NOT ABOUT GUYS IN DRESSES!!!
Twas queens birthday till monday, but I managed to get two rides in on tuesday instead (ah the joys of study leave). Firstly was a quick ride into town via scenic drive (about 11am) with milky to help him get used to the ZXR. The first part of scenic drive from Titirangi up to Arataki is still pretty dry (mainly) and moss free. The rest to Waiatarua was a bit slippery, but here we departed the drive and got onto West Coast Rd for the long haul back into town. Past Two Smokers crash corner, and down into town. Hit new north rd eventually and pop in to see Frosty on the way in, and show him what a real ZXR400 looks like....: green
. Caused some regret on colour choice, so we departed and I went back home to do some study, via Mt Eden Rd.
Got home and onto Kiwibiker and (surprise surprise) TwoSmoker wants to go for a ride, he's already been up to arataki and back by this time. So I finish checking kiwibiker posts, and off we go out towards Maraetai at about 3pm. We take off thru Onehunga and to Ellerslie Panmure Hway, but take a back route via Cascades Rd.
This is where the fun starts. We turn right, and a van from The Mill Liquorsave doesnt want to give me room to merge.... Thats ok, I speed up a little and gently merge while well infront of him. He reluctantly gives way and starts tailgating me. TwoSmoker comes back and we ride at 50 (limit 60) for a bit before the van driver gets the bird and we go back to staggered riding at 60-65. Van decides that this isnt for him, so he pulls up beside me and pulls towards me. I speed up and catch TS, so we slow down again, riding side by side. In this time another van overtakes us all at 70 :S. We go back to staggered and the van pulls out again, so TS comes back and slows. I speed up a bit and TS slows down more, vannie pulls up inside him for a bit of a chat. Unfortunately this amicable conversation is cut short by the van gettign to where it wants to go and we carry on.
So, we take Point View Rd (via a few others) and then turn down towards whitford. Good blat from there to Maraetai (via one of those speed indicating machines (I'm doing 112 at an indicated 122), and then the road from Maraetai along the coast until one turns inland. We both go flying along there, I get airborne midcorner and land again shiny side up, enjoy it so much we go back and do it again.
Then round to Clevedon and back to Whitford. I get blinded by the sun going up West Rd, so I go slow for the rest of the trip back. Except for the last sweeper coming up the hill into howick, where I thin my chicken strips and execute a beautiful controlled two wheel drift.
Back along Ti Rakau, where in a highlight, I almost get taken out by a crazy tip-truck (Tonka style) with huge wheels (the kind you see at a mine only slightly smaller). He is in the left lane, indicates right, moves to the right lane and across to a right turn lane. I go past on a half a lane that he is vacating, and he decides that right turning is not the way of the future. I thought I was clear enough but TS tells me it was closer, anyway, he sees me and I get to hear the sounds of huge wheels locking up as I go past. A sounds like none other, apparently TS thought it was a horn at first....After that little bit of drama, we get home without further incident apart from seeing an unmarked cop car along church st, stuck in traffic with me doing an indicated 68 or so the other way.
All in all a great way to spend a day I ought to have used sitting in the sun studying... Still, I'm gonna make it thru all the study I want to do, so hey, whats an extra grade when you could be riding (tho an A average = a masters degree paid for)... Well it is still in the field of vision, so exams here I come
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