Gremlin's Tall Stories

Damn those Wellingtonian riders. While chatting at the end of the Grand Challenge, Wuzards-Eugene and XP@ had tried to talk me into doing the C1KC, or Capital 1000km Cruise. Organised by KoroJ, its a 1000km ride starting in Wellington and runs each year. Aimed at attracting more riders into longer distance riding, it's a ride I have never done before.

Of course, there was a small hitch. It started in Wellington at 0630 on a Saturday morning. I was in Auckland. Rather than take a day off to head down to Wellington, the solution was obvious. Finish work for the day, then pack and head down overnight. After all, I still need to build up to the TT2000 next year. On second thoughts, I thought it was probably wise to have a brief nap on Friday early evening, before going down.

As is now the norm, this uh, didn't go according to plan. I finished work late, around 8pm. By the time I got home, packed, prepared my gear and had a bite to eat it was after 10pm, and no point trying to grab an hour of sleep, as I knew I would feel worse than if I didn't have a sleep. Then I realised I hadn't actually finished the route plan for the C1KC, and hadn't sorted fuel stops. Bit more work and its complete, then send all the data to the GPS etc. Suddenly its 2315, and I had planned to leave at 2300. Gear up, fill up, and I'm on my way out of Auckland at 2330.

SH1 to SH2, then SH27, the roads are even quieter than when I went to Taupo the previous weekend, so it was easy to settle into a nice smooth mile munching pace. The single necessary fuel stop was taken in Turangi around 3am, and the buggers wouldn't open up for the toilet. Tempted to piss on their wall instead, I went around to the Truck Stop instead. Back on the road, the weather on the Desert Rd was interesting to say the least. First it was rain, which wasn't too bad, but that quickly changed to wind and dense fog, so thick you could see 5-10 lane markers ahead and that was it. Some corners were accidentally found when the centre line was trying to jab the bike in its side. After speaking to some of the Wellington riders later on, it appears there was some sort of front, so that explains the weather I guess.

Down the straights to Wellington it was very windy indeed, requiring me to lean the bike constantly to counter the wind. I thought to myself it must look a bit comical for the oncoming cars to see my LED strips at an angle. I ignored the little voice asking me to do Piecock hill as it was windy and wet, and I figured it probably wasn't the best idea. Rolling into Caltex Rimutaka around 0630, some riders are departing but there is a large group standing around. Not sure what is going on, I spot some familiar faces and fill the bike. A quick check in, Ann must have already been told who I am and XP@ seems to have decided he's riding with me. I seem to get a sense that they're watching, and all my voices agree

Now that the sun is up, I can finally swap to the tinted visor, as the sun already felt bright through the clear visor. Out comes the tinted visor... and the damn thing won't fit. Wondering whats wrong with the stupid thing I learn that HJC visors don't fit a Shoei helmet. Imagine that?! Yeup... I brought the wrong visor. How lovely, considering I can't even remember the last time I rode in daylight with a clear visor, but it was definitely years ago.

Most of the riders had by now left, so we rolled out of Rimutaka around 0715, with XP@ in the lead, me following and someone behind. KoroJ isn't too far behind that either. The roads are still wet, riders had complained of the poor conditions at the Caltex, but I commented it was far worse on desert road and the straights. Over to Masterton we go, and I'm rather happy XP@ is in the lead, as Te Ore Ore Rd is right after a roundabout, so I would probably have had to U-turn when I missed it. Instead, he knows immediately to turn. Handy following locals

These roads have debris all over them, including one part when a massive branch has fallen down and almost completely blocking the road. The Angels appear to be performing well, with very little loss in traction through the slippery bits. XP@ seems to be leading a keen pace at the front, the fella behind us is dropping back a bit, so we wait at an intersection. The first picture stop is Pongaroa, and we've caught a few bikes and KoroJ isn't far behind. By Porangahau we've lost the fella behind and as the roads open up and have dried off, we pick up the pace a bit, catch twosup on the busa and pass, before Waipukurau. These roads are familiar, as several of them were used during the Grand Challenge a matter of weeks before. I knew XP@ needed fuel at Waipukurau, so I led him to the fuel station, pointed and gave him a wave. He waved back, and I carried on, as I only needed to fuel at Bay View and wanted to get into my pace.

Before Napier/Hastings we had to make a detour to collect a photo at Patangata, and this is the first time I've ever seen these roads. Magical choice by KoroJ, River and Middle Rd are simply brilliant, really suiting Katie, with hills and dips and a real mix of corners. Deceptively fast and well sealed. Probably my favourite road of the day.

On the way to Bay View I'm doing some mental calculations of distance vs time, how it is stacking up, and initially I'm thinking its my 2nd fuel stop, I'm 2/3 of the way through the ride, except I haven't even been to Wairoa and can't think where my other imaginary fuel stop was.... hmmm more tired than I think when I realise I'm actually only a third of the way through. Must be the commute down as well, as I've now clocked up a full 1000km since leaving home. 350km wouldn't make me feel like this, but 1000km+ would...

I decide to reward myself with a nice chicken and veg pie at Bay View and a piece of cake. Twosup somehow sneaks ahead of me by Bay View. I left Patangata with him behind me, and as I roll into Bay View, there he is, already fueled and parked up I did take one small wrong turn, but surprised how he managed to slip ahead... he must have a time machine (aka a busa perhaps?) He thinks its hilarious, I put it down to being tired. KoroJ turns up at Bay View, and his ST1300 has literally just ticked over 100,000km. A milestone indeed, and nothing better than having it happen during a ride

A reasonably lonely ride ensues to Wairoa, passing the odd bike, but seeing very few. 20km from Wairoa I start seeing the leaders returning, so I know I'm not too far behind. Upon reaching the Wairoa signboard, I've only seen about 7 riders going the other way, so assume most are spending time in wairoa. I choose the cunning option like I used on the TT2000 earlier this year. Photo proof is required of a town, and the speed or welcome boards to a town are the perfect proof without wasting time in town trying to get till receipts.

This means I probably overtook several riders like this, as I don't see twosup again until the end, along with others. The trip south to Ashhurst was definitely the worst part of the trip. I was constantly struggling to stay alert and remember very little of the roads. If they had been tighter or twistier it would have been much easier. I did catch and pass one bike who had a orange haz vest, after sitting behind them for a while, but can't remember who they were either...

Going into Ashhurst via the Gorge, I know I'm now 2/3 complete and take a welcome break at the Mobil. A bunch of cruisers pitch up as well and evidently have no idea how to fill up at a petrol station in large groups, blocking the pumps. Then a car tries to push in front of me, so having had enough, I push back past. A brief break, drink and some food, definitely feeling a little worn out.

From here, its up Kimbolton and Pemberton way for a picture on a random little corner. Its at this point I notice I no longer have a chain guard. Could have sworn I had one at the start of the ride. Gyah, Katie has managed to throw away ANOTHER part. At this rate, I might start leaving parts of the bike all over the country. The country already has some bolts I would have preferred having.

No riders are around, and I carry on to Ohingaiti for the 2nd time this weekend. There, I meet up with a silver BMW who started at Masterton, and he reckons if I started at Rimutaka, and have now caught up to him, I must be doing a good pace. There is only a few ahead, mostly from the Manawatu and apparently setting a good pace. Its the last photo stop and we both head down SH1. I can't stomach the thought of more SH1 all the way to Wellington and turn off onto SH54 to have some fun around Vinegar Hill. Back through the Kimbolton area (2nd time for the weekend) and SH57, then back onto SH1.

Going through Otaki I catch up to a couple of V-Stroms, and seeing no need to overtake, I settle in behind them for the boring run into Wellington. I toss up between Piecock Hill and boring SH1, and since I already did SH1 in the morning... hmmm talk about going in circles... I decide I definitely want to play on Piecock hill instead as I haven't done it for probably over a year. The V-stroms decide the same thing, so we all turn off. I'm immediately reminded how narrow the road is, for a two lane road. Normally roads this narrow don't have a centre line, like Route 52. The 2nd V-strom appears that he's going to hold me up, while the front looks to be doing a better pace. Down what I guess I could call a straight I pass him, and follow the front V-strom through the road. Certainly a fun road, but to be respected with all the cyclists, crazy cars etc.

Out the other side, we wait for the 2nd v-strom to catch up, then proceed into Wellington. The 2nd v-strom is now leading but they get split by a traffic light, and the one I followed through Piecock Hill (Frank) isn't sure of how to get to Parrot and Jigger, the finish point. I do, so take the lead. It turns out the Pub is hidden behind some others, so while the GPS is accurate, its just getting to it. A handful of bikes are already there, and more come in as we remove our gear.

A nice evening follows, I didn't even fall asleep, but I did completely forget I wanted wedges, and almost confused the poor waitress when she was certain that's what I had ordered. Once some of the other riders found out I had "popped by" from Auckland, they thought I was a little mad to have done it back to back, but accepted that "Because I can" was a suitable answer to why.

I think thats enough for one blog... so Part 2 will continue the rest of the weekend. Feel free to have a drink before continuing.