KoroJ's Blog

This week was cold but it flew by as they seem to these days and I experienced a couple of firsts.

Early in the week, I was looking after my mates Jake & Elane-Mei again but this time after going through the pantomime for Jake to get his lolly, I was greeted by Elane by her putting her arms up to be picked up. She was full of smiles and very friendly and we reckoned it was a greaze to get a lollipop, so we gave it a shot and sure enough.....what a drooler. She enjoyed her first sweety (much to her mother's horror) and then she was done with me...I had outlived my usefulness. Not even one year old, and she already knows how to manipulate a situation!!

After an otherwise quiet week, I was looking forward to a ride on Sunday and fortunately, according to the met office, it looked like the weather was going to clear....yeah right. I arose today to find it was still cold (9º), and still overcast and drizzly. Both KiwiBiker and the Ulysses were supposed to have rides on but who was going to go out in this......Me! I figured I'd go through Upper Hutt and continue over the hill to visit my parents in Masterton. For the first time this year I put the liners in my tecknic pants and headed off for a fill-up before swinging by Caltex Rimutaka at about 0955, sure enough no KB'ers there so I continued down to the Brown Owl shops and what do you know, three other riders, rearing to go.....silly old farts!

I hooked-up and we went on the scheduled ride round Lake Wairarapa & on to Martinborough for brunch. There was a little drizzle and some fog at the top of the hill but the road was wet so we took it easy and we only passed one other rider coming south. It must have been the first time I have ridden over the Rimutaka Summit and there were no bikes loitering there and I think it would also be the first time I have ridden over the hill and my economy was over 16.5 k/ltr. (It was 17.9 and the temp had bottomed at 6º). We pootled on around the lake and by the time we got to Martinborough the weather was clearing. We met Tony, a lone Rider on an Indian Chief, and had a relaxing coffee and pie after which the other three headed back while I continued onto Masterton.

I went via Ponatahi Rd / Carters Line emerging just South of Masterton on East Taratahi Rd (most of it in sunshine) and spent an hour with my dad before heading back. Once again, an uneventful ride only passing one rider heading north over the hill and finally arriving home around 1500, 270kms done, warm and dry but the bike showing signs it had been through some weather.

A crappy day but another enjoyable ride and on the way back, seeing as I was the only rider on the road and taking one of the most leisurely rides one could take over the hill, for the first time, I will declare myself 'King-of-the-Hill' for 17 June 2007. (That act should secure my status as a 'KB Wellington Arrogant Wanker')