Gremlin's Tall Stories

Tuesday...

Early alarms were an old joke by now, but 0500 still wasn't an easy rise. This time, it was a ferry at 0630, check in at 0530. The owners had kindly left the complimentary breakfast out for us, knowing we were leaving early. Hastily consumed, gear packed, the other two bikers staying at the backpackers had already left several minutes prior.

They didn't get far ahead... one vehicle in front of us in Lane 9. No chains out again on the ferry, so a bit of fiddling with the truck tie down points and the bikes were safely secured. Overpriced food on the ferry not required, the trip was spent dozing and chatting with one of the bikers who was from up north, and knew the bikers involved in the accident (and while not in the same group TT wise, were all travelling together) in Golden Downs.

With Toto due in Auckland by nightfall, and with me staying in Wellington, due to work, we said our goodbyes on the ferry. Left Toto following the right route out of Wellington, I reckoned he should make Auckland without many problems. Rest of the day was seeing clients. Went hunting for dinner around the West Plaza Hotel and found a small fish and chip place and enjoyed a meal.


Wednesday...


As usual, didn't get enough sleep, watching too many movies and up early around 0830. Continental breakfast was included (gotta love wotif) and once that was clarified with the front desk on checkout, more clients until the early afternoon.

The previous day, I had found a great Takeaways between Lambton Quay and Featherston street, which had lasagne and bolognese and run by a very nice old lady. Back there for another lunch stop, there was a bit of no mans land opposite, next to the entry to a parking garage, and with all the bike spaces full (let alone find a space that would fit panniers) the space was handy.

With a sense of relief, I left Wellington. I had got used to the country, with small towns, little traffic and easy navigation far too easily but who cares. It was great being in the country. The night stop was Turangi, and I wasn't going to suffer through SH1 again, and the straights around Marton. This time, I chose the Rimutakas, briefly stopping for gas in Featherston. Gotta love a long range, as I hadn't filled since Christchurch on Monday. The old petrol station attendant was stunned, and almost charged my gas to another person who had a small fill. He had previously ridden, so a few stories were swapped and I was on my way. No fill would be required to make Turangi.

As I approached the turn off for Mangamarie, I was reminded of the back route I had learned from locals in Carterton on a previous trip. Brakes applied with haste, I just made the turn off, and proceeded the back way to the Pahiatua Track. More corners, turns and SH54 later and guided by the GPS I was back on SH1, but thoroughly enjoying my meandering trip north. Travelling with less time pressures yielded such great riding! With the GPS now listing my ETA around 1930, it was time to reach Turangi, so proceeded up SH1 at legal pace. Desert Rd isn't too bad, certainly not the best road in the country, but better than a lot.

Exiting Desert Rd, I had the satisfaction of meeting someone more crazy than me. The bike was listing an air temperature around 6 degrees, and a cyclist came the opposite way, wearing nothing but her lycra shorts and T-shirt. Definitely crazy in those temperatures. The only other interruption to the monotony was coming over a crest onto a straight and finding an oncoming cop. Apparently my mkII eyeballs were better than his markI ones, and jumping on the rear brake dropped the handful of kph required to be legal. Unmolested, I carried on the short distance to Turangi and checked in around 1930.

By 2000, I was unpacked, bedding made. Difficult decisions such as finding a meal, showering in the open block and what to do for the evening were solved by jumping into bed and going to sleep. I fell asleep pondering when I last went to bed by 2015, but fell asleep before finding an answer