Kopu through Thames, and up the magnificent Pohutukawa Coast Road to Coromandel. (Pohutukawas are not in flower till next month)
11:00....  Arrive Coromandel
11:15....  Lunch at Coromandel - not supplied - your choice of what and where. There are plenty of good food outlets in Coromandel Town.
12:00....  Depart Coromandel
Short ride North East to Barry Brickell’s spectacular Driving Creek Railway and Pottery.
12:15....  Arrive at Driving Creek Railway.
Park in car park, as directed - monitored parking has been arranged. (Caution... may be loose metal). Jackets and helmets may be left securely at the train office if needed.
Spend time viewing Craft Shop, Pottery and perhaps Workshops. Talk with Staff.
12:45....  Board Train. Booking has been made for one hour round trip ride on train… this is really special!
14:00....  Depart Driving Creek for Coromandel
14:15....  Coffee break in Coromandel.
15:00....  Depart Coromandel and travel South on Coast Road, through Thames and on to Kopu
15:45....  Arrive Kopu and stop. Then disperse, whence you came. OR,

"Chapter Two" (Optional)
16:00....  Join us on "Chapter Two"
Bay of Plenty (or anyone else) riders may join us for the trip through the forest and over the ranges to the East Coast...
Kopu – Hikuai (via SH 25A) – Whangamata – Waihi - then, at Waihi ...Choose to turn right or left etc.. on way home.

Note: Long Weekend.
This is Labour Weekend. Although the Coromandel is busy from now on and right through the summer, this day is the “middle day” of the long weekend and traditionally not such a busy day on the roads as the other two. However, we will need to be vigilant.

We are calling for a general RSVP.  Please email  bill@bill.co.nz  
We have made a booking for the Train Ride and have secured a discount concession.

Cost:
Discounted cost for Train Ride is $16.00 per adult.
Please pay this to Judy before end of lunch break.

You may bring friends.
We'd love you to invite any friends you may wish to introduce to the Goldwinger's style of day-touring.
This will be an easy (and not fast) ride, but really spectacular countryside and scenery.
We will have a pre-ride briefing at Kopu.

Raincoats:
The forecast is for fairly fine on Sunday, but we'd recommend that you each bring a light raincoat in case of "Coromandel drizzle" at lunch-time or on the train ride. It'll make it easier for you.

Scalable and zoomable Google Maps
of the main ride and suggested ways of getting to the Kopu Assembly Point.:

Here is some detail about the Driving Creek Rrailway.
Also visit their website>>
And there is also some interesting detail about Barry and his friends building the railway here>>

New Zealand's only narrow-gauge mountain railway, along with a working pottery and wild life sanctuary. Barry Brickell, owner, developer, conservationist, engineer and artist driving his railcar called "Possum" on the unique double-deck viaduct. The 1 hour return trip on our innovatively designed trains takes you through replanted native kauri forest and includes 2 spirals, 3 short tunnels, 5 reversing points and several large viaducts as it climbs up to the mountain-top terminus. Called the Eyefull Tower, this handsome new building offers great panoramic views out over the island-studded Hauraki Gulf with the forested valley and mountains behind.   The 'Eyefull Tower' at the top of your train ride   The railway and pottery complex blends into the natural bush setting.

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