So after all the recent maintenance (if you call tyres and oil maintenance") on the Connie it was time to let her off the leash and go for a decent run.

The weather in Palmy was quite nice but I didn't really have a plan in mind.  I was even considering going a decent distance and spending the night somewhere - but where"  I quick check of KB and I spotted Al's tag so thought that I could at least grab it and then find another new one somewhere along the way...

On the way across I remembered spotted an interesting looking feature that would make a good tag.  Without giving too much away (at least not yet - read on), it's nowhere near Al's tag so now all I had to do was think about finding a decent sort of a route to go get it...
First part of mission accomplished...Having found the tag out near Halcombe, I carried on to SH1 and turned towards Taihape.  I stuck to a very sedate cruise but only saw one cop - I did manage to pass a Prius though and that's always worth a snigger.

In Taihape I stopped to flick on the cameras (turn the wireless on so the remote could drive them) and headed up Spooners Hill towards the Napier-Taihape road.  Initially the road was an absolute joy and it was also in very good condition.  Time to sort those new tyres out...

One of the things I wanted to do was film the drop down one of the hills into the valley below.  I love this bit of the ride as not only is the riding good but the views across th...