Dannevirke: Stalwarts back on fundraising trail

Some of the 350 motorcycles in the Woodville Lions Coast to Coast arrive for their traditional lunch stop on Saturday.

There are always new roads to discover, as one of the riders taking part in Woodville Lions' annual 200km Coast to Coast motorcycle run found.

Feilding's Lynn Southee, one of the four original participants back for the 22nd year of the event, said he would not miss the ride for anything.

The ride, from Himatangi Beach to Akitio Beach, attracted 350 riders this year.

"We're a bit of a clan," the 65-year-old said. "It's good to see familiar faces, but us originals aren't the heroes of this event, it's the organisers, the Woodville Lions. We just turn up for the ride."

EASY RIDER: Feilding's Lynn Southee, 65, at Fountaine Square in Woodville on Saturday. Mr Southee was taking part in the 22nd Woodville Lions Coast to Coast motorcycle ride - one of four original participants still riding in the event.

This year, Mr Southee was riding a Goldwing 1800, a far cry from the old Yamaha 650 special he rode in the first Coast to Coast in 1992.

"You need to negotiate your space in the pack and this year we haven't had any idiots," he said. "All the different riders bring flavour to the event and the ride from Himatangi to Woodville was great."

Mr Southee was wearing his 200,000km clan badge with pride. All the 200,000km have been clocked up riding his Goldwing.

"I've been around Australia five times in every direction, but there are always new roads to discover," he said.

This year, the riders joined the tail end of Woodville's Christmas parade seamlessly, with the roar of the throttles exciting the huge crowd lining Vogel St.

Woodville Lion and organiser Craig Boyden was thrilled with the turnout and the timing which meant no delays for spectators keen to see the bikes, their riders and the passengers.

The riders came through the Manawatu Gorge into Woodville and their traditional lunch stop in Fountaine Square, before heading east through Makuri and Pongaroa to Akitio Beach.

The ride is the longest running, consecutive fundraiser for the Palmerston North Rescue Helicopter The Coast to Coast has already raised more than $150,000 for the service.