KiwiPhoenix

So through the Chch maintenance night last week I was told about the St Johns Ambulance run to Little River. Thank you Wayne!!!

Wayne said the magic word "spare helmet" He offered to let me ride pillion to which I jumped at the chance! So we organised to meet at the mall at 12.

My DF, my DD and I were there at 11am, just enough time to get some breakfast. I had a severe case of butterflys and as the departure time loomed, the stomach was doing flips!

So I met Wayne and a few others and got sorted with my helmet and had a look around at the bikes! Wow, there are some stunning bikes out there!

Then at 1pm we set off! We were at the start of the pack and according to my DF it took about 15-20mins for the bikes to set off!

We regrouped at Halswell and what a sight to behold. I got off the bike and I have to say the sight of all these bikes lined up was awesome!

We set off for Little River. The weather was nice, not too hot and not too cold but as we were leaving Halswell the wind picked up!!!!

I still felt nervous, I was riding with someone that I had only just met and I really was placing my trust in this person. The one thing that I did realise though was it's not just about the person riding the bike but also the pillion has to be trusted as well.

After stopping at Little River I did apologise to Wayne for the helmet clunking (when we set off) and the tight hugging, although I don't think he was too bothered about the hugging! Again I was able to have a look at all the bikes!

So after having a wander around it was time to go and a couple of them made the decision to come back through Gebbies Pass, I wasn't bothered, I just wanted back on the bike! We set off and I felt alittle more relaxed, well at least for a bit until we were coming up to a corner and then these two harley's overtook us and then because of the corner they had to brake pretty hard, not a good thing especially when we then had to brake hard. Now being new to riding pillion, I was partically sitting on Wayne's back as he had to brake!

By the time we had got back to Christchurch my heart rate was through the roof! I haven't come over the Gebbies Pass for a couple of years and that was in a car so doing it in a bike, wow I didn't realise how scary it was!!!!

Sitting in the pub afterwards and after my heart rate got back to normal, I had to again apologise to Wayne for the tight hugging and then the steering! I was grabbing his jacket and every time we went round a corner I would steer the jacket! He did say though it was funny!

Now having had a beer and still not wanting to go home we decided that we would do the summit round from Sign of the Kiwi through Sumner and back into town!!

Now, if you want to share the living crap out of a new rider take them over this road especially as it's getting dark, there is a strong wind, it's cloudy and you have a new pillion rider! Oh and add in a sheep jumping out and you have the most scariest ride ever!

After doing the Summit Road and getting back to the level 50kph roads I have realised that you do need to work up to getting your licence and it's something that can't be rushed! I will eventually work up to riding the Summit Road again but for the time being I'll stick to the roads I know!