Gremlin's Tall Stories

After enjoying the Coro Loop, I knew I didn't need to do much to tempt GiJoe into a Cape Reinga ride. For those not familiar, its the top of the North Island. Not considered a day trip by most, its a little over 1000km with the route we take, and we finish during the night (depending on when we leave Auckland naturally). In the past two trips up, the first, we helped a biker who broke his ankle on the gravel at the top, delaying our trip by over 4 hours, getting home around 5am, and the chap who joined us for the ride (GiJoe, myself and the other guy) has rarely spoken to either of us again. Wonder if we scared him off?

The second trip was better, with more people (Toto, GiJoe, myself and a fella on a busa). Going up was quite smooth sailing, coming back south I wanted to try an alternative to the main route north of Kerikeri. Unfortunately, (those who know me well are never surprised any more) this turned out to be over 30km of gravel, and a turn off we wouldn't have found if it wasn't for my trusty GPS (some have come to curse it I believe for continuously finding the gravel and untravelled roads. I love this!). Busa had had his bike less than a month I believe (I only found out well after the ride) and when stopping in the middle of nowhere for a re-group, on gravel, in the middle of the night, Toto dropped his hornet and somehow figured out I was at fault. It was hardly nowhere, as it even had a streetlight (ok, even I was surprised to see it).

This time, Toto is working, so its just GiJoe and myself. Planning to meet at Botany Honda around 9am (we both had a couple of things to sort aka, annoy the hell out of the staff). This didn't start well, as I worked late and climbed into bed at 2.30am. GiJoe isn't amused, and because he doesn't get out of the house early, he gets roped into helping his parents in the evening, so he will need to turn back at some point. Somehow, he figures out I'm to blame (plus the loss of riding time). Resuming the role of anchor to GiJoe is one I cherish, and hold dear to my heart. We eventually leave Botany Honda at 1pm.

We hate the main roads, finding them boring, so we headed out west, filled in Westgate and headed up the usual Old North, Peak and SH16, but keeping the speeds well within the limits as it has earned its nickname of Hazard Country. Brief stop in Wellsford to check GiJoe is happy (that would be an obvious yes) and we pootle down the boring straights to Dargahell. The straights even entertained us this time, passing through a storm front, with impressive amounts of rain in short time, and due to the weather system over the island this weekend past, we had blustery winds all the way north, making cornering that little bit harder. It went a little something like this in long sweepers:
- hmm, I say, running a bit wide, apply correction
- huh, still running wide, more correction needed
- HOLY HELL almost at the centreline, SORT IT OUT!
The rain just added to the mix, but I just accepted we had our insane handles returned to us (the sort where people mutter under their breath and shake their heads, with that "poor bugger, completely off his trolley" expression).

In Dargaville, with less than 200km travelled from Westgate, it felt more like 300-400km, but that simply meant a better work out, and better for training. Decided Subway was a good lunch idea at 3.30pm and took half an hour off. Afterwards, GiJoe was tossing up if he could do Waipoua Forest (while cursing and whining at me) before returning to fulfil his obligations. He evidently couldn't, so I got to send him on his way back to Auckland. We did plan that with duties finished, he could head north again, and it was likely we'd meet around Whangarei (any excuse for a ride!) I carried on North, through Waipoua Forest, Opononi and with no need to stop, just kept going. GPS decided I should use the Rawene Car Ferry, which I declined, then it gave up, and offered me a shortcut that looked to cut off Kaikohe (which I didn't need anyway, gas wise). I had never been this way before, so thought it was a brilliant time to investigate Horeke Rd. A beautiful rolling road in excellent condition followed, wow, so quiet as well. Again, my curious nature didn't fail me, and it turned to gravel. Never one to turn around until it becomes a real trail (and by oneself) I carried on, a few more twists and turns later, I was back on seal and SH1 eventually appeared. Bike was a lot more dirty now, but then it seems to attract dirt like moths to a flame.

On SH1 I headed north and as night began to fall, I entered the Mangamukas. Then it started raining quite hard. Still on the tinted visor from the afternoon, I wasn't planning on stopping before Kaitaia, so just carried on. Started cursing road workers wondering why on earth SH1 didn't have reflective markers, then cloud closed right in and visibility went down to 10m or sometimes less. This was getting a bit ridiculous, and I realised it was plenty dark enough now for high beam, so switch it on. WOW, hey, reflective markers all over the place, double the visibility, this is heaps better! Hang on a minute... back to low beam. Darkness descends. Oh crap, I've just lost low beam.

I'll take a moment now to apologise to all those driving up north on Saturday evening, night and early hours of Sunday morning. I consider it a mark of a professional driver to dip their lights for oncoming traffic, don't blind drivers when you approach from behind etc. Of course, I couldn't do this. When some did flash their high beams to remind me, all I could do was briefly turn to low, and hope the lack of any light explained the situation.

I was still at least 40km from Kaitaia, but too far north to turn around to reach Whangarei on the tank, so I carried on north and arrived in Kaitaia. Met a real good bugger working in Caltex Kaitaia who had helped finish the re-sealing, did hunting etc, and after the servo had no bulbs he had a rummage around in his truck, but still no luck. Too late on a Saturday for the likes of Repco etc, it was now after 7pm. Reaching the Cape was now out of the question, much to dangerous to continue heading north with only one remaining beam (Katie is a single headlight bulb). GiJoe is txted, around 7.20pm he has returned home and sympathises with me. I inform him I'm heading back, too dangerous etc and leave Kaitaia around 8pm after having several good yarns with the aforementioned bloke.

Again, I'm saying sorry in my head to every oncoming vehicle that I blind. I know the Hella +90% bulbs are seriously powerful on high beam, its why I use them after all. 40-50km south of Kaitaia, my predicament grows exponentially, when dipping for an oncoming car and flicking back to high beam, I'm presented with nothing but a blue light on the dash and complete darkness. Yes, for the first time in over 120,000km, I had blown both filaments in a bulb. Screeching to halt on the roadside, my first question is, what now? I'm in the middle of nowhere, I presume no mobile coverage, complete darkness. Well, no choice but to carry on, albeit at a much lower speed. GPS is turned off to assist with night vision. Couple of km later I realise I can use the small light I have attached to the right mirror. I put it on after the 2008 Grand Challenge when I realised that stopping in the country at night, you have no light, making it difficult to even put the keys in the ignition. Clutching it in my left hand, covering the sides so to not blind me, I carry on one handed, shining the light in front of me. I get reasonably used to this, and I can start maintaining 60-70kph with corners still slowing me down as I figure out where the hell they are going. Thanked my love for carrots continuously.

After a while, I realise this isn't really working, doubting the ability for cars to notice the small light, and realise the biggest risk is oncoming cars thinking its safe to overtake. Not wanting to be collected, I start using my indicator instead, knowing its much brighter, and gives me light every now and then to figure out where all the reflective thingies are leading me. Eventually I reach Okaihau, somewhat relieved, stop, and put a phone call into GiJoe, which went a little something like this:
Gr: uh, yes, hi there, umm, I think it would be really great if you could bring a spare bulb north with you.
Gi: ah yes, I understand, having a rough time?
Gr: well yes, I've also now lost my high beam, so I'm riding by indicator light
*at this point I imagine his face looks a little something like this:
Gi: oh wow, well, the best thing to do is find somewhere to stop, in a town and I'll head north, where are you?
Gr: I'm in Okaihau
Gi: where?
Gr: O-k-a-i-h-a-u, I'm staying on SH1, so just head north until you see a bike with its indicator on
Gr: I'm going to carry on heading south anyway, so I'll probably stop in Whangarei if I get that far
Gi: Ok, I'm going to finish up, then I'll head north

Back on the bike, indicator on, and I trundle off into the night, shaking my head at the turn of events. As I head south, I think of the best way to do it. I had seen plenty of cars heading north, but nothing south. Do I risk stopping and waiting for a car or do I try to catch up to one? I'm warmer on the bike than off, so best to carry on, but highly doubt my chances of actually going faster than cars with headlights. The road starts to open up and the moon is out. I find myself reaching 90-100kph at times, thinking I'm definitely mad . Nevertheless, I eventually see tail lights in the distance, but it takes me a while to close on the car. As I do, it turns into an establishment on the side of the road. The chances of that are insane.

Back into the darkness I go, hoping there will be something else, and in due course, I catch up to a Fonterra tanker (thank you to Mr 5603 or something like that), and sit behind it eating diesel fumes. Not ideal, and I think to myself, I could probably go faster than him, but its a lot safer being behind for oncoming cars, so I sit there. Not a bad pace, hitting 90kph now and then, but 30kph up hills On a passing lane, I get the opportunity to upgrade to a hatchback that passes, and this is much better (gave the tanker driver a wave). 80kph odd up hills, 100kph now and then, I sit behind the hatchback all the way into Whangarei. In hindsight, it was an excellent choice as the tanker would probably have turned off at the factory.

Pulling up at the 24/7 Caltex in Whangarei, I'm rather relieved, then realise right next to it is a Burger King. Well finally, this adventure/predicament is looking up. Go to park up, completely miss an island and ride right over it No damage done at the slow speed, but cursed myself for not seeing it.

Txt sent to GiJoe informing him of my location, he's already on his way north, and sends me updates from Orewa, Wellsford etc. Burger and fries consumed, and far too many refills, I want the toilet, but with all the gear lying on a seat and the table, I can't be arsed carrying it with me and I'm certainly not leaving it unattended. He won't be long anyway...

Approximately 2 hours later he rolls in at midnight, as the doors to BK have been locked and I can go to the toilet in safety. Murphy's law. Head on out to accept the most expensive bulb delivery ever, the good bugger has brought two spares just in case, as we do have an unusual reputation for crazy stuff. Put his +90% bulb in, only to find no low beam again And the same again with the second spare. Careful inspection of the bulb reveals it is possible they are blown, but we also can't rule out a problem in the electrical circuits. Caltex doesn't have bulbs, but one across town does. GiJoe wants to head there, but I say bugger it. I'll lead, if it blows again, you take over, lets just get down to Auckland, I have 4 spare bulbs.

Down to Auckland we pottered leaving Whangarei at 1am, wow, some light was a much welcome addition. Kept high on unless flashed and while boring, at least the trip was largely uneventful, bar a cop right behind us as we were passing a van in a passing lane. Not after us thankfully, but my speed was definitely borderline. The high filament lasted all the way back to Auckland, but even so, I rested it in the areas with streetlights, not really wanting it to blow (and feeling rather paranoid given my last few hours). I bade farewell to GiJoe at the South Eastern Highway, and bizarrely, low beam started working on the Pakuranga highway all the way home

I chalked it up to just one of those rides, and went to bed.