Its been 3 months since I last flung a leg over, so to speak, that being since I parked Darkie up in Perth last ( I might be exagerating just a biiiit?). You see, I have vowed not to ride unless the mercury breaks thru above 25`, I am getting soft ( refined and intelligent i prefer to call it) in my old age.
So, when I had to visit my dentist over in Tauranga for some more mouth schrapnel on Friday, the itch over powered my temperature reservations....so I broke out the Orange Rush. Wow, it was sweet, warmer than it oughta be, stopped at the wonderful Okere Falls store for a great coffee and a bite.......as I watched the world go by I patted myself on the back at what a fine machine the 990 Adv is for what I like doing: after numerous years and more bikes than my wife likes to remember, Im thinking that just maybe I have reached the pinnacle( least for me) of suitable rides?
Better get on, my dentist rides an MG and flies gliders, so I am sure he has a busy weekend planned and as I got the call to be in earlier than booked I am sure so he can get away to do 1 or the other of his weekend persuits.
Dentist done in quick time....hell if I rush i could get back in time to help finish off after milking, and we don't want that now do we? So, I opt to have a trundle homewards along the Tauranga direct rd back to Rotorua, this can be fun if its not too busy. Then........30km outta Tauranga I feel it, a wee squiggle, I try to ignore it, but you know.......we all know THAT feeling when all the air has gone to the top of the back tyre?
Yep, a flatty-middle of no where.
No worries most would say, we all carry the 'gear' don't we? Well, not today, Jose! But I do have a cellfone right? Well yes I do, but there ain't no signal here. Its about 2-30, plenty of traffic, I'll be right?
I bust me boiler climbing to the top of the closest hill.....nope, no signal here.
Eany, meany, miney or mo? Tauranga or Rotorua? Which way will I see signal first? Start walking( WTF is this walking business my legs ask after 200m?) toward Tauranga. After about 2k a guy who passed me comes back and gives me a lift while I watch my fone for signs of signal. Finally it comes on so I say spit me out here and Ill call up the cavelry(AA) and get back to my bike; cheers!
Cause I was watching my fone for signal I had little idea of where I was until I started back and I realised I had come at least 10km!! FARK!!!! AA rescue are on the way, at least an hour I was told, but I cannot cover 10km in an hour.....hope I can bludge a ride?
It was 5 by the time I got back to where my bike HAD been, walked the whole way; no-one was going to pick-up something that looked like I did! What to do now? I now know just why it is called a KTM 'Adventure' bike......I SO get it....Hahahabloodyha!
Knew I shoulda bought a BMW!
I know there is no cell coverage for 10km toward Tauranga, so I try towards Rotorua this time, and yes, it could be further but at least there is hope this way? Just round the next corner I spot a driveway( Rare around here) and it has a NZ motor caravan club wings PoP sign out, I am a member....sweet....will get help from a fellow road maggot! Drive winds its way about a km thru the farm and up a hill( Did I mention I am opposed to hills?)....great.......No one home!
FARK!
Back to the road, very nearly dark now and heaps of traffic going back to Rotorua after work so am sure to score a ride soon now, right? Wrong. Top of next hill there is 2 big turning points in my day: there is just an odd glimmer of coverage, occasionally, and better again; my blisters have burst and foot says.....give it up, DICK!
Try as I might I cannot get a message away, even thou I get a couple from wife wondering if I will be much longer!
Dark now and I suspect cars can't see me till the last minute.....no-one stops.....would you?
I am at the intersection of a forestry road and several night shift log trucks from Rotorua have gone in there, so I am thinking i will hi-jack the first one that comes back.....only its going to TAURANGA!
Maybe the next one then..........?
Then it happens: a car stops.....WowIm saved..... I was just resigning myself to a night 'out'( at least I had good gear that would have kept the rain out all nite....did I mention it had been raining for 1/2 an hour now?) and looking where I would be 'safe' to curl up for the night.
Nice man drops me in Nongi, where I promptly head in for a beer while I await my pick up....yes!
So, that was my adventure; home, bikeless, by 8-30!
Do I buy that BMW now?
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Originally Posted by NinjaNanna
Might of helped if I read the instruction but no way my arms were long enough for that tiny little font 
After a shufty through the shed I used (after asking of course) some fuel tube and spouting glue to jam in the hole, Pumped it up to fifty psi in case it leaked on the way home 
Next day checked the pressure, 50 psi on the dot 
I love tubeless
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