The perfect day

[Milts]

Having divided most of my time between work and my flatmates, I haven't had a good ride in ages. Given the forcast for today I decided to make the time to check out Western Lake Road, somewhere I've never ridden but have always intended to.

Sleep in and wake up to the sunniest day we've had in what seems like months. Gear on, head out along SH2, and spot a sign saying "drivers - look out for motorcyclists". A nice change from the "no place to race" ones I'm used to.

Fuel up the Triumph at the bottom of the Rimutakas, and follow a very shiney Ducati 1198 up the south side - that is until he left me in his dust. Heading down the north side I have no fewer than three cars pull over and wave me past. Thumbs up to all of them.

Stop in Featherston to check the tire pressures and get a drink, and the station is playing "Born to be Wild" (seriously). Find Western Lake Road, no traffic, and everything becomes a blur (figuratively speaking, of course). By the time I get to the end and turn around I've forgotten all about ACC, registration costs, work, Katman - I couldn't have asked for a better ride. Even the hot leathers fail to bother me. I can't believe I've never come along here before, but it's now top of my list of rides.

Wave to what must have been hundreds of motorcyclists as I cruise home and enjoy the views of the Wellington region. Also waved to a cop who was sitting in his car with his lazer out, and he waved back.

Fuck life's good. I'll have to take a camera next time.

[Mully]

I love it when everything come together.

Nice write-up, easy to imagine along with you (now, if i could just get out of the house to scrub in these new tyres)

[Katman]

(now, if i could just get out of the house to scrub in these new tyres)

Get back inside and scrub those dishes.

[thepom]

Ha ha ha katman,that was funny......

[baptist]

+1 Great write up glad you had a good ride... mine today involved following a smelly truck pumping out so much crap I had to drop right back to avoid asphixiation

[trailblazer]

good to see some one had a good ride today.

[Milts]

I love it when everything come together.

'Tis nice. I forgot to mention, they've also RAISED the speed limit past Petone since I was last out there.

And it's a shame to have new tires sitting waiting to be scrubbed... aren't they even on a new bike?

[crazyhorse]

Sounds like an awesome ride. Good on you

[Laava]

Had a similar experience yesterday, with my wife on the back, DODGING the Mangamukas.[Roadworks] Went from Mangamuka bridge thru Broadwood [Imagine all the glamour and glitz of Broadway and Hollywood in one place, and it's not here!] and Mangakino thru to Ahipara where we did tsunami watching with some of the locals for a bit. Then on to Doubtless bay where we walked along the beach as the tide came in and out then back in again all in about 5 min! Watched an upturned dingy with outboard wash out of the Mangonui harbour, then one of the locals rescuing it. The currents were amazing as they went out then back in again! Perfect weather and almost no traffic at all, in fact we went for about 50kms without seeing one other vehicle! Saw hundreds of bikes heading down from the southern cross as we did our SH1 stint from Whangarei up to Pakaraka, they were having a great day too by the looks.

[Berg]

The Bergs also had a great ride
The weather was stunning and most of the traffic behaved. Hopefully we get a few more weekends like this before the cold sets in

[Eyegasm]

Awesome Milts

But why didn't you check your tyre pressures when your tyres were cold?

Stop in Featherston to check the tire pressures

I had a mad ride yesterday Hahei to Wellington, I flaming hated it (too many straight sections)

[Milts]

Awesome Milts

But why didn't you check your tyre pressures when your tyres were cold?



I had a mad ride yesterday Hahei to Wellington, I flaming hated it (too many straight sections)

That's a seriously long ride for one day... especially on a sporty 250. Pick a different route with more corners and take two days next time

I know, I intended to do it after filling up with petrol (so they had been sitting for a while) but I decided to follow the Ducati - I needed a drink and a break when I got to Featherston anyway, so I let them sit for a while....

I really need to get a good pressure gauge and check them before I head out.