skelstar
20th August 2006, 22:26
Wgtn - Auck - Hastings - Manfield - Wgtn
I had been meaning to get up to Auckland to see my sister as I had not seen her for a while. It had also been a long while since I had gone on a decent road trip and my feet were itchy. So I watched the weather and bank balance for while and both improbable events coincided with last Thurs/Fri/Sat. I planned to ride to Auck on Thurs, attend the Akl TNR, ride to Hastings on Friday to see my mates and their kids, ride to Manfeild on Sat to watch the KBers race, and home again in time for crumpets and tea, what ho!!! (actually the All Blacks game)
Thursday - Auckland
Early Thurs morning I left my folks place on the Kapiti Coast. With my homemade heated handlebar grips to 'Magma' (they are always switched ON) I headed up the Coast and on through to Sanson. I remember little of the trip up but soon was trying to find my way through the backblocks of Feilding. I was determined to find a way onto the Vinegar Hill road without traversing Feilding itself. I managed to find cop driving through the twisty stuff. He was going suspiciously slow, so I overtook him in a fairly tight section, in an equally suspicous manner. Spent the next couple of kms engrossed in my rear-vision mirror. A stop at Taihape for pies, minidonuts (mmm) and a Long Black...and gas.
The next coupla-hundred was spent overtaking cars and not attracting any attention from the righteous disco boys. Taumaranui through to 3mile junction promised to be the second highlight of the day. I decided that I could afford to give it a bit of a nudge along this stretch as there is some really nice sweepers and hairpins along there, including my favourite from a few trips back with V. I did notice a white comodore in a layby when I was halfway through a speed compliant corner. He obviously wasn't interested. Lucky eh. Last act on that road was to creatively pass the works truck with the 'pass with care' sign on the back. Goddamn I wished I could wheelie at that moment.
When I got to Te Kuiti I checked my cellphone, gassed up, pie'd up (I think) and headed for Otorohanga and onto Whatawhata. For some reason I thouhg that I had too much time :weird: so diverted to Raglan. The road out to Raglan were great. The first half was awesome (thats right V) but I was unfortunatley held up by traffic. I had previously read Raglan ride reports and Boomer had mentioned/promised bikini comps and the like. Needless to say August is not competition season. I was still disapointed. I blame you Boomer. I got over my disapointment, found somewhere cool to take a photo of my ride and gassed up, drink. No pie. Set off for Te Uku and SH22.
I had solicited advice on the lower end of SH22 and was assured that the road had '4km or gravel'. The road was typical 22 until the gravel. About 2kms later I was on seal again wondering why the gravel was so short. I found myself tipped over midway through the corner when I spied the second gravel section. Shiiiiiittt!!! I just had enough time to get the bike upright before two wheels quickly became no-wheels. I carried on my rendezvous point at the Waingaro Junction (I think).
Firefight and I had arranged to meet up here and F/F would show the way, and help me transition into Auckland. As soon as I got there and found there was no cellphone coverage (no kidding) I wondered if it was a stupid place to meet and time was getting short. After 10mins of waiting and some clever stick arranging to indicate my presence and departure direction, I headed north. No more than 5mins up the lovelly wide sweeping corners a couple of blue R6s came sailing around the bend. After intros with F/F and Motoracer the blue two roared off with me in lukewarm pursuit. A photosession or two later I was lead out on to the Sthn Motorway. Cheers for the ride guys.
There wasn't enough time to see my sister that night (in Western Springs) so I carried on through to the Akl TTNR. Met some new faces, some old faces, Inline4!!! Good to see Zed, The Rider Formerly Known as Custard, Gareth (recently been outted apparently), and 6pk amongst others!!! I struggled along in the dark, had a bit of a yarn at the Speights Ale House, got lost getting out of Albany (who doesnt), and caught up with my sister. A bloody long day. At 9pm I worked out I hadnt been off my bike for more than 1/2 hour since 8am that morning. 850kms apparently.
[more to come...with photos!!!]
I had been meaning to get up to Auckland to see my sister as I had not seen her for a while. It had also been a long while since I had gone on a decent road trip and my feet were itchy. So I watched the weather and bank balance for while and both improbable events coincided with last Thurs/Fri/Sat. I planned to ride to Auck on Thurs, attend the Akl TNR, ride to Hastings on Friday to see my mates and their kids, ride to Manfeild on Sat to watch the KBers race, and home again in time for crumpets and tea, what ho!!! (actually the All Blacks game)
Thursday - Auckland
Early Thurs morning I left my folks place on the Kapiti Coast. With my homemade heated handlebar grips to 'Magma' (they are always switched ON) I headed up the Coast and on through to Sanson. I remember little of the trip up but soon was trying to find my way through the backblocks of Feilding. I was determined to find a way onto the Vinegar Hill road without traversing Feilding itself. I managed to find cop driving through the twisty stuff. He was going suspiciously slow, so I overtook him in a fairly tight section, in an equally suspicous manner. Spent the next couple of kms engrossed in my rear-vision mirror. A stop at Taihape for pies, minidonuts (mmm) and a Long Black...and gas.
The next coupla-hundred was spent overtaking cars and not attracting any attention from the righteous disco boys. Taumaranui through to 3mile junction promised to be the second highlight of the day. I decided that I could afford to give it a bit of a nudge along this stretch as there is some really nice sweepers and hairpins along there, including my favourite from a few trips back with V. I did notice a white comodore in a layby when I was halfway through a speed compliant corner. He obviously wasn't interested. Lucky eh. Last act on that road was to creatively pass the works truck with the 'pass with care' sign on the back. Goddamn I wished I could wheelie at that moment.
When I got to Te Kuiti I checked my cellphone, gassed up, pie'd up (I think) and headed for Otorohanga and onto Whatawhata. For some reason I thouhg that I had too much time :weird: so diverted to Raglan. The road out to Raglan were great. The first half was awesome (thats right V) but I was unfortunatley held up by traffic. I had previously read Raglan ride reports and Boomer had mentioned/promised bikini comps and the like. Needless to say August is not competition season. I was still disapointed. I blame you Boomer. I got over my disapointment, found somewhere cool to take a photo of my ride and gassed up, drink. No pie. Set off for Te Uku and SH22.
I had solicited advice on the lower end of SH22 and was assured that the road had '4km or gravel'. The road was typical 22 until the gravel. About 2kms later I was on seal again wondering why the gravel was so short. I found myself tipped over midway through the corner when I spied the second gravel section. Shiiiiiittt!!! I just had enough time to get the bike upright before two wheels quickly became no-wheels. I carried on my rendezvous point at the Waingaro Junction (I think).
Firefight and I had arranged to meet up here and F/F would show the way, and help me transition into Auckland. As soon as I got there and found there was no cellphone coverage (no kidding) I wondered if it was a stupid place to meet and time was getting short. After 10mins of waiting and some clever stick arranging to indicate my presence and departure direction, I headed north. No more than 5mins up the lovelly wide sweeping corners a couple of blue R6s came sailing around the bend. After intros with F/F and Motoracer the blue two roared off with me in lukewarm pursuit. A photosession or two later I was lead out on to the Sthn Motorway. Cheers for the ride guys.
There wasn't enough time to see my sister that night (in Western Springs) so I carried on through to the Akl TTNR. Met some new faces, some old faces, Inline4!!! Good to see Zed, The Rider Formerly Known as Custard, Gareth (recently been outted apparently), and 6pk amongst others!!! I struggled along in the dark, had a bit of a yarn at the Speights Ale House, got lost getting out of Albany (who doesnt), and caught up with my sister. A bloody long day. At 9pm I worked out I hadnt been off my bike for more than 1/2 hour since 8am that morning. 850kms apparently.
[more to come...with photos!!!]