KEY POINTS:
On Saturday night widow Jos Mason had a quiet talk to her "three angels" asking for the sun to shine upon the hundreds of bikers who were about to take to the streets in a protest against drink-driving.
Yesterday, as an estimated 400 bikers made their way through the Waikato, Ms Mason knew her angels had been listening.
"I think there is someone watching over," she said after the ride yesterday afternoon. "I know this sounds a bit weird but I had a talk to my three angels and said sort this weather out. Sure enough I got up and the clouds had parted."
The memorial ride, which left from the Okoroire Hotel near Tirau, was in part a tribute to Ms Mason's husband Leon and his friends Simon Short and Toni Dommerholt-Purchase. All three were killed by repeat drink-driver Gordon Armstrong in April.
It was also an attempt to raise the profile of BADD - Bikers Against Drink Driving - which Ms Mason formed after their deaths.
The bikers, who came from throughout the North Island, made their way from Okoroire to Hamilton, where they enjoyed a sausage sizzle at the Hamilton Gardens before looping back to where they started.
The convoy was joined by a hearse that had signs saying "Leon, Simon and Toni ride free".
Ms Mason believes the trio may have been watching, as the ride went without a hitch.
"How can you have that many bikes, no incidents, no one pulled over, no accidents? I think there is someone watching over.
"I know that Leon, Simon and Toni would have been involved in this if it had been someone else."
Ms Mason said BADD had been incorporated and there were plans to hold a number of events to get the anti-drink driving message out.
One message Ms Mason particularly wants people to pick up on is the need for the community to take more responsibility for the drink-driving problem.
"Alcohol is a big part of our culture but I think there has got to be a little bit more ... Families have got to look out for each other."
Mr Mason, 33, left two young children, one a baby. Ms Dommerholt-Purchase, 43, was the mother of two girls aged 10 and 13. She and Mr Short, 37, were partners.
