oscarnz
6th March 2008, 08:20
Well decided to take a week off work and head up the East Coast. Just me, my bike and the open road.
Day 1 - Sunday 2nd March
Headed off from Palmerston North about 10ish, weather was great, not too hot, had a nice cruisy ride via State Highway 50 to Napier. Stayed the night in Napier with a friend.
Day 2 - Monday 3rd March
Was up, packed and ready to go by 8.40, weather forecast was not looking the best for the next desination of Gisborne.
Headed off the sky got darker, about 20kms out of Napier, I had to stop and put on my rain suit, as the rain was started to set in.
Was a very wet trip until about 10kms out of Gisborne where the sun started to shine. Phew I thought finally. Found somewhere to stay, when and found a cafe for lunch, and the rain started, and didnt stop for the rest of the day and night it fell down.
Day 3 - Tuesday 4th March
Laid in bed listening to the rain, wondering if I should stay in Gisborne another night, and see if the rain would clear. Thought bugger it, not going to let the rain upset my plans.
So got organised and headed off from Gisborne at 9.30am. Desintation Opotiki via the coast up around the top of East Cape.
Was a very slow trip due to visability and rain. Was about 10kms out of Ruatoria (approx 11.15am), when I came across some road works, slowed down to 30kms, when I saw the sign, then saw the smooth, gravel, yukky road in front of me, changed down another gear, just before I hit the gravel, next minute I hear the truck behind me applied his brakes fast, and I was hit from behind by a Logging Truck.
Somehow I managed to keep the bike upright, and got over to the left hand side of road, where I dropped the bike.
Got off my bike, and looked at the rear end.............mmmm not much left in tacked. Took off my helmet, truck driver had stopped in front of me, another logging truck (his mate) stopped behind, as well as a guy in a car.
I couldnt help but mouth off at the driver, probably due to shock.:crybaby:
Picked up the bike and assessed the damage, rear end totally smashed, front brake lever broken off, back brake pedal abit bent.
Decided due to the short distance (about 10kms) to Ruatoria, that as long as my back brake still worked, and bike started, would ride slowly in Ruatoria, and take things from there.
Told the Truck driver that I would meet him at the Police station as we needed to report it etc. He was happy for this.
So fired up the bike, good girl she is as started straight away. Made sure the back brakes were working, and headed into town. Had one Logging Truck in front of me, and the guy in his car, and the other Logging Truck behind me.
After riding the short distance, decided that the bike was not in good shape at all, so holiday was ending rather short. :oi-grr:
Found the Police station, and couldnt ask for more, they were the most friendlyist people you could ever meet. :niceone:
Even before I had finished my statement, they had a ride sorted for me back to Gisborne, and had organised for my bike to picked up the next morning and delivered also to Gisborne.
Truck driver got ticketed for following too close. He had followed me for about 30kms or more, so knew that I was taking it easy due to the really bad conditions.
I got a ride back to Gisborne with one of the Highway Patrol guys, awesome guy, ex MOT bike rider as well. Had an interesting trip back with him, pulled up someone for speeding, had to deal with a car in a drain.
Found a motel for the night, my partner Paul came up from Palmerston North, picked up a friends van from Napier, and came up and got me and my bike yesterday. We left bike in Napier, and came home. Going back to get bike on Sunday.
On further assessment of the bike, she is bent like a banana (or so I am told), could possibly be written off.
I am fine, dont have a scratch on me, did have abit of a sore neck the first night, but all good now. Just really pissed off, but hey they still make bikes so I am told.
Has not put me off going back to finish what I started, but will definately only be going in the sunshine.
Day 1 - Sunday 2nd March
Headed off from Palmerston North about 10ish, weather was great, not too hot, had a nice cruisy ride via State Highway 50 to Napier. Stayed the night in Napier with a friend.
Day 2 - Monday 3rd March
Was up, packed and ready to go by 8.40, weather forecast was not looking the best for the next desination of Gisborne.
Headed off the sky got darker, about 20kms out of Napier, I had to stop and put on my rain suit, as the rain was started to set in.
Was a very wet trip until about 10kms out of Gisborne where the sun started to shine. Phew I thought finally. Found somewhere to stay, when and found a cafe for lunch, and the rain started, and didnt stop for the rest of the day and night it fell down.
Day 3 - Tuesday 4th March
Laid in bed listening to the rain, wondering if I should stay in Gisborne another night, and see if the rain would clear. Thought bugger it, not going to let the rain upset my plans.
So got organised and headed off from Gisborne at 9.30am. Desintation Opotiki via the coast up around the top of East Cape.
Was a very slow trip due to visability and rain. Was about 10kms out of Ruatoria (approx 11.15am), when I came across some road works, slowed down to 30kms, when I saw the sign, then saw the smooth, gravel, yukky road in front of me, changed down another gear, just before I hit the gravel, next minute I hear the truck behind me applied his brakes fast, and I was hit from behind by a Logging Truck.
Somehow I managed to keep the bike upright, and got over to the left hand side of road, where I dropped the bike.
Got off my bike, and looked at the rear end.............mmmm not much left in tacked. Took off my helmet, truck driver had stopped in front of me, another logging truck (his mate) stopped behind, as well as a guy in a car.
I couldnt help but mouth off at the driver, probably due to shock.:crybaby:
Picked up the bike and assessed the damage, rear end totally smashed, front brake lever broken off, back brake pedal abit bent.
Decided due to the short distance (about 10kms) to Ruatoria, that as long as my back brake still worked, and bike started, would ride slowly in Ruatoria, and take things from there.
Told the Truck driver that I would meet him at the Police station as we needed to report it etc. He was happy for this.
So fired up the bike, good girl she is as started straight away. Made sure the back brakes were working, and headed into town. Had one Logging Truck in front of me, and the guy in his car, and the other Logging Truck behind me.
After riding the short distance, decided that the bike was not in good shape at all, so holiday was ending rather short. :oi-grr:
Found the Police station, and couldnt ask for more, they were the most friendlyist people you could ever meet. :niceone:
Even before I had finished my statement, they had a ride sorted for me back to Gisborne, and had organised for my bike to picked up the next morning and delivered also to Gisborne.
Truck driver got ticketed for following too close. He had followed me for about 30kms or more, so knew that I was taking it easy due to the really bad conditions.
I got a ride back to Gisborne with one of the Highway Patrol guys, awesome guy, ex MOT bike rider as well. Had an interesting trip back with him, pulled up someone for speeding, had to deal with a car in a drain.
Found a motel for the night, my partner Paul came up from Palmerston North, picked up a friends van from Napier, and came up and got me and my bike yesterday. We left bike in Napier, and came home. Going back to get bike on Sunday.
On further assessment of the bike, she is bent like a banana (or so I am told), could possibly be written off.
I am fine, dont have a scratch on me, did have abit of a sore neck the first night, but all good now. Just really pissed off, but hey they still make bikes so I am told.
Has not put me off going back to finish what I started, but will definately only be going in the sunshine.