Toto's Christmas Tour 2009

[Gremlin]

Here's the err... planned routes... Subsequent to the trip actually taking place... these aren't quite entirely accurate

Day 1: http://maps.google.co.nz/maps?f=d&so...75,7.13562&z=8

Day 2: http://maps.google.co.nz/maps?f=d&so...05,3.56781&z=9

Day 3: http://maps.google.co.nz/maps?f=d&so...45,7.13562&z=8

[Gremlin]

Ok, may as well do the actual routes now, so I can get on with work.

Day 1 Actual: http://maps.google.co.nz/maps?f=d&so...05&ie=UTF8&z=8

Day 2 Actual: http://maps.google.co.nz/maps?f=d&so...62&ie=UTF8&z=9

Day 3 Actual: http://maps.google.co.nz/maps?f=d&so...84,7.13562&z=8

All up, over 3 days of riding (as none was done on Boxing Day) I have done about 2000km (including a few errands when I got back on the Monday night)

[TOTO]

As it appeared all bikers that had come into Wanganui for the boxing day had started to leave and go towards Taupo for the next two days of racing. I was awaken by awesome sounding motorcycle engines going up the road. Seeing that our hero Gremlin was deep asleep and with no signs of waking up (due to ear plugs) I decided to go and prep my bike and let him wake up to the lovely sound of a military trumpet. Ensured phone was on LOUD so it hopefully gets trough the ear plugs

Bike prepped, chain lubed, and ready to roll. As it turned out Grumplin was not impressed with the trumpet, but I suspected that. While Gremlin was taking a shower, a black kitty decided that Gremlin’s bed was desirable and decided to take nap and wait for said Gremlin to return and play with it. Imagine that kitty’s disappointment when Gremlin returned and not amused of kitty’s playfulness kicked it out the door. Not pussy play that morning as it turned out.

Did the ride to west coast via the Paraparas, Taupo, Napier and Wairoa. The Parapara road in snot in the best condition with plenty of tar snakes, which meant that we had to choose out line carefully. It was cool seeing all the bikers along the way. Felt like we live in bike country.
Arriving in Wairoa there was more laughter at TOTO’s while there was a distinct “Hissssssssssssssssssssss” coming out of my rear tyre. Not in a satisfying way, but in a concerning way. Funny how when I was inflatig the tyre on day 1, I would have loved that sound and now dreaded it. One more dog/cat poo later , the hiss was gone and the tyre was holding pressure nicely.

Arriving into Pokeko Lodge it turned out that the lady operating it was not lying when she told me on the phone that it's “In the middle of nowhere”. As we were coming in we saw kids playing near the road , as kids should be , rather than stuck in front of computer games. It turned out they hadn't seen motorbikes all that much around there because when we went exploring later on, there was a genuine interest in those two foreign elements that are disturbing the local peace, riding up and down the road.

As we were parking our “Two wheeled motorbikes” (private joke), we heard thumping around the house, but no one answering the door. A knock on the door after 30 seconds made sure we were being heard (as if someone could not heard two motorcycles with custom pipes), and an elderly Maori lady (65 – ish) opened the door and came out glaring at us with some enormous huge eyes. My first taught was “ we are getting eaten here tonight”. Turned out the lady was very nice and despite looking like a cannibal, she was very welcoming and warm hearted. We were told different local stories about fires, scary trips etc and finally left to settle in for the night. Before fully settling in for the night though, we were kindly asked to land a helping hand into moving one bed from one room to another. Apparently “there aren't many visitors at this place” lol. I wonder why. I could read read amusement and frustrating all at the same time going trough Gremlin’s head

After leaving our stuff in the lodge and seeing that the TV was the size of a postage stamp, and also there was nothing to read, we decided to go exploring, following Gremlin’s trusty GPS. Went trough some areas that were also looking at us as we were aliens. Then the road became gravel but very scenic and continuing on was quite pleasurable. Gremlin was quite surprised even when I didn't let a closed gate stay in our way of exploring. It was once about the fantastic views and second about improving my gravel riding skills. Putting into practice all the theory of what to do with a slide in mid corner, tank slapper, fish tailing front AND back wheel at the same time, locking up back wheel with engine, was invaluable addition to my riding skills I reckon. Especially enjoyable was realizing the ability and ease with which a road bike on road tyres can power slide, and power slide WELL. Longest power slide I managed was 100 – 120 meters and that was a supreme fun. I’m sure the Obi Wan Kenobi was having even more fun up front


All in all a great day filled with interesting experiences and some brilliant riding. Some photos below

1 - The two italians that kicked NZ racers' butt
2 - Gremlins feet
3 - Gremling broke Wanganui
4 - Gremlings pussy
5 - Exploring next to Wairoa
6 - The Hooligan and the view

[EatOrBeEaten]

Looks awesome guys. toto, how long were you waiting at the BP after we left you? A couple of minutes I'm sure...

[TOTO]

As a matter of fact it was only a few minutes

gonna do a write up on day 4 and chuck all the photos tonight.

[Jacko2]

Saw you two faggots just north of Wanganui. We were having a change of driver (black car). Only Gremlin waved.
See ya's at ART,
JACKO

[Gremlin]

Looks awesome guys. toto, how long were you waiting at the BP after we left you? A couple of minutes I'm sure...

As per first post... we left bang on time at midday Also saw you guys pass through Taupo on the 27th...

Saw you two faggots just north of Wanganui. We were having a change of driver (black car). Only Gremlin waved.

Yeah, Toto is an unfriendly bastard... wait... we had separate beds as well... you're not jealous are you? You can have 'im.

[TOTO]

Day 4 started quiet. There were no motorbikes going up and down the street like the day before to wake us up. Got up to find the weather being marginal, but not wet enough to ruin our touring fun.

Off we went to Gisborne, for gas and ready to start the east cape. about 1-2 minutes after we left the gas station, Gremlin turned off the main road that was going around the east cape. Alarm bells were ringing . GiJoe1313 had warned me about such "surprising" behaviour, but given that I expected it it was not surprising enough to constitute a "major surprise". Turned out that the road Gremlin had turned onto was very well sealed, scenic, going trough the forest, over streams, and so on. At one point I saw a familiar site - a sign saying "GRAVEL ROAD", and being the case that the sign did not give indication of distance I was well aware that this gravel "short-cut" would be well in excess of 20 - 30km. I taught, "hey its only 10:30am, we have time and we are in for an adventure after all, so what can be more adventurous than following Gremlin and his trusted GPS".

...There are times when I think that the GPS has a soul of his own, and also possesses psychic abilities so strong that it can hypnotise a man as soon as he looks at it. Gremlin's GPS anyway. I always taught that GPS was created as a tool to optimise your travel, and yet in Gremlin's case it is a tool to take you completely in the wrong direction from where he, and whoever is nutty enough to follow him are going....

So anyway, just after seeing the "Gravel Road" sign I see the gravel road with a KTM Supermoto and the rider at the beginning of the road. Stationary. I taught: "Aha, he is having second taughts". I was wrong. I was told that the gravel road was only about 15-20 km tops and then it joined the main road. All sweet, I taught, lets explore some of the local back roads. The KTM had disappeared in a cloud of dust.

Pootling along the gravel road I kept meeting Gremlin stopped and vigorously tapping his GPS every 10km or so. Obviously something was going different to the "plan" but Gremlin just kept saying that there is "just another 15-20km tops" - I think I heard that about 10 times that morning. Turned out that the gravel road became one lane goat track at times and I remember thinking going around some of the corners "I hope there is no 4WD coming the other way mid corner, because I'm gonna be toast", and then remembered that not many people are nuts to go on a road that lads to nowhere just for the hell of it on a Monday morning. We were the only ones.

The road became very scenic, going trough the mountain ranges of the east cape, and sometimes I was going from one cloud to another as was moving from one mountain top to another, and seeing stunning views in between.

At last about an hour and a half since we had started riding in the gravel we came to a sealed section which apparently lead to the main road. Big wheelie up the hill and gremlin was gone out of sight, so I was left to enjoy that forgotten road to nowhere once more on my own. It was beautiful. Mountain ranges on the right, long green grass fields on the left, and a road going ahead in the shape of a snake. Priceless

Eventually came out to the main road going round the east cape, and after Gremlin finished entertaining some locals with his weelie abilities, and me quietly watching from the side, we finally got to ride the road around the east cape, to which we had gotten 2 hours late, thanks to the scenic gravel Gremlin short-cut that we took

Roads around the east cape were magnificent, with the occasional tar bleed here and there which was there tour riding. Filled up at Te Araroa where we met two couples on a gold wing and a cruiser with a gorgeous custom paint, who were planning to go to the lighthouse of the east cape. Upon the news that the road to the east cape lighthouse is 20kms gravel they say "oh no way in hell then", which kinda put into prospective how much "different" Gremlin is from the "normal people" and I suppose same bout me , or even more "different" due to following that wacko Tasty big lunch we had at Te Araroa and off we went to do the other hand of the east cape. Stumbled upon that que of cars, due to the head on collision, and the whole situation tested our emergency braking skills, and being something that I had practised plenty of times at NASS it was not a biggie to stop, it was the realisation that the cars in front of us were actually stopped that took some time, and therefore biting into the time we had to stop. All good though and I the fact that we were not coming over the crest and the corner at 200km/h had a lot to do with it

After spending 5 minutes to wait for the road to reopen as we were lucky to come towards the end of the clean up and also being on bikes, to move on to the front of the que we left for Opotiki.

Filled in in Opotiki with gas, had a bit of a snack and off to Waihi trough Tauranga. After about 30-40kms there were very dark clouds with what seemed like rain coming down, and seeing that we were heading staright for them, we decided to put the wets on. Turned out we had a little bit of a hard rain (probably enough to drench us) and the rest was a nice dry road, which meant that having the wets on I got a bit hit but all good. When reached Tauranga, I think Gremlin was getting way too hot and way too bored of the straight roads, and he decided to combat the situation like a true hardcore KTM rider - More Wheelies

Eventually got to Waihi on the boring straight roads from Tauranga and the Gremlin needed a feed. Food consumed, drinks said, and goodbyes said, we proceeded on to Auckland via the Karangahake Gorge. View of the gorge still supreme like usual. It was raining and road was like glass, so pootling slow behind some cars and taking in the view was the way to go. Road Back home was quite straight, but satisfying that I was coming back home to my own pillow


Many thanks to Gremlin for joining me on this tour, being a source of wisdom, entertainment and putting up with me

THE END

[TOTO]

Saw you two faggots just north of Wanganui. We were having a change of driver (black car). Only Gremlin waved.
See ya's at ART,
JACKO

Must have not seen ya. ART on 17th :nceone:

Cactah ya there

some pics

1 - random girls were lining up to be massaged by gremlin at Wanganui, the man has a reputation it seems
2 & 3 - view from in between the clouds while adventure riding at the east cape
4 & 5 - views from inland east cape
6 - Gremlin found a friends while waiting for me to catch up

[TOTO]

1 - road leading back to main road round the east cape
2 - ditto
3 & 4 - waiting for sheep to cross
5 - Lunch at Te Araroa
6 - Road closure due to the head on collision

[TOTO]

set of pics from the road closure.

END