KoroJ's Blog

Thank God that’s over!!

2012 has been another ‘short’ year where I feel I’m just getting used to writing ‘/12’ for the date and it’s already time to start on ‘/13’!

Highlights for the year were:…..Bugger Me! I don’t think there were any!!

Lows:

• I missed the TT2000 due to a lack of pingers (couldn’t sell the old red, painting flats and too many trips), plus the dodgy-hip and lack of conditioning. That was a bummer because I was planning to do the 5 Compass Points for a circumnavigation of the Sth Island plus Lake Tekapo, which was to be 2,857Km in 48 hours, and now the Powers-that-be have encouraged the organisers to drop all the additional incentive awards.

• I eventually sold the Red…but only got $7,500 for it.

• I wrote off my lovely New-Beaut-Black-Beauty by hitting black ice at the Makatote Viaduct on SH4!

• The Rustys pulled the pin on running the 2012 Grand Challenge!

• I finally had enough of the ‘Dodgy-Hip’ so I had to have the op!....and the recovery continues.

• Six months between bikes made me realise how much money I have actually been blowing on gas, tyres and servicings!

• A good dose of PTS and 6 months between bikes meant a good dose of nerves and some tentative riding once back in the saddle.

I guess there were a few highs though

• I did sell the Red

• I lived to tell the tale of ‘How to write off a bike in half-a-heartbeat’….or was that a quarter-of-a-wrist-pulse??

• The Rusty’s pulled the pin on running the 2012 GC….so I got a new hip!

• I got a new bike…the Old-Beaut-Black-Beauty (2010 ST with 19,000Km replaced the New-Beaut-Black-Beauty (2011 ST with 13,000Km)

• I farkled up the new bike and the dashingly fine pretty red Stebel Nautilus 129dB horn arrived today….and will soon be hidden inside the faring.

• I did another Capital 1,000Km Cruise, another Muscular Dystrophy Ride and I’m considering next year’s TT2000 in February.

• I read 75 books this year (included the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo trilogy - Stig Larson; 5 Game of Thrones books - George RR Martin; 23 book Sharpes War Series - Bernard Cornwell; 20 book Master & Commander Series - Patrick O’Brien; 4 book Genghis Khan Series – Conn Iggulden; some Louis L’Amours, a few others and finally….some Motorcyling Self Help Books from MSF, David Hough & IAM).

All in all, I survived the holocaust booked in for 21/12/2012, have a nice new tin hip and another pretty black bike on which to enjoy some more Km’s while I am still in good health. Tomorrow I’ll enjoy a quiet day at home, cook a hangi in the UFO, enjoy some family-time and maybe give some thought to what’s-up for 2013.