RIDE TO FLY - 23 April 2010

On the road. "Do you know the way to .........." Which way did you say?
4 gray heads, so much wisdom!

"Doubtless" this was the right way to go - Doubtless Bay seafood heaven. Thanks for a great night and a great response.


Helene Conway from Shine TV, filmed much of the northern part of the journey. Here is Frank, Helene and her husband Dean, with Mike Romkes (Christian Motorcycle Association) in Tauranga. We are so grateful to Anthony Wright fom Drury Tires (and The Redeemed motorcycle group) for the donations raised as a result of this leg of the journey. It was quite a sight to see approx. 80 bikes following the little DOT on the highway.

Two DOTS meet. Dennis Turnbull of Turnbull's Furniture in Palmerston North, who also owns the same model DOT.



Made it to Parliament, but they wouldn't let us in. The Security guard on his way to put an end to our hopes of directing the political scene.
Sorry Richard Seddon...... we didn't mean to disturb you!

And on and on and on we go... Christchurch all in the Countdown mode.



Mosgiel airport. A similar photo with write up, made the Otago Daily Times front page. This was picked up by the New Guinea "National" newspaper which then did a 3-page feature in their "Weekender" with a view to raising awareness of the need for another plane in PNG.

Nearly there. Invercargill with blue sky for a few minutes. Over 7,000 bikes were in the area for the Burt Munro Challenge weekend.


Next stop Teretonga Racing and Andrew Stroud (NZ Superbike Champion), who continues his winning ways in 2010. Thanks Andrew, for your support and encouragement.

Peter Hansen, the man who found the bike in pieces in Tari, PNG, crated it up and shipped it to NZ in 1978, where it sat untouched for many years.

"The Icing on the Cake"
Original 1965, pre-independence, Territory of Papua New Guinea, registration number plate. This was presented to Frank by Peter Hansen. Peter (a pilot in PNG) had brought the dissasembled bike, in crates, from PNG to NZ in 1978. He had kept the number plate as a memento when he sold the bike, until he met Frank in Blenheim on completion of the 'Ride to Fly' in 2009.

Inspection after the Ride, showed evidence of the engine having 'seized' a number of times during the Ride which should have prevented the bike completing the 2,200 kms journey. But it made the distance. (God's provision!)



"What's it all about". The eagerly awaited 'life-line' for many people and situations.

GA8 AirVan. (P2-MFL is the PNG registration for the NEW GA8 AirVan)

Logo for the NZ "Ride to Fly, November 2009



Here is the suggested change of logo with colours to be representative of the colour scheme of the current MAF aircraft.

NOW WHAT?

11th September 2010, is "Discovery Day" for MAF Queensland. Frank has been asked to present the DOT story. At this stage, it is planned for us both to attend this event and it would be great to take DOT with us! We are still working on that possibility.