But I did it anyway...
Too clean? Best do something about that...
Tuesday, December 31, 2019
Happy New Year Tenere
Not sure if it really needed it...
But I did it anyway...
Too clean? Best do something about that...
But I did it anyway...
Too clean? Best do something about that...
The last adventure for the year
I was just back from Xmas in the ‘naki with all the rellies when my phone goes off and it’s some bloke called Colin inviting me on a two-day ride. He and another bloke called John were heading off for an overnighter and needed someone sensible to join them - they must have exhausted all their options and so called me…
As it turned out, I couldn’t sneak away for the night as I needed a dog-sitter, but I was keen to join them at some stage. I decided to let them get up to mischief on their own on Saturday and to join them on Sunday for the ride home from wherever they ended up.
They managed to get themselves via some probably inventive and gravelly way to Taumarunui on Saturday and I was instructed to meet them there early on Sunday morning. So I set my alarm for ten to seven...and got up at five ten…
So, yeah, I got up fairly early and this meant that I was on the road just after six with the roads to myself. Progress was made…
Vinegar Hill was fun but I settled down for the cruise up SH1 to Taihape where I stopped for gas before carrying on up to Waiouru. Leaving Taihape the temperature really dropped (when I checked at Tangiwai it was 10 degrees) and I was glad that I’d put on an extra layer. I was even glader when my temperamental heated grips mostly played ball with me.
The chilliness hung around all the way to Raurimu where the sun finally started showing itself and I had the pleasure of seeing the temperature rise to 14 degrees by the time I hit Taumarunui. In Taumarunui I met the guys at the local BP where a warm drink and a bite to eat was most welcome. And then we were into it…
John was the man with the plan and he really knows the roads in and around Taumarunui and through to the ‘naki. Colin and I just had to sit behind him and eat his dust. I won’t go into huge detail about where we went as it all gets very confusing in a short space of time but suffice it to say we got to enjoy some fantastic riding, from tight windy sections through native bush to more open and fast flowing gravel. Along the way there were the usual hazards - mainly animals and other vehicles (including a stock truck and trailer that needed more road than there was) - but, we had a ball.
For more info on the route, check out the map and there’s a heap of videos in this playlist if you’re keen. There are also tunnels…
When we popped out on the seal at Urenui, our timing was impeccable - it just happened to be lunchtime and there just happened to be a cafe…
After lunch we were straight back into the gravel, picking up a few more of the Taranaki Tunnels before the major excitement of the day.
At one of the turn-offs, John and I spent quite a few minutes yabbering away before we started wondering where Colin was.
We figured that nature may have called so gave him a bit more time before eventually deciding that something was up and turned around to go see.
We probably rode back about 10km before finally finding him riding really carefully. Yep, he’d managed to pick up a wee puncture. He stuck in some air via his CO2 bottles and decided to make for Whangamomona before undertaking a repair job.
After a slower ride into Whanga, Colin and I got stuck into trying to repair the puncture while John went for some cold drinks and settled in to watch the entertainment.
One dog turd didn’t do the trick as we were still getting a leak from the tyre. We tried a few different ways of putting in 2 turds and in the end thought that we’d got it.
Leaving Whanga I had my own little issue when something hard and fast flew in my visor and into my eye. Luckily I shut my eye just in time but man did it hurt! While I was feeling sorry for myself the other guys got away on me, but, dropping down the other side of the saddle I again caught up with some slow moving KTM’s. Yes, the air had escaped Colin’s tyre.
We pulled into a side road and again attempted repairs. Once again we thought we had it sorted and set off, only to stop about another 10-15km up the road…
Yet more dug turds were pressed into action and we determined that the tyre must have more of a split in it rather than just a hole. The dog turd supplies were taking a hammering…
This repair only lasted about the same amount of time, so we got some more practice again as we watched other vehicles that we’d passed re-pass us again. My little compressor was sure getting a workout.
This time around we sent Colin off as soon as we thought the tyre was sealed and inflated while John and I packed up all the gear. He really got away from us but once again struck trouble just before Toko and parked up in the shade by the school - well, I’m pretty sure it was shady as I never saw him and carried on my way towards Stratford…
I was nearly in Stratford when my phone rang to tell me that I’d deserted the team - oops! Rather than head straight back I carried on into Stratford and picked up a tyre pando - the last one at the second garage I tried…
I then rode back to the others where we inserted 2 or 3 more dog turds before using the pando as well. Once again we told Colin to disappear while we sorted the gear and he rode into Stratford to check the tyre and put in a bit more air at the service station. Then we were off towards Hawera...for a while…
Just before Normanby I noticed (and smelled) two big puffs of pando juice come from Colin’s tyre and in no time he had pulled over again. It was here that we had to admit defeat. Colin rang his wife and got Jen on the way with the Land Cruiser and trailer while we put the last two dog turds in the tyre and attempted to get into Hawera.
And, we actually made it without the tyre completely deflating! Maybe Colin could ride home anyway? Heck no, we just knew that the tyre would probably give out just out town so we stuck to Plan A.
After a drink and a bite Colin told John and I to gap it and like the tight bunch of mates we are, we abandoned him for a very quick trip back down from Hawera. In Sanson John turned off to head home while I carried on home to Palmy.
I got in at 9:20 after leaving just after 6am having ridden around 803km according to the GPS and having a bit of an eventful ride. Chatting to Colin later, we both agreed that it still had been an awesome ride - we’ll have to get those other tunnels again some other time.
As it turned out, I couldn’t sneak away for the night as I needed a dog-sitter, but I was keen to join them at some stage. I decided to let them get up to mischief on their own on Saturday and to join them on Sunday for the ride home from wherever they ended up.
They managed to get themselves via some probably inventive and gravelly way to Taumarunui on Saturday and I was instructed to meet them there early on Sunday morning. So I set my alarm for ten to seven...and got up at five ten…
So, yeah, I got up fairly early and this meant that I was on the road just after six with the roads to myself. Progress was made…
Vinegar Hill was fun but I settled down for the cruise up SH1 to Taihape where I stopped for gas before carrying on up to Waiouru. Leaving Taihape the temperature really dropped (when I checked at Tangiwai it was 10 degrees) and I was glad that I’d put on an extra layer. I was even glader when my temperamental heated grips mostly played ball with me.
The chilliness hung around all the way to Raurimu where the sun finally started showing itself and I had the pleasure of seeing the temperature rise to 14 degrees by the time I hit Taumarunui. In Taumarunui I met the guys at the local BP where a warm drink and a bite to eat was most welcome. And then we were into it…
John was the man with the plan and he really knows the roads in and around Taumarunui and through to the ‘naki. Colin and I just had to sit behind him and eat his dust. I won’t go into huge detail about where we went as it all gets very confusing in a short space of time but suffice it to say we got to enjoy some fantastic riding, from tight windy sections through native bush to more open and fast flowing gravel. Along the way there were the usual hazards - mainly animals and other vehicles (including a stock truck and trailer that needed more road than there was) - but, we had a ball.
For more info on the route, check out the map and there’s a heap of videos in this playlist if you’re keen. There are also tunnels…
When we popped out on the seal at Urenui, our timing was impeccable - it just happened to be lunchtime and there just happened to be a cafe…
After lunch we were straight back into the gravel, picking up a few more of the Taranaki Tunnels before the major excitement of the day.
 |
| A wee pause after Kiwi Road |
At one of the turn-offs, John and I spent quite a few minutes yabbering away before we started wondering where Colin was.
 |
| Yes, this mob were wandering around all over the road... |
We probably rode back about 10km before finally finding him riding really carefully. Yep, he’d managed to pick up a wee puncture. He stuck in some air via his CO2 bottles and decided to make for Whangamomona before undertaking a repair job.
After a slower ride into Whanga, Colin and I got stuck into trying to repair the puncture while John went for some cold drinks and settled in to watch the entertainment.
One dog turd didn’t do the trick as we were still getting a leak from the tyre. We tried a few different ways of putting in 2 turds and in the end thought that we’d got it.
Leaving Whanga I had my own little issue when something hard and fast flew in my visor and into my eye. Luckily I shut my eye just in time but man did it hurt! While I was feeling sorry for myself the other guys got away on me, but, dropping down the other side of the saddle I again caught up with some slow moving KTM’s. Yes, the air had escaped Colin’s tyre.
We pulled into a side road and again attempted repairs. Once again we thought we had it sorted and set off, only to stop about another 10-15km up the road…
Yet more dug turds were pressed into action and we determined that the tyre must have more of a split in it rather than just a hole. The dog turd supplies were taking a hammering…
This repair only lasted about the same amount of time, so we got some more practice again as we watched other vehicles that we’d passed re-pass us again. My little compressor was sure getting a workout.
 |
| Muchus dog-turds... |
I was nearly in Stratford when my phone rang to tell me that I’d deserted the team - oops! Rather than head straight back I carried on into Stratford and picked up a tyre pando - the last one at the second garage I tried…
I then rode back to the others where we inserted 2 or 3 more dog turds before using the pando as well. Once again we told Colin to disappear while we sorted the gear and he rode into Stratford to check the tyre and put in a bit more air at the service station. Then we were off towards Hawera...for a while…
Just before Normanby I noticed (and smelled) two big puffs of pando juice come from Colin’s tyre and in no time he had pulled over again. It was here that we had to admit defeat. Colin rang his wife and got Jen on the way with the Land Cruiser and trailer while we put the last two dog turds in the tyre and attempted to get into Hawera.
And, we actually made it without the tyre completely deflating! Maybe Colin could ride home anyway? Heck no, we just knew that the tyre would probably give out just out town so we stuck to Plan A.
After a drink and a bite Colin told John and I to gap it and like the tight bunch of mates we are, we abandoned him for a very quick trip back down from Hawera. In Sanson John turned off to head home while I carried on home to Palmy.
I got in at 9:20 after leaving just after 6am having ridden around 803km according to the GPS and having a bit of an eventful ride. Chatting to Colin later, we both agreed that it still had been an awesome ride - we’ll have to get those other tunnels again some other time.
Monday, December 30, 2019
Xmas - done and dusted
Yep, she's all over...
This year our tribe had Christmas at my sister's in the 'naki. I took the ute and dog up and somehow managed to find room for Mighty Mouse...
It was a pretty cruisy affair with lots of eating, presents and not getting too excited. The dog had a ball playing with the farm dogs and even got walked a few times - once by a lazy WR rider...
Here's just a few snaps.
Trying not to push the front knobbly too hard...
This year our tribe had Christmas at my sister's in the 'naki. I took the ute and dog up and somehow managed to find room for Mighty Mouse...
It was a pretty cruisy affair with lots of eating, presents and not getting too excited. The dog had a ball playing with the farm dogs and even got walked a few times - once by a lazy WR rider...
Here's just a few snaps.
 |
| Even the old man had a wee pootle on the WR |
 |
| Honey and a grown up Sam |
 |
| With the retired and lovely Bonnie |
 |
| Wanna-be farm-hound |
Trying not to push the front knobbly too hard...
The ride before Christmas
Well, Merry Christmas...this blog has been a long time coming. Over a week ago Colin and I snuck in a little pre-Christmas ride and I got more than halfway through a blog about it when blogger lost it all - I was not amused…
But anyway, let’s see if I can remember any of the important details…
We had a few loose plans that involved a ride out East with a lunch stop at either Akitio or Pongaroa and were keen to ride the “Rising Sun” again.
After mucking around drinking coffee and admiring the new rack on the WR (Colin has a thing for racks, don’t blame him really) we got underway with a quick dash over the track and then the short stretch of gravel on Tararua Road to get us over to Pahiatua for fuel.
Fuelled up, we had a quick pootle through to Makuri before turning off on Coonoor Road which begins with seal and then changes to gravel just before the turn-off to Towai Road (the Rising Sun road).
After a week of rain the gravel was reasonably settled and definitely not dusty so I was able to ride fairly close to Colin and actually capture him on video (scroll down a wee ways for the video). Just before the lime works the road got a little softer underfoot which caused the bike to move around a little. At the lime works we stopped again to admire the views.
Dropping down the other side, the road is normally rougher and for once I was glad that I took a corner a little wide as upon turning around a sharp left hander there was a steer on what should have been my side of the road - phew! The rest of the ride down the hill was relatively uneventful except for two suicidal rabbits - one of which raced off the road into the bushes and then promptly turned back around to attempt to attack my poor wee Tenere - once again my luck held out…
The tiniest of navigational errors had me take Colin out to the Waihi Falls turn-off just so we had enough room to turn around safely and back track to the Eastern bit of Waihi Valley Road. This then took us onto Waione-Horeka Road - more decent gravel that eventually spat us out on Route 52 just across the road from the turn-off to Akitio.
It was all seal out to the blustery coast and a very unfriendly closed shop at Akitio. No, we were not getting our lunch there today, so it was off to Pongaroa we went.
Naturally we needed to get there via a different route and that route was good ole Coast Road - a major fav of mine. I probably wasn’t as quick through here as normal as I was running a decent headache and this probably saved a pheasant’s life. There were two of them on the road and at first I thought I was going to hammer him while he was on the ground but he managed to get airborne right at the last minute and some quick ducking by me prevented him from giving me a Glasgow Kiss.
Cruising into Pongaroa the roads magically appeared to change to a wet-looking colour and when we parked up at the pub next to some other riders we discovered that, yes, there had been a bit of a shower and that we’d somehow managed to completely avoid it.
The other chaps vamoosed pretty much straight away which meant that they didn’t need to see us hoovering down our late lunch. The fat pub lab didn’t get to test much of our lunch either…
And then we piked out on our original plans for more gravel and decided to gap it back to Pahiatua - both of us were not feeling that flash and deciding that a shorter ride followed by some couch surfing was a better idea (we must have been pretty near death I reckon). In fact, we didn’t even make it home without a coffee stop in Pahiatua!
While in Pahiatua we attempted to help fix a puncture on someone else’s VTR1000 but I was embarrassed to discover that my repair kit was sitting at home on the bench. Oh well, that meant I had plenty of dog-turds for yesterday’s ride - but that’s for another blog soon…
At least the coffee sparked us up a little as we took in Tararua Road again and then had a little play on the Pahiatua Track. A nice way to finish off our pre-Christmas ride!
Merry Freekin Xmas!
Monday, December 16, 2019
2019 Coast to Coast
Saturday was this year's running of the Coast to Coast ride which raises money for our local rescue helicopter.
I've missed very few of these over the years and have mentioned in the past that it is a ride that I both enjoy and hate. I enjoy doing it as it raises money for a very worthy cause but, I hate it due to the antics of some of the riders that show up - the gap in my badge collection is due to me passing on the ride after two riders were killed on one running of the event.
Anyway, enough moaning, I went for a ride...
The ride out to Himatangi introduced me to the fresh wee breeze that was going to hang around for at least as long as I was out and about. The forecast even promised some rain but I ignored it and rode out with all the vents open on my jacket, pants and helmet.
While waiting I spoke to a few guys I know, including one H2 rider who was riding something with about 25% of the power of his H2...
Eventually we set off through to Sanson and Feilding with the wind perhaps even stronger than the ride out to the beach. I sat pretty close to the front and just puttered along enjoying the ride.
The trip over the Saddle was pretty slow but at least we didn't get stuck behind a heap of cars and then we formed up just on the outskirts of Woodville to wait for our slot in their Xmas parade.
The parade was very slow with plenty of us wobbling our way along with cooling fans roaring away and clutches being being given a workout - not exactly fun but the kids always love the bikes.
Parking up, it was time for lunch and that's when I ran into Colin W. It had been quite some time since I'd seen him and it was nice to catch up and check out his new to him Tiger Sport. Glad to see that he is still getting out there and enjoying his riding.
After lunch I flagged the trip out to the coast again (it seems like I'm out there every other weekend on the Tenere) and just pootled through to Pahiatua before having some sport on the Pahiatua Track.
Sorry about the lack of pics, here's an extra one from 2013 ;)
 |
| The one photo I took this year... |
Anyway, enough moaning, I went for a ride...
The ride out to Himatangi introduced me to the fresh wee breeze that was going to hang around for at least as long as I was out and about. The forecast even promised some rain but I ignored it and rode out with all the vents open on my jacket, pants and helmet.
While waiting I spoke to a few guys I know, including one H2 rider who was riding something with about 25% of the power of his H2...
Eventually we set off through to Sanson and Feilding with the wind perhaps even stronger than the ride out to the beach. I sat pretty close to the front and just puttered along enjoying the ride.
The trip over the Saddle was pretty slow but at least we didn't get stuck behind a heap of cars and then we formed up just on the outskirts of Woodville to wait for our slot in their Xmas parade.
The parade was very slow with plenty of us wobbling our way along with cooling fans roaring away and clutches being being given a workout - not exactly fun but the kids always love the bikes.
Parking up, it was time for lunch and that's when I ran into Colin W. It had been quite some time since I'd seen him and it was nice to catch up and check out his new to him Tiger Sport. Glad to see that he is still getting out there and enjoying his riding.
After lunch I flagged the trip out to the coast again (it seems like I'm out there every other weekend on the Tenere) and just pootled through to Pahiatua before having some sport on the Pahiatua Track.
Sorry about the lack of pics, here's an extra one from 2013 ;)
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