Christmas this year saw my lovely bike getting new rubber on it and a plan was hatched to ride up to Taupo to meet up with friends and ride back with them the next day. Almost two whole days of ME time - no one else to worry about except MYSELF - I call these times MAD MUMMY TIME!
I was really looking forward to it but then the day before I put my neck outAs it was the first *real* ride I have done on my bike and the longest on any bike in the last how ever many years, I was a little anxious about whether I should go through with it or stay home instead in light of the pain and slight stiffness.
Anyway my friendly drug pusher was on the phone as soon as she got word that I was thinking of canning my trip and recommended a concoction of over the counter medicines to keep me comfortable for the trip.
So I again fortified my resolve and decided that I was bloody well going to do it!
Morning of the trip dawned sunny with a gentle breeze and I donned my new squid suit (feeling very flash and very protected) chucked the pack bag on the back and set about having a good breakie and checking my route.
Hubby checked everything was good to go on the bike for me...well actually probably for his own piece of mind tooSully One gave me a quick nod and a kiss at the window before heading outside to the new trampoline - crikey he could care less what I do so long as he can get on that thing
Anyway with my drugs topped up I headed off and by the time I hit Otaki I was ready to top up my tank and wrestle off the squid suit for a quick 'comfort stop'. Word to other squid suit noobs - it might look a little gay and slightly obvious but putting a plain t-shirt over top is NOT A GOOD IDEA!
BECAUSE - if you choose to put a t-shirt over the top YOU WILL HAVE TROUBLE getting out of your gear quick enough to do wee wees in time! Thankfully I made it but the t-shirt was chucked straight into the pack bag without a second look all weekend.
The Plod clan were hunting in packs and as I had told hubby and the expectant Taupo crew I would be taking my own sweet time...I was very well behaved and only cruized along at about 100 speeding up to no more than 105 only when passing other road users(who were all very courteous, moving over to let me pass and I didn't even come across any idiots the whole time!!!)
Stopped heaps of times on the way up. It was a beautiful day and as my neck was giving me a bit of jip and my old creaky hips protest to sitting astride for hours on end without a rest I was glad to stop and take in the views along the way and sit in the grass in the sun. There was even some snow still left on those mountains too!
Anyway I had a fantastic couple of days and only wish it could've been a bit longer. It took me a day or so to readjust to being home again...home felt rather claustraphobic that first day back and it was such a nice day too - I just wanted to be cruising.
One thing I noticed is that when cages pull up to rest stops they keep to themselves but when bikers pull up to a stop and there are other bikers there (in my experience on this trip) there is always a kind hello, interested where ya been and off to and a friendly parting stay safe and enjoy out there.
I also found that cages that pulled up came over to talk to me but didn't talk to each other. Thinking of Katman...I was sure to be exceptionally polite and friendly so as to put across a positive biker image
NOW that I know I can handle a relatively good distance ride ...it's a matter of deciding...where to next?
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Great pics too btw! We'll have to do a "Crazy Bitch Ride" sometime soon!!!
Originally Posted by Number One
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