1972 Honda CT90

We went over to visit my mothers cousin Dolly (nee Egerton) in Dannevirke. She and her husband took us out to visit their son Harold who ran the family farm. Harold invited my brother and I to have a holiday with them and we did. I think it was a turn-about thing, and I’m pretty sure that my brother stayed for longer than I did. Maybe I stayed a week.

Harold had a tape of The Hollies and that was all he played in the milking shed.

Harold had an automatic farm bike – maybe he and his young farm worker each had one, the same model? Anyway, I think that this was the first bike that I ever ‘rode.’

I think it was actually the farm worker who initially got me going. I remember bouncing along a very stony race – not sure whether I fell off or not. I remember being extremely excited… and more than a little out of control.

Serendipity: For a brief time my mother, while living in Marton, lived next to Harold’s sister Karen.

125 North Street

Living at 125 North Street in Feilding. I must have been very young but I distinctly remember a large bike coming round. It had a tank rack and, for years afterward, I imagined that it must be where people sat.

In my memory it was something like a TR5 or Bonneville.

I don’t know how many times it came around but it wasn’t often, maybe only once. I remember the longing of wanting to see it again.

I must have been between 2 and 5. I was definitely pre-school.

1956 Triumph TR5

1960 Triumph Bonneville