Freakshow
4th January 2009, 17:23
Happy New Year everyone!!
I had a great road trip that ended with a nice slice in back of the leg!
Question to start with? Any recommendations for transporting bike AUCK to WGTN??
THE TRIP!
Started in Wellington in the 21/12 and headed through the Rapa north to Gisborne. This was okay but I I stayed with a front all the way so was soaked the entire time but I did eventually get comfortable with damp roads and have to say there are some great interesting roads near Gisborne. As anoying as the water was it was just what I need to get use to it, a hole day of constant rain!
Day two was dryer but my jacket wasn't. I headed through the gorge which was a blast! I loved the half way sign, as most good roads end too early. North along the coast to the Mount to only get stuck in guessing my Way through Tauranga! The worst bit was taking a wrong turn into the shopping centre of Tauranga in the midday sun, full black leathers and then have the fan kick in at 103c, while at a set of traffic lights!! Once out of the city it just got better as north of Wahi and in the Coromandel has some great roads. I did learn that GPS are only good when you are looking at them. My short cut avoiding Wahi through Golden Valley was windy but narrow. Whagamata across to Thames seemed a lot shorter this time, butthat is the best road I have been on so far.
THE GOOD BIT! (sort of not for me)
After Xmas with partner family I decided to go for afternoon outing around what I understand some of you call the Coro loop??? Thames across on the 25A was not as fun as I hopped as Traffic makes it crap. I do however which I knew about the Shihad concert... By then I was enjoying the views more than the ride but as I started heading north it got better. Everything was going great until I was coming back from Coromandel town. 25KM South of Coromandel town I came around a left hander and there was some dirt on road fallen down from the bank. It looked compacted so I didn't really think about it... Well the back slide out by at least a meter and as it stood up it bumped me off the seat. Coming back down my right foot missed the peg and my foot bounced of the road and whacked into what I thought was the exhaust. Well I rode out of that and continued for about a minute. Shaken as I thought the bike was gonna go for a slide and sore. I pull over and take off my boot to find a red sock and peel back the leathers and realise that blunt blow was not so blunt, I actually hit the brake pedal. I rode a bit longer but thought lighthead and blood loss was not good so pulled over again and a boaty family hitched a ride for me in some passer-bys wagon. NZ is great how everyone is so helpful! In the end there are about 11-15 stitches on two layers inside and 11 on the surface. I am lucky as missed muscle and tendons. Actually my partner watched as the doctor held the wound open and watched the tendons move as I moved my foot.
It is healing well so all I need to do is get bike back home. Until then I have found I can still make it to work without catching a bus!
I had a great road trip that ended with a nice slice in back of the leg!
Question to start with? Any recommendations for transporting bike AUCK to WGTN??
THE TRIP!
Started in Wellington in the 21/12 and headed through the Rapa north to Gisborne. This was okay but I I stayed with a front all the way so was soaked the entire time but I did eventually get comfortable with damp roads and have to say there are some great interesting roads near Gisborne. As anoying as the water was it was just what I need to get use to it, a hole day of constant rain!
Day two was dryer but my jacket wasn't. I headed through the gorge which was a blast! I loved the half way sign, as most good roads end too early. North along the coast to the Mount to only get stuck in guessing my Way through Tauranga! The worst bit was taking a wrong turn into the shopping centre of Tauranga in the midday sun, full black leathers and then have the fan kick in at 103c, while at a set of traffic lights!! Once out of the city it just got better as north of Wahi and in the Coromandel has some great roads. I did learn that GPS are only good when you are looking at them. My short cut avoiding Wahi through Golden Valley was windy but narrow. Whagamata across to Thames seemed a lot shorter this time, butthat is the best road I have been on so far.
THE GOOD BIT! (sort of not for me)
After Xmas with partner family I decided to go for afternoon outing around what I understand some of you call the Coro loop??? Thames across on the 25A was not as fun as I hopped as Traffic makes it crap. I do however which I knew about the Shihad concert... By then I was enjoying the views more than the ride but as I started heading north it got better. Everything was going great until I was coming back from Coromandel town. 25KM South of Coromandel town I came around a left hander and there was some dirt on road fallen down from the bank. It looked compacted so I didn't really think about it... Well the back slide out by at least a meter and as it stood up it bumped me off the seat. Coming back down my right foot missed the peg and my foot bounced of the road and whacked into what I thought was the exhaust. Well I rode out of that and continued for about a minute. Shaken as I thought the bike was gonna go for a slide and sore. I pull over and take off my boot to find a red sock and peel back the leathers and realise that blunt blow was not so blunt, I actually hit the brake pedal. I rode a bit longer but thought lighthead and blood loss was not good so pulled over again and a boaty family hitched a ride for me in some passer-bys wagon. NZ is great how everyone is so helpful! In the end there are about 11-15 stitches on two layers inside and 11 on the surface. I am lucky as missed muscle and tendons. Actually my partner watched as the doctor held the wound open and watched the tendons move as I moved my foot.
It is healing well so all I need to do is get bike back home. Until then I have found I can still make it to work without catching a bus!