Firstly some credits:
- I'd like to thank the good dude, for having his hand on me every time my front tyre aqua planed, or my back tyre completely let go.
- I'd like to thank Warr for convincing me the Grand Challenge is a good idea.
- To Lee Rusty, and his crew for organising this absolutely insane ride.
- Thanks to zapf for always smiling at the stops when everyone else looked so beaten.
So the route was amazing. I was a bit concerned about route planning, and getting lost, so lots of preperation had been done for the last few weeks ensuring I could find my way.
Upon arriving at Turangi I see the map from another room, and immediately recognise EVERY bit of it .... sweet !!!!!
I'm also reminded that these are the roads I crashed on a few months back ( in june .. see here ), also in torrential rain, and howling winds ... great, what a memory
So off we head at 3:08. My first goal is to get to Auckland before sunset, and Dargaville by 9pm. This seems like a pretty achieveable goal.
The road is dry, and its daylight, so me and Warr start with a typical Warr and TA pace. Throttle cracked open, going hell for leather
The southern part of the Western Access road I haven't done in years, so its a minor concern, not too much to slow me down tho
Once I get past the turn off from kinlock I'm on "local" roads .. .sweet.
Old Taupo road was a breeze, and has been done plenty in the last few months.
Time check just out of Putaruru. CHECK
across to Putaruru, Tapapa, then on to Old Te Aroha rd ... and the plan to make it to Paeroa in a tank was quickly changed to a stop in Te Aroha for gas.
Warr and I were on our own at the gas station.
Off to Paeroa for check point one CHECK
Turns out our stop in Te Aroha was a blessing, as the check point was chocker block full of bikes waiting for gas, so we got our card punched, then off we go.
Up SH 2 was great!!!! Carving up everything in sight, even Warr commented later on my "commitment" to over taking things ..... naughty, naughty me, but boy it was fun.
On to SH 1 and the southern motorway.
Warr needs his license for work, so he disappeared out of my mirrors, but then re-appeared once I hit heavy traffic between Mount Wellington, and the city.
Then the rains starts ... grrr, no rain suit on yet
We make it to the service station on the north shore. We've only done 150 ish kms on this tank, but the heavens have opened, and we know we can't make it to Dargaville, so we may as well stop and get the wets on.
Back on the motorway, and I had rain on the inside of my visor, I should have kept my helmet closed at the gas station, oh well, slow going as vision is lacking.
turn towards Dargaville, and you guessed it ... WIND !!!!
I remember in June this being an issue, but I reassure myself that once through Dargaville, the wind should ease.
8:30pm check point 2 in Dargaville ... CHECK
Heading north from dargaville, the wind howls, and the rains pelts !
Then the biggest slide ever !!!!!
Some how after the back kicking WAY out, then suddenly grabbing, I find myself upright, and pointing in the right direction.
I catch a quick glimpse of 3 headlights behind me waving in all manner of directions, there is obviously something very slippery on that corner. I'm later told by zapf it was cow crap across the entire corner .. erk!
In to waipoua forest (spelling?) and the speed drops to a frustratingly slow 50 kph, but the road is so slippery its making me so nervous.
Warr however disappears in to the forest .. he must trust his tyres more than me. I follow a GS1200 through, and I think I am holding some one up behind me. I gave him plenty of opportunity to pass me, but he didn't, maybe he was "borrowing" my lights.
There is another major "whoops" moment going through the forest on a left. Something was right on the apex of a corner.
Out of the forest, and the BMW roars past me.
Fortunately I can increase the speed now, up to a sedate 100-110.
Myself, and the GS are catching someone. I'm soon to find out it is warr .. hmm wonder what happened to him.
So we stop for a 5 second "which way should we turn moment", then Warr takes the lead, I behind him, and the GS behind me.
Up to Kaitaia we head.
Arrive 11:37pm
Check point 2 ... CHECK
We stop for 20 minutes here. Smoke, Panadol, No-Doz, food and drink.
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