gijoe1313's Blogs

Well as I find myself unwinding from the stresses of another teaching year, I noticed my milage has alarmingly decreased from what I am wont to do! Now, this just won't do gentle reader. No, it just won't do at all.

I shall put this to rights by making my usual (dis)concerted efforts into exploring the high ways, the by ways, the low ways and any ways of our fair lands. Suffice to say, I shall ride as much as I can frikk'n do!

So, I shall catalogue, reference, mark, record, transcribe and other such inscrutable inponderables to ensure I have some sort of memory of my sojourns. Heavens forfend, I shall in my dotage suffer from the morbidity of memory and the patina of nostalgia weaves its gossamer threads about my persons.

Friday 11th : Released from school, I gaily saunter to my freedom and with a brisk cheerio, I robustly mount my iron steed and to quote an Americanism, get out of Dodge City.

I quickly pack my bag with all sorts of random assortments one takes on a random meander (well I do anyway). I decide to eschew the gimp gear and instead pack for a light session of bondage (for you sordid lot, that just means rain gear and a spare shirt).

Somehow I find myself pointed towards the Hunuas and from there, it is but a quick jaunt to the environs of Miranda. The view across the water was simply quite breathtaking, this convinced me to see it from the other side.

The alacrity I find myself at the Kopu bridge means I am at a cross roads. Coro loop or some other random option I am susceptible to.

Touched by a bit too much sun and the fumes of my teaching colleagues stress relieving imbibements, I merrily made my way to Paeroa and from there, I recalled the Karanghake gorge was a mighty fine ride.

Amazing how quick it all passes and as I was spat out the other side of the gorge, lo, I was well on my way to Tauranga!

It is to some regret I find the most excellent DMNTD and charming UNIT no longer part of the Taurangean community, many a fine hour I have spent unannounced on their doorstep. Regaled by their tales and refreshed for their conviviality.

I guess it was kismet to head to Pyes Pa road and to assault my olafactory senses with the sights, sounds and smells of our quaint volcanically active location of Rotorua ... or Rottenrua or Rotovegas or whatever schtick or moniker one comes up for tourist traps.

By this stage, the dark clouds, laden with pregnant promise of precipitation summoned forth their latent energies and hurled their contents upon the parched land below. Fortunately I had my yellow oilskin top and a most excellent rain pants to ensure my crotch was kept free from fluids that was not of my making (but the amount of sweat I generate in such clothing does rather make it a moot point).

From there it was an enjoyable ride in the rain (I do so enjoy riding so much, I enjoy the fulsome and effervescent tricks nature employs to the delight of the biking gods).

From there, it was back up to Auckland via some backroads, avoiding the 'Tron, Hamilhole or other uncharitable quips used for our fair Hamilton.

A quick check of the milage and a nice round figure of 623km (to be fair, this is no way comparable to the nice round curves of our fair feminine sex, but I digress).

I fear I have tarried too long on things inconsequential and not given enough to the riding, I shall endeavour to correct this forthwith in my other memoirs to come.

Your humble servant,
gijoe1313