Personal entry

Two weeks of not much riding, but it's been quite eventful.

A couple of us were talking on Tuesday of last week about going down to Blenheim for the 'Longest Day' 1000km endurance ride on 3 November when I suggested, “Why bother with the Ferry, we can organise our own ride”. The next day I had established several route options, but on that day, my mate Steve came to grief when his 'Busa decided it didn't like p-gravel.

He wasn't going to be much help (and it put him ...

I have booked my bike in for its' 18,000 km service on Tuesday, so needed to do a 400+ km ride this weekend to get the kms on the dial. The plan was to do a pre-GC (Grand Challenge 1000miler) night ride, probably over the 'hill', up through Pongaroa to Dannevirke, Saddle then Track, back over the 'hill', Akatarawa Road to Waikanae and back to home. (approximately 450 -500 kms). But after meeting up with DennisR in Motorad on Friday, I had a change of plan as he and Bazza57 were looking at a ride ...

Last Sunday, after spending most of the week in Masterton with my family, it was a lovely day and I felt the need for a blow-out, so I popped out to Riversdale for a coffee. Without really pushing it I got out to the beach in 28 minutes and went for a wee tiki tour / nostalgia trip to check out the old haunts. It's a very different place to where we used to holiday. I enjoyed a coffee at the shop, then realised I was supposed to be back for a family gathering in 20 minutes, so it was a fairly quick ...

It was most fortunate that I called to see my dad when I was out riding last Sunday, because he collapsed on Monday and passed away early Tuesday.

My dad was a ratbag…He stole the chips off my plate and made me hug my sister after I teased her into a frenzy.

He watched me play sport, encouraging me and giving tips on gamesmanship, which I might add, he was an expert at the art of legal dirty tricks.

He took us on family outings to rivers and beaches, ...

Another real busy week at work and I was privileged with a visit from my mates Jake & Eleni. After our niceties, Jake was excited to take me outside to show me his digger that he had just picked-up from the toy library. That was cool and I sent them off with the appropriate sugar fix.

I wasn't planning to ride this weekend, but I figured I needed a fix on Saturday after I felt the need to go down the Ngaio Gorge and back up Onslow Road to get from Ngaio to Khandallah, so after getting ...

I've had to do a few late nights at work this week as my co-worker, Lynn is away for two weeks and I'm having to cover the accounts as well as processing so it hasn't left much time for anything else.

After last weeks marathon ride and with crappy weather forecast, I was quite happy not to ride this weekend as I was supposed to head up to Taupo for the Ulysses Remembrance Run but we also had a 60th birthday to go to. On Saturday, a day that saw high winds cause the Rimutaka Hill to ...

It's been another no-ride week, which is odd as I don't feel like I'm suffering from withdrawal symptoms. I guess that's because it's been a busy week, both at work and home, going out several times and watching lots of Tour de France highlights.

Tuesday we went to the birthday celebration of a client and ended up scoring tickets to the Tall Blacks versus Venezuela 3rd test. I'm not a fan of basketball but it was a good night out. Thursday we went to two plays at Bats, 'Once were ...

It's been a no-ride week so I have had to amuse myself in other ways, without resorting to gardening or tidying the garage, or cleaning the bike. Not a problem, I managed to finish three light-catchers today and I have enjoyed watching the Tour de France racing. Alexander Vinokourov continues to inspire with his never-say-die attitude whereby, despite having 60 odd stitches in his knees and elbows, he has dragged himself back into the top 10 with an outstanding performance in the 1st time trial. ...