gijoe1313's Blogs

Now where was I? I was distracted by some enticing etchings that purport to be of some magnificent ladies in various states of repose and undress, all done in the best possible taste! Ah, but such delights for another time, I shall return to my dissertations of my diurnal wanderings ...

The light snow drifts turned into rock hard hail, the fact I could feel the impacts through my layers of gear was not noticed due to a Van Halens and Deth Metal concert with a drum and bass solo reverberating through my helmet.

Eventually the hail relented, instead it had its follow up of Dido and the White Chicks as more snow decided to see how fast it could pile up on the road. By this stage, most sensible motorists had stopped their perambulating through such conditions, I was verily on my own, with my left hand, I was using it as a wiper on my visor, such was the snow building up and turning into ice on it, the right hand was keeping a light touch on the throttle – since as we know, most high strung 1000cc motorbikes tend to be a touch responsive to throttle inputs!

A steady pace was maintained, and I even got into a rhythm – left hand wipe, right hand stay steady! I even had the time to think how it would be jolly good if someone invented a wiper for a visor or even a heated visor to deal with such instances as this!

Eventually my steady pace saw me catch up to a 4x4 who was travelling slower than me! I think this was too much for the poor driver and was embarrassed enough to head off to Raetihi instead. Obviously he thought he was holding up the poor motorcyclist behind him and took pity and go away! As if! I was merrily enjoying the track his tyres were ploughing through the white stuff collecting on the ground!

Ah well, onwards! By the time I got to Ohakune, I found my gloves had frozen into the last position they had been in before the tempatures saw them no longer being flexible! I pulled into the closed BP servo (yes, do bear with me, I tend to use those environmental criminals petroleum distribution outlets quite regularly – I have a BP fuel card to make my riding life oh so convenient!)

Some warning texts from DONOR and Gremlin found their way to my phone – warning me about the shite weather in my neck of the woods.

Ah. I see. Thanks for that chaps! But not to worry, I have mark one eyeball to keep me in the know!

I thawed my fingers out, washed my visor and … remembered I had some pairs of inner gloves to wear! Gosh! This preparation thing is paying off! Anyway, with a quick check over my bike, my goolies were still somewhat functional and not too traumatised by the drop in the mercury I was away again. Oh, yes, some people in the town that were out though I was quite mad. I must say to you, my effervescent purveyor of ride reports that I am quite mad, just not stupid! Crazy as fox, barking up the tree, mad dog in the noon day sun and Englishman mad – just not stupid!

And with this slight interruption to my journalistic endeavours, I shall meet you in the next section to come, yes, I promise I will be there waiting for you.