Bloody Mad Woman (BMW)
15th January 2009, 20:25
Didn't make it around the East Cape
After Ahu's funeral I slept for a couple of days and then took the bus up on the Saturday. Stayed at Conquistador's who was fixing up my bike for a warrant and rego.
These country bumpkins that say it's only 20 mins down the road to the shop - like hell it was - I had this bright idea the kids and I would push bike there - stinking hot day. 40 mins later I arrive at the shop - the boys waiting for me - iceblock, drink and half an hour later I put my poor body on that cruel contraption of a push bike - it's not that I'm unfit (well slightly) but if I am meant to have a deformed arse I would have been born with one - not have a seat rearrange it into one.
I even jumped into the swimming pool at Pete's. My first summer swim.
Anyway I left for the East Cape on Wednesday around 2pm. Was feeling tired but thought just do it. I found some new vents in my jacket - under the arm - oh bliss. It was stinking hot. I stopped in Puterino - only about 45 mins from Napier - had to have an iceblock.
I have done this road many times but be buggered if I could remember it!! Quite nice to have a bit of alschiemers (sp wrong). The seal was bleeding big time - in parts they had put pea gravel down - makes for interesting riding.
Filled up at Gisborne then set out for Tolaga Bay. Love those roads. Visited friends in Tolaga Bay who offered me a bed however I declined - I had a brand new tent which I had yet to christen.
Well 50,000 pegs and 10 buckets of sweat later the tent was up. My old A frame tent took 10 mins - I felt claustiphobic in it - so got a dome tent - took about 45 mins to put up. Picture attached. I put it up next to the graveyard - figured I wouldn't get any trouble from that lot - they were very quiet which is more than I can say for the flamin bible basher singers down the other end of the camp. Their harmonies were good - shame about the type of songs - I was going to ask whether they could sing "Highway to Hell" lol.
Right it is getting quite dark once I'd finished the tent - time to pump up airbed - the fn plug on the bike wasn't working. Jesus wept - I was too stuffed to take the tent down and sleep at friends so just slept on the ground - surprisingly enough I did sleep - amazing what exhaustion can do lol. However the next afternoon I was a bit of a cripple.
Contemplation time: I am not going further up the line without an airbed so go to Plan B. I decided I would go to Gisborne and get a handpump for my bed then I would travel to Morere and camp there - lovely little motorcamp beside a river and sourrounded by native bush.
Had the most amazing pie and coffee at Cobbles Cafe in Tolaga Bay. (Better than the pie shop in Wairoa).
Arrived at Morere around 1pm, stripped bike gear off asap - had the campsite to myself, so just in shorts and bra, set tent up - 30 mins this time = pumped airbed - yeeha it worked - it was stinking hot I went straight to the river - which is normally freezing - was a nice cool temperature and stayed there, some people came along looking at the camp - so I had to stay in the water until they left. It would not have been a pretty sight for them lol.
Then I tried to have a nanny nap - too hot. So I got up and went for a wander - just around the corner was another Bandit - 1250 - very new. I had a good look at the bike. I eventually caught up with the rider - he had seen my bike and was looking for the bloke. We did exchange kb names and then yacked about bikes etc. This is the first time in about 6 years I have come across another biker at the same camp as me and doing what I do - ride on my own and camp out. Hopefully he will write up about his journey as it is amazing.
Met another lovely couple there. I woke at 6am!! I packed up very slowly - the other biker left about 8. I finally left at 10am - Had coffee with the above couple and again caught up with them in Wairoa.
I decided to go back to Napier and rest up - I had also run out of money to stay longer - and had enough just to get home to Welly.
Left Napier on Monday. Got pulled up by a cop in Woodville - I do observe the speed limits there as they often have a cop stationed there. He was checking regos and warrants - phew he would have got me big time on my way up!!!! But I was all clear - so I was sending a big thanks to Pete.
Have slept since I got back. I have finally slowed down on the bike - with so many deaths last year and the fact that I wasn't sure I would ever ride again - I was just grateful to be able to ride. And I also had to get used to riding again - 10 months without a decent run - I had time to enjoy the scenery. I needed the break and loved my time camping. Shame I couldn't have stayed longer. But better than nothing.
I have come back to Wellington and feel quite lost. Have to sort Ahu's things out. Winz have cut my benefit cos they can't fn read so have to sort that out. Oh well same shit different day lol. It is good to have the warm sunny weather tho.
After Ahu's funeral I slept for a couple of days and then took the bus up on the Saturday. Stayed at Conquistador's who was fixing up my bike for a warrant and rego.
These country bumpkins that say it's only 20 mins down the road to the shop - like hell it was - I had this bright idea the kids and I would push bike there - stinking hot day. 40 mins later I arrive at the shop - the boys waiting for me - iceblock, drink and half an hour later I put my poor body on that cruel contraption of a push bike - it's not that I'm unfit (well slightly) but if I am meant to have a deformed arse I would have been born with one - not have a seat rearrange it into one.
I even jumped into the swimming pool at Pete's. My first summer swim.
Anyway I left for the East Cape on Wednesday around 2pm. Was feeling tired but thought just do it. I found some new vents in my jacket - under the arm - oh bliss. It was stinking hot. I stopped in Puterino - only about 45 mins from Napier - had to have an iceblock.
I have done this road many times but be buggered if I could remember it!! Quite nice to have a bit of alschiemers (sp wrong). The seal was bleeding big time - in parts they had put pea gravel down - makes for interesting riding.
Filled up at Gisborne then set out for Tolaga Bay. Love those roads. Visited friends in Tolaga Bay who offered me a bed however I declined - I had a brand new tent which I had yet to christen.
Well 50,000 pegs and 10 buckets of sweat later the tent was up. My old A frame tent took 10 mins - I felt claustiphobic in it - so got a dome tent - took about 45 mins to put up. Picture attached. I put it up next to the graveyard - figured I wouldn't get any trouble from that lot - they were very quiet which is more than I can say for the flamin bible basher singers down the other end of the camp. Their harmonies were good - shame about the type of songs - I was going to ask whether they could sing "Highway to Hell" lol.
Right it is getting quite dark once I'd finished the tent - time to pump up airbed - the fn plug on the bike wasn't working. Jesus wept - I was too stuffed to take the tent down and sleep at friends so just slept on the ground - surprisingly enough I did sleep - amazing what exhaustion can do lol. However the next afternoon I was a bit of a cripple.
Contemplation time: I am not going further up the line without an airbed so go to Plan B. I decided I would go to Gisborne and get a handpump for my bed then I would travel to Morere and camp there - lovely little motorcamp beside a river and sourrounded by native bush.
Had the most amazing pie and coffee at Cobbles Cafe in Tolaga Bay. (Better than the pie shop in Wairoa).
Arrived at Morere around 1pm, stripped bike gear off asap - had the campsite to myself, so just in shorts and bra, set tent up - 30 mins this time = pumped airbed - yeeha it worked - it was stinking hot I went straight to the river - which is normally freezing - was a nice cool temperature and stayed there, some people came along looking at the camp - so I had to stay in the water until they left. It would not have been a pretty sight for them lol.
Then I tried to have a nanny nap - too hot. So I got up and went for a wander - just around the corner was another Bandit - 1250 - very new. I had a good look at the bike. I eventually caught up with the rider - he had seen my bike and was looking for the bloke. We did exchange kb names and then yacked about bikes etc. This is the first time in about 6 years I have come across another biker at the same camp as me and doing what I do - ride on my own and camp out. Hopefully he will write up about his journey as it is amazing.
Met another lovely couple there. I woke at 6am!! I packed up very slowly - the other biker left about 8. I finally left at 10am - Had coffee with the above couple and again caught up with them in Wairoa.
I decided to go back to Napier and rest up - I had also run out of money to stay longer - and had enough just to get home to Welly.
Left Napier on Monday. Got pulled up by a cop in Woodville - I do observe the speed limits there as they often have a cop stationed there. He was checking regos and warrants - phew he would have got me big time on my way up!!!! But I was all clear - so I was sending a big thanks to Pete.
Have slept since I got back. I have finally slowed down on the bike - with so many deaths last year and the fact that I wasn't sure I would ever ride again - I was just grateful to be able to ride. And I also had to get used to riding again - 10 months without a decent run - I had time to enjoy the scenery. I needed the break and loved my time camping. Shame I couldn't have stayed longer. But better than nothing.
I have come back to Wellington and feel quite lost. Have to sort Ahu's things out. Winz have cut my benefit cos they can't fn read so have to sort that out. Oh well same shit different day lol. It is good to have the warm sunny weather tho.