A thank you

**Waylander** · 2nd October 2006, 12:50

To the driver of a blue Ford liscence plate SO31XX. For being one of the most safe, sane and considerate drivers I have come across in my 2 years in NZ.
After a great weekend in Auckland I was on my home to Tauranga and due to the fickle nature of the weather I got stuck in a down poor at night.
I'm on a new bike and have yet to get to know the bike fully and this was the firt time riding it in uch heavy rains. But thanks to you I made it home safely without incident.

It was dark when I left Hamilton after having tayed too long at my brother's flat catching up on things as I always do when in town. And I should have just stayed but due to my usuall bullheaded ness I rode on. I eneded up behind you just at the turn off for Mystery creek. I have no doubt in my mind that you have saved me a great deal of pain and possible my life as there were times when the rain on my visor, bluring white from oncoming traffic headlight, made it impossible to see anything but your tail lights. Being able to see your tail lights helped me to navigate several corners safely when I couldn't see them due to the reasons above.

Also want to thank you for engine breaking when slowing down rather than useing your breaks, as breaklights also tend to blur across a wet visor making it hard to see.
And when I slowed down more than you for a corner I felt unsure of for traction I noticed you slowed down soon after me to make sure that I didn't get too far behind.

I would also like to appoligize if my headlight in your mirrors botherd you at all. I know how annoying it is when you have a headlight reflected at you is even in the best night conditions, and tried to keep mine from bothering you too bad.

I hope you had a save trip when our path diverged and you turned off at Tauriko twords Bethlehem and I kept going into Tauranga.

So once again thank you.
From a greatfull biker.

**Kendog** · 2nd October 2006, 12:58

That's nice. Know the feeling of not being able to see due to rain and having to rely on a cager's taillights to follow, not what you really want to do ordinarily, but sometimes a necessity aye. Maybe he is a biker too and could sence you may have needed a guide. So good on you, whoever Blue Ford person is and well done for making it home Waylander.
Mrs KD.

**Waylander** · 2nd October 2006, 13:06

Yea I thought about that. It's why I posted that on here incase they also happen to be a KBer.

Also plan on sending him/her a letter in the mail to make sure whoever it was knows just how much I appretiated it.

**DingDong** · 2nd October 2006, 13:08

You should remember that when your screaming past cars on the left going over the Harbour Bridge without mufflers... sheshhh Canadians Ay?

Yeah!

**Waylander** · 2nd October 2006, 13:19

But I have mufflers now. Two very big, very quiet and very ugly ones. I also don't filter going over the brigde. Too many lunatic bikers comming the other way and one crazy white holden ute driver to worry about.

I do use the Marina entrance and exit though...

**Korea** · 2nd October 2006, 13:32

Somewhere, a driver is saying:
"There was a bike behind me???"

**Ixion** · 2nd October 2006, 13:50

Somewhere a mufti cop is saying" Bugger it, there was this biker behind me last night. I went real slow to try to entice him to overtake me so I could ping him, but the bugger was too smart for it. Gave it up as a bad job at the Tauriko turnoff. I'll get one tonight though."

**Filterer** · 2nd October 2006, 14:18

Originally Posted by Waylander

Yea I thought about that. It's why I posted that on here incase they also happen to be a KBer.

Also plan on sending him/her a letter in the mail to make sure whoever it was knows just how much I appretiated it.

Must have been a biker, only way they would be smart enough

I got about half-way down before I realsied it wasn't actually a pisstake about a good cage driver!

Nice touch with the letter

**kro** · 2nd October 2006, 15:48

Jolly good show to that driver. There are some good ones out there.

**Macktheknife** · 2nd October 2006, 16:10

Glad to hear you made it home safe Waylander, seems like a thoughful and attentive driver, I doubt he was from around here! lol. Sounds like he realised that you were using him as a lead, damn good of him, restores a little bit of faith in some cagers.

**sunhuntin** · 2nd October 2006, 16:27

holy...im having trouble believing that! good on you for sending the driver a letter of appreciation.
top stuff to the driver and also to you waylander!

wish there were more people out there like you both.

**Colapop** · 2nd October 2006, 17:20

It's a real shame there are the cynics out there (here) that think "all cagers are out to kill you"
Yes that's a good rule to stay safe by while riding - but it's not entirely correct.

I helped a guy who'd been nudged on the downhill into Taupo (heading south) got him and his pillion back on his bike and (thankfully no real damage - just scratches) followed him to the nearest gas station. We went on to McD's and stuffed around with the kids then caught up to him at Turangi. He thanked me again as we gassed up, he was shaken and it didn't occur to him til later. We got back on the road just after him and caught up pretty quickly. He was taking it easy in the rain and f*cken cars were hardly crossing the centreline to go past him. So I sat behind him all the way to Taihape.

No it's not about getting a medal. For me it's knowing that I helped someone without needing to be thanked. I'd want that to happen to me.

Good on you Waylander.

**sunhuntin** · 2nd October 2006, 17:35

reminds me....goin to paeroa, that narrow bit just before turangi. was following a truck for ages...finally got to one of those "slow vehicle" lanes. he allowed me to pass, and stayed behind me till i turned off for gas. as he went on by...i noticed the huge amount of cars behind him. so cheers to the trucker for keeping all them cars back, cos no doubt they would have tried to overtake dangerously.
tooted at each other as we parted. cheers dude!

**Finn** · 2nd October 2006, 17:43

Yeah and it pays for bikers to show respect for cage drivers too. Just last week, I noticed a car parked by my office with it's lights left on. Nobody likes a flat battery so I kicked in their headlights.

**ZeroIndex** · 2nd October 2006, 18:02

Originally Posted by Waylander

But I have mufflers now. Two very big, very quiet and very ugly ones. I also don't filter going over the brigde. Too many lunatic bikers comming the other way and one crazy white holden ute driver to worry about.

I do use the Marina entrance and exit though...

and there's always mark to watch out for, who is obviously already splitting down whatever bridge at 140km/h