ducatijim
28th August 2010, 16:54
Its been 3 months since I last flung a leg over, so to speak, that being since I parked Darkie up in Perth last ( I might be exagerating just a biiiit?). You see, I have vowed not to ride unless the mercury breaks thru above 25`, I am getting soft ( refined and intelligent i prefer to call it) in my old age.
So, when I had to visit my dentist over in Tauranga for some more mouth schrapnel on Friday, the itch over powered my temperature reservations....so I broke out the Orange Rush. Wow, it was sweet, warmer than it oughta be, stopped at the wonderful Okere Falls store for a great coffee and a bite.......as I watched the world go by I patted myself on the back at what a fine machine the 990 Adv is for what I like doing: after numerous years and more bikes than my wife likes to remember, Im thinking that just maybe I have reached the pinnacle( least for me) of suitable rides?
Better get on, my dentist rides an MG and flies gliders, so I am sure he has a busy weekend planned and as I got the call to be in earlier than booked I am sure so he can get away to do 1 or the other of his weekend persuits.
Dentist done in quick time....hell if I rush i could get back in time to help finish off after milking, and we don't want that now do we? So, I opt to have a trundle homewards along the Tauranga direct rd back to Rotorua, this can be fun if its not too busy. Then........30km outta Tauranga I feel it, a wee squiggle, I try to ignore it, but you know.......we all know THAT feeling when all the air has gone to the top of the back tyre?
Yep, a flatty-middle of no where.
No worries most would say, we all carry the 'gear' don't we? Well, not today, Jose! But I do have a cellfone right? Well yes I do, but there ain't no signal here. Its about 2-30, plenty of traffic, I'll be right?
I bust me boiler climbing to the top of the closest hill.....nope, no signal here.
Eany, meany, miney or mo? Tauranga or Rotorua? Which way will I see signal first? Start walking( WTF is this walking business my legs ask after 200m?) toward Tauranga. After about 2k a guy who passed me comes back and gives me a lift while I watch my fone for signs of signal. Finally it comes on so I say spit me out here and Ill call up the cavelry(AA) and get back to my bike; cheers!
Cause I was watching my fone for signal I had little idea of where I was until I started back and I realised I had come at least 10km!! FARK!!!! AA rescue are on the way, at least an hour I was told, but I cannot cover 10km in an hour.....hope I can bludge a ride?
It was 5 by the time I got back to where my bike HAD been, walked the whole way; no-one was going to pick-up something that looked like I did! What to do now? I now know just why it is called a KTM 'Adventure' bike......I SO get it....Hahahabloodyha!
Knew I shoulda bought a BMW!
I know there is no cell coverage for 10km toward Tauranga, so I try towards Rotorua this time, and yes, it could be further but at least there is hope this way? Just round the next corner I spot a driveway( Rare around here) and it has a NZ motor caravan club wings PoP sign out, I am a member....sweet....will get help from a fellow road maggot! Drive winds its way about a km thru the farm and up a hill( Did I mention I am opposed to hills?)....great.......No one home!
FARK!
Back to the road, very nearly dark now and heaps of traffic going back to Rotorua after work so am sure to score a ride soon now, right? Wrong. Top of next hill there is 2 big turning points in my day: there is just an odd glimmer of coverage, occasionally, and better again; my blisters have burst and foot says.....give it up, DICK!:angry:
Try as I might I cannot get a message away, even thou I get a couple from wife wondering if I will be much longer!
Dark now and I suspect cars can't see me till the last minute.....no-one stops.....would you?
I am at the intersection of a forestry road and several night shift log trucks from Rotorua have gone in there, so I am thinking i will hi-jack the first one that comes back.....only its going to TAURANGA!
Maybe the next one then..........?:bye:
Then it happens: a car stops.....Wow:yes: Im saved..... I was just resigning myself to a night 'out'( at least I had good gear that would have kept the rain out all nite....did I mention it had been raining for 1/2 an hour now?) and looking where I would be 'safe' to curl up for the night.
Nice man drops me in Nongi, where I promptly head in for a beer while I await my pick up....yes!
So, that was my adventure; home, bikeless, by 8-30!
Do I buy that BMW now?
So, when I had to visit my dentist over in Tauranga for some more mouth schrapnel on Friday, the itch over powered my temperature reservations....so I broke out the Orange Rush. Wow, it was sweet, warmer than it oughta be, stopped at the wonderful Okere Falls store for a great coffee and a bite.......as I watched the world go by I patted myself on the back at what a fine machine the 990 Adv is for what I like doing: after numerous years and more bikes than my wife likes to remember, Im thinking that just maybe I have reached the pinnacle( least for me) of suitable rides?
Better get on, my dentist rides an MG and flies gliders, so I am sure he has a busy weekend planned and as I got the call to be in earlier than booked I am sure so he can get away to do 1 or the other of his weekend persuits.
Dentist done in quick time....hell if I rush i could get back in time to help finish off after milking, and we don't want that now do we? So, I opt to have a trundle homewards along the Tauranga direct rd back to Rotorua, this can be fun if its not too busy. Then........30km outta Tauranga I feel it, a wee squiggle, I try to ignore it, but you know.......we all know THAT feeling when all the air has gone to the top of the back tyre?
Yep, a flatty-middle of no where.
No worries most would say, we all carry the 'gear' don't we? Well, not today, Jose! But I do have a cellfone right? Well yes I do, but there ain't no signal here. Its about 2-30, plenty of traffic, I'll be right?
I bust me boiler climbing to the top of the closest hill.....nope, no signal here.
Eany, meany, miney or mo? Tauranga or Rotorua? Which way will I see signal first? Start walking( WTF is this walking business my legs ask after 200m?) toward Tauranga. After about 2k a guy who passed me comes back and gives me a lift while I watch my fone for signs of signal. Finally it comes on so I say spit me out here and Ill call up the cavelry(AA) and get back to my bike; cheers!
Cause I was watching my fone for signal I had little idea of where I was until I started back and I realised I had come at least 10km!! FARK!!!! AA rescue are on the way, at least an hour I was told, but I cannot cover 10km in an hour.....hope I can bludge a ride?
It was 5 by the time I got back to where my bike HAD been, walked the whole way; no-one was going to pick-up something that looked like I did! What to do now? I now know just why it is called a KTM 'Adventure' bike......I SO get it....Hahahabloodyha!
Knew I shoulda bought a BMW!
I know there is no cell coverage for 10km toward Tauranga, so I try towards Rotorua this time, and yes, it could be further but at least there is hope this way? Just round the next corner I spot a driveway( Rare around here) and it has a NZ motor caravan club wings PoP sign out, I am a member....sweet....will get help from a fellow road maggot! Drive winds its way about a km thru the farm and up a hill( Did I mention I am opposed to hills?)....great.......No one home!
FARK!
Back to the road, very nearly dark now and heaps of traffic going back to Rotorua after work so am sure to score a ride soon now, right? Wrong. Top of next hill there is 2 big turning points in my day: there is just an odd glimmer of coverage, occasionally, and better again; my blisters have burst and foot says.....give it up, DICK!:angry:
Try as I might I cannot get a message away, even thou I get a couple from wife wondering if I will be much longer!
Dark now and I suspect cars can't see me till the last minute.....no-one stops.....would you?
I am at the intersection of a forestry road and several night shift log trucks from Rotorua have gone in there, so I am thinking i will hi-jack the first one that comes back.....only its going to TAURANGA!
Maybe the next one then..........?:bye:
Then it happens: a car stops.....Wow:yes: Im saved..... I was just resigning myself to a night 'out'( at least I had good gear that would have kept the rain out all nite....did I mention it had been raining for 1/2 an hour now?) and looking where I would be 'safe' to curl up for the night.
Nice man drops me in Nongi, where I promptly head in for a beer while I await my pick up....yes!
So, that was my adventure; home, bikeless, by 8-30!
Do I buy that BMW now?