First Time Ever - I wished I'd brought the cage...

[slofox]

Yep. It's true....read on and see why...

Had to go to Auckland for a Trade Day today...actually I didn't HAVE to go - but it was fine so I thought "Hey! I could take the bike!!" So I did.

Bad move.

That highway from Hamiltron to Auckland has to be the most boring, trying, uncomfortable piece of tarmac in the country. There's traffic everywhere, it's too straight, the wind was blowing like a bastard across the road, millions of trucks everywhere, fumes, loons changing lanes without indicating - you all know the drill...and the inner motomayhemway was just crazy...I felt lucky not to get squashed.

Did the trade day thing and headed back souf. Took myself over to the Soufwestern motorway and headed as south as I could before cutting back to motorway. Put up with SH1 until I got to Mercer. Thought "Sod this for a game of soldiers, I'm outa here." And cut west towards SH22.

Another bad move really although not as bad as SH1.

By now I was tired and a bit fuzzy. And SH22 is not an easy track under those circumstances. Plus I took a side road ("This looks like a shortcut!!") harharhar. I ended up having to turn round and backtrack when the road failed to have an exit ...I got to 22 and managed to get south without falling off or anything and eventually got back here to work - just in time to let my reliever go home.

Better planning might have made for an easier day...

[Maha]

Chalk it up as a 'Bastard Day' cos you will get that from time to time.
Next time you go you may end in your 'Zone' (is that word allowed around here )
But I agree, that bit of road is mind numbingly bad for sure!!

[tomobedlam]

Have to just about agree with you on that one. Went up on Sunday and came back Monday. I was pressed for time so couldn't take alternative routes. I nearly lost the will to live. Only advantage was on the way up for about 6km the traffic was virtually stopped and they left me a big path right up the middle. Next time I make the trip I am going to give myself plenty of time and taking an alternative route. Such as this one.

http://maps.google.co.nz/maps?f=d&so...4,2.469177&z=9

[Blackbird]

Sorry to hear that Slofox My excursion into your territory and then out to Raglan for lunch on the waterfront couldn't have been better - hardly any traffic at all and the seafood chowder was great.

Even got to mess about with the head of a late model WRX driver who had a few delusions of grandeur. Yep, a nice day out your way to be sure

[Murray]

Yep. It's true....read on and see why...

That highway from Hamiltron to Auckland has to be the most boring, trying, uncomfortable piece of tarmac in the country. There's traffic everywhere, it's too straight, the wind was blowing like a bastard across the road, millions of trucks everywhere, fumes, loons changing lanes without indicating - you all know the drill...and the inner motomayhemway was just crazy...I felt lucky not to get squashed.

Bit of a contradiction Mr Slofox?? Doesnt sound boring to me, sounds like you had to be on your guard the whole way!!

[varminter]

Well you went there and did it so you won't have to do it again...hopefully.

[firefighter]

Took myself over to the Soufwestern motorway and headed as south as I could before cutting back to motorway. Put up with SH1 until I got to Mercer. Thought "Sod this for a game of soldiers, I'm outa here." And cut west towards SH22.

Totally agree man. I fucken hate the motorway on the bike.

I'd take a car on a long straight motorway over the bike anyday.

It just loses it's fun factor, and is actually inconvenient. (not that I have a choice only owning a bike!)

I dunno how the Mericans do it, I can easily see how Goldwings and big Harleys would be appropriate if not better if you were in the desert.

[slofox]

Bit of a contradiction Mr Slofox?? Doesnt sound boring to me, sounds like you had to be on your guard the whole way!!

It was the lack of any corners that was boring Murray...

One interesting bit was not too far souf of the city, on the Motomayhemway. I'm in the RH lane, avoiding the mayhem in the other two lanes and I hear a siren...look all around the place and can't bloody see a car anywhere...by the time I pick up, its a cop car which had to zig around me to get by...I bet he was thinking "Dumb fucking biker bastard gerroutamyway!!!!"

Have to say though, that boring riding was very economical...got 66 mpg on the trip. And that included the Sh22 bit.

[slofox]

Sorry to hear that Slofox My excursion into your territory and then out to Raglan for lunch on the waterfront couldn't have been better - hardly any traffic at all and the seafood chowder was great.

Even got to mess about with the head of a late model WRX driver who had a few delusions of grandeur. Yep, a nice day out your way to be sure

Ahhhh, now, the Raglan road is a peach...I would have done better to accompany you there instead of the d'Auckland trip...

[Blackbird]

Ahhhh, now, the Raglan road is a peach...I would have done better to accompany you there instead of the d'Auckland trip...

That would have been enjoyable. Haven't been that way for a while and was surprised to see how much Hamilton is expanding westward. Was also surprised at the amount of sub-division development in Raglan. There are also some lovely country properties between the two.

[MarkH]

That highway from Hamiltron to Auckland has to be the most boring, trying, uncomfortable piece of tarmac in the country. There's traffic everywhere

But why would this trip have been any more interesting in the cage? In fact I get much more pissed off dealing with traffic in a car than on a bike, getting through traffic is one of the specialties of a bike. The only problem I would have is avoiding speeding tickets.

I so rarely wish to use the car that I went and sold mine.

[slofox]

But why would this trip have been any more interesting in the cage?

It would not have been more interesting in the cage. It may well have been less stressful in the traffic though. Hence the expressed wish.

[MarkH]

It would not have been more interesting in the cage. It may well have been less stressful in the traffic though. Hence the expressed wish.

Meh - I get much more pissed off with traffic when in the car. At least a bike can more easily get past. The heavier the traffic the more glad I am to be riding rather than driving.