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It was 1am Saturday morning, nothing was rustling, not even a mouse, hold it thats a lie because I was at my PC using the mouse to check on what Wellington rides were happening later that day! There appeared to be two groups meeting at the same place at the same time.
I set my alarm for the dreaded time of 6:45 am and go to bed thinking about corners, Pongoroa, corners Alfredon, corners Rimutakas, corners, corners, corners
BRAH, BRAH, BRAH The evil alarm chops through my sleep state with all the subtlety of a chainsaw, For fucks sake I think, maybe I should just nuke the ride, roll over and go back to sleep.
An incredibly long 1.5 seconds later I spring out of bed, wracked by guilt, I promise myself right then and there that I would sacrifice many a bug this day to appease the mighty biker gods in hope of redemption for even having such a thought!
The sun was shining the birds were tweeting as I suited up and fired the bike into life.
As the bike warms up with it's purposeful growling exhaust note, my spirit was skipping and soaring ahead, anticipating the amazing synergy as man and machine merge into one, transcending the rat race we live in, with all it's trappings, weights and burdens. They simply melt away as the kilometers start slipping by.
The plan was to head off to Dannevirke, gas up, then head for Webber, Pongoroa, Masterton and take the interesting way to the Takas to meet the KB crews.
Choke off, Visor down, I snick the bike into gear, we smoothly surge forwards. I ease her through the gears tentatively picking my way through the wet undulating twists and turns.
With the rising sun shining brightly upon me and there not being a breath of wind, I was thinking it just does not get any better, and I was right!
Rounding the bend coming onto the 2 km "Jetting Straight" I see some mist in the distance, then lots more of it.
Within a short space of time we are submerged into a foreign wet and murky world.
The once familiar road that seemed so welcoming and friendly just moments ago had now become a sneering, snarling adversary intent on waging a campaign of surprise attacks within the murky mists.
A change of plan was required, so I bypassed Dannevirke and set out to head down the western side of the North Island.
The fog continued to shroud us in a pal of gloom dreariness. I had to follow the car in front, with passing only being an option for fools, I submitted to the fog and bide my time knowing that sooner or later we will escape this infernal mist.
As I head toward the Manawatu Gorge the ever oppressing fog appears to be losing its grip and light starts to appear. The suns rays start to pierce through as we snake our way through the gorge. With the demons of fog now vanquished we start to soar. The sound of the induction roar combined with the howl of the four into one exhaust reverberate of the rock walls creating a harmonious symphony of sound that nourishes the riders spirit and soul.
While pumping gas at the Linton BP, I'm attempting to calculate distance, speeds and times trying to work out if I will meet the KB crew in time for the 10:30 departure time from the Rimutaka Caltex.
The roads are starting to dry out and the bike and myself are finding our rhythm as the kilometers start to slide past with greater haste.
Approaching Waikanae the drums of the Akatarawas are reaching a crescendo and will not be denied!
As I enter the realm of the Akatarawas I have corners appearing and greeting me as long lost friends from the past. It had been a long time, way, way to long.
The winding road twists it's way ever upwards climbing out of rugged pasture lands into the bush zone, at times just hanging precariously to the edge of cliff faces.
With my head constantly swiveling around on my neck, my eyes are on full alert watching for any flicker of movement signifying other vehicles.
The often one lane road is notoriously unforgiving of any lapse in concentration.
I spot a slight flash of movement through the bushes and I slow and sure enough, around the next corner comes a cyclist, the cheeky buggar yells abuse at me whilst invading my side of the road! I chuckle as in my minds eye I see myself turning round and kicking him off the nearest big droooooooooooooooop that are found in ready supply on this road!
The road being wet in many areas, covered in moss and other debry has me just caressing the throttle and stroking the brake lever gently, my senses are constantly seeking traction reports from both tyres.
Nearing the outskirts of Upper Hutt has us enjoying a transition to a drier road and we start to accelerate harder, brake later and lean further.
Starting up the last hill we are greeted with positive cambers which have us ducking, dancing and diving into and out of the bends with un abandoned glee.
Optimum synergy between motorcycle and rider has been reached, zen state is attained and we are transported into our own time and space.
Though all too soon though the kill joy 50 kph sign has me on notification that we have arrived in Upper Hutt.
Low and behold I pull into the Caltex at 10:25 am with a whole 5 minutes to spare, whew
As I fill up with 91, a rider with the latest gear pulls up on a 06 ZX10R sporting akropovic mufflers, niiiiiice!
He takes a glance at me in my faded leathers and aged bike and a look of disdain spreads across his face. As he struts purposely off to pay for his gas, I glance at his tyres, they always tell a story, and it's always found in the non fiction section. The authors tyres were a short uninspiring read with tales of pansies, Chicken recipies and soggy seaweed.
For a short moment I seriously considered putting Sir ZX10R to the sword or at the very least a good old fashioned public humiliation session.
However, the desire to be sociable with kindred souls won over, so I sauntered over to meet Limbimtimwim, MAXIMUSDEMERITUS, Uncle B and wasp.
In short order it was off to the Rimutakas summit!
The other Kwaka and myself ease ahead and set a brisk pace to the top of the hill. UncleB and Wasp went out on training exercices, Limbimtimwim and MAXIMUSDEMERITUS decided to push on to Castle point.
I decide to stay at the summit for a while and have some breakfast.
While I was chatting to a few bikers I heard the unmistakable sound of a powerful Ducati coming. I turn to see non other than Flame on this weeks bike , that being her super tasty Ben Bostrum replica Duke She also had Sparky Bill, Skelstar and Andreas in tow. I was starting to sense some good fun riding ahead!
We all took off to Featherston to pick up the last member of the crew, and what a huge surprise to see who it was, yep, yet another female racer, Aria on her GSXR600!
It was now a 6 bike pose containing four current road race contenders.
Yep, it was going to be a slow ride....yeah right!!!
We cruised over to Martinborough and I admired the line up of MV's at one of the cafes there and wondered if they rode or trailered their bikes there...
Heading away from Martinborough, Flame set a cracking pace and we made good time to Lake Ferry. I couldn't help but chuckle at the line up of bikes, all new and shiny late model blasters and then my bike, a decidedly crusty looking 1989 ZXR750 lol.
We got back on the bikes and the girls led us out heading back to Martinborough for gas. They started cranking up the pace once on the open road and as I matched the girls pace I noticed the other lads were dwindling in my mirrors
I can not tell you how fast we were going as my modified ZX9R front mud guards fork protector had somehow caused my speedo cable to break, but I'm sure the girls would not have recklessly led me astray by going over 100 kph
Sparky Bill and Andreas headed for home, which just left 4 of us. I conned the others into doing an extended loop of Gladstone, Cliff hanger road, Looping back around to Masterton. I was esp eager to do those awesome orgasmic sweepers coming down the hill on the last leg to Masterton!
Being the nice guy that I am I rode as 1st up crash test dummy for the reportedly slippery conditions we were heading into. It was not to bad as it turns out. I took them on a short tour over Admirals road which is always a blast (I felt guilty bout taking you up there Skelstar when I heard you only been riding about a year! Sorry bro!)
I came 2nd in the open class in the cliffhanger event held earlier in the year, so I set a good pace up this hill climb.
Flame and I pulled away and I enjoyed seeing a Ducati being punted as intended by their designers! I'm well impressed with your riding skills Flame and you sure punt the Duke harder than your ZX9R!
All to soon we were heading into Masterton. Just before the 70 kph area, Skelstar put in an aggressive passing move on us racers and then fair smoked his tyres leaving us in his wake. It's amazing what the smell of good coffee will do for some riders!
While I gleefully scoffed down Flames baked wedges we put on a KB comedy act for an elderly couple. We had them giggling up a storm and I'm sure they have a slightly different view of motorcyclists now
It was time for me to part ways with the crewand depart for home.
I left Masterton with a full tank of gas, I needed it, for there are no gas stations within the next 170 kilometers stretch to home.
It is such a lonely stretch of road there are only two one pub towns to go through!!!
I must have seen no more than 15 cars the whole way home!
I arrived back just on dusk feeling content that I had enjoyed a great day of about 500 Kilometers or so of riding.
I thank the heavens above that I was born in this AMAZING country. Amen
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Originally Posted by slowpoke
it all boils down to the pilot 
sounds like a premo day ya had
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Karma ... Justice catches up eventually !! 
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