1000miles...and a night at the Hilton.

OK perhaps the title is a tad misleading, I dint exactly do a thousand miles in one day, but in my attempt to cover four days of biking on two bikes it was the best I could come up with.

Thursday I ignored the weather forecast and took the GS to work.  I can see why Keith rides to work every day, it is a great way to start the day.   After work I headed north and took a very very long way home, up SH16, a slight detour down to Port Albert (Gravel road yippee) and then through to Warkworth where I caught up with my folks for dinner.  Eventually getting home after 8.

Friday, feeling inspired and the fact my motorbike gear was strewn all over the bedroom I took the gs again, this time after work I headed South down the motor way, a few back roads to Kiaua.  It was a great evening for riding.  Over the course of the two days riding to and from work I had managed to put 600 Ks on the bike...almost due for its first service, after all I have owned it for 10 days and that is to be expected.

Finally the weekend arrived, I had decided earlier in the week to go away for the weekend with Terry.  We haven't been away for a over nighter for ages, and with spring here it was time to a road trip in.  I decided that Taupo would be a s good a place as any. It is a decent size town with lots to do .  It also gives me many options on the roads to ride to get there.   I eventually settled on going through Taumarnui and National park. These are two of my favourite roads and they did not disappoint again .  It was a great ride, even though it was a bit chilly with the temperature struggling to get above 12 degrees all day.

We got to Taupo just after four where I had a surprise in stall for terry.....I had booked us into THE HILTON for a night.   (It was on special).   A hot shower  and lounging around in the"Hilton" robes that are supplied, and a wee drink (or two) made for a relaxing late afternoon. (I wasnt allowed to take the robe home, but apparantly you are allowed the slippers and the soaps...which I did take).   A bit later we headed out to a bar and enjoyed some food and watching the quarter finals of the Rugby World Cup.....never mind Ireland....never mind England......time to go home.

We left Sunday, the weather was gorgeous and some great riding was had as we headed through Bennydale and further north.     We stopped at a cafe where a nice old gentleman turned up on his, UN restored, or should I say original 1951 BSA.

850ks on the sprint, 600 on the GS the two days before, doesnt quite make a 1000 miles.....but I sure had a 1000 smiles.

The Pink Ribbon Ride.

Mark "Fat Max" Hill

I will always remember my Auntie rose.  Always smiling, always fun, always seemed happy, and some how managed to spoil us.  She had a little red min with a hole in the floor.....kind of drafty, and now a days certainly wouldn't be legal to be on the roads.     I don't remember when I first knew she was sick, I cannot even remember how old she was when the cancer finally took her life.  But I do remember her....her death at a young age, with two young daughters.

Sunday was the The Pink Ribbon Ride, a fund raiser for the Breast Cancer society.  Phillip McDaid sent out a request to all members and trainees from IAM to help in the marshaling of this event.  By NZ standards it normally ends up a very larger gathering of bikes, incorporating a small guided ride through Auckland waterfront, city, and ending at Western Springs just out side of Auckland central.  Some people go to all sorts of extremes to decorate there bike which all adds to the event. 

I had my kids this weekend but with a bit of help from my partner I was able to take Taylor on Saturday to the briefing and trial ride, and on Sunday, Nathan came with me to attend the official ride. Bloody good to have them apart of such a great event.

I attended this last ride last year, it is a great event, with a real spirit of camaraderie with bikers all coming together for a common cause.  It was a great honour to be a part in helping with it, even in a small degree.  The New Zealand Police provide just wonderful support ensuring roads are closed and shut off to let easy flow through of the bikes.  They are a friendly bunch and keen to talk bikes and chat, just brilliant.  There is a great deal of support from the many on lookers that lined the route also.

It was enthusiastic group of volunteers that met on Saturday with the organises.  Full credit to those that put time and effort in.  Geoff made the trip all the way from the Coromandel, and was the furthest to come.  I knew it took a fair bit of juggling on Geoff's behalf to be able to attend....good on ya mate. I took Taylor with me on the Saturday, she seemed to enjoy being a part of it, as long as there is Cafe food at the end of it!

Andy's Bike....I think he stopped at a cemetery, and "borrowed" some stuff to get this look!

Andy, Geoff,Richard, Me, and my son Nathan.

Another view of Andy's Fairy bike.

I told you some people take this seriously...or not as the case may be!

The car park starting to fill.

Getting together with the other IAM riders ensured a fair bit of light hearted banter ensured, actual I quite enjoyed asking Sergeant Chung...(in front of everyone) what the top speed of his GSXr 600 was on the open road.....he tactfully declined to answer, it was funny though.

Getting there nice and early Sunday in case we were needed for any help with the marshaling bikes into the meeting area.  In the end this particular bit was not really necessary but it was good to be there and see all the bikes rolling in.  I must admit though I didn't half need that early morning coffee....

The ride left on time and went with out a hitch, I peeled off at my designated point and assisted in keeping any traffic from joining into the middle of the ride.  The ride took us along Quay street which has been temporally closed during the world cup, but which was opened especially for us. There was plenty of crowd support to be had from the on lookers, and It was a great feeling to be a part of.  Nathan was loving being apart of a group ride, some thing he has not been apart of so a new experience.  Once the progression of bikes had passed we rejoined and tagged on in at the back

Once at the meeting point we spent some time promoting IAM and generally chatting to everyone we knew.  We had been very lucky all weekend with the weather.  It was for cast for rain both days, some of it heavy, and even though it threatened, it never started raining until later on Sunday afternoon. Thankfully by  then the festivities were over.

Many thanks to Geoff for providing some photos.

"All Things Rogey"..now includes "The Gravel Rash Adventures"

Sorry to disappoint but I am not pregant, but....I would like to announce the arrival of my new bike...

For those regular followers of my blog, you may remember earlier this year I did a bit of a tour around the Taranaki.  During the Sunday on my return home I found myself on a dirt track, just west of Ohura.  I managed to get the sprint home OK, but it sent me thinking on a path to a second bike, and the opportunities this would present for discovering more out of the way and for gotten places.  I began to seriously look at getting a duel purpose bike. Since Andrew added the DL to his stable, I was more inclined than ever to become  adventurous in my riding.   So for the last few months I have been trolling adventure forums and doing my own bit of research on what I think would suit the types of roads I would like to get onto.

After a while I had narrowed it done to a couple of bikes, and eventually settled on the G650 GS.  Once I had done a test ride I was in no doubt that this bike would do everything I was looking for.  It is light, nimble, comfortable and out right bloody fun to ride. 

The Sprint will remain with me as it is a great bike, and is ideal for two up touring and the purposes it was brought for.  The GS will open up new adventures for me, giving me the chance to visit places that I can not get to on the sprint.  It will also only improve my skills on a bike, and I have all ready enrolled in a off road course.  New Zealand has some amazing places to ride a off road bike, and I am  buzzing at the opportunities that this new bike will present me. 

I Picked the bike up yesterday, and took it for a we 200km spin.  Man it is a hoot, I had to fight the urge to find a dirt road, in due cause I will do a full review.  Man I love being on two wheels.

So I hope you will join me as Rogey's Gravel Rash Adventure begins.........

Breaking News!

Changes are foot in the world of "ALL THINGS ROGEY"!

Pictures and details to follow 7.00pm NZ Time Wednesday 28th September.

Stay tuned.

Bloody Orange Cones.....

Well, Phillip was good enough to organise another observed ride for me on Monday night.  Simon my appointed mentor has been pretty busy with the Rugby World Cup (God I hope the All blacks win!) and the Pacific Island Forum  (more political drum beating) .  So I was most grateful to have the opportunity to ride with Phillip again. The fact that this man gives up his time into  training me cannot be under estimated, and I am very very grateful.

The weather forecast was for rain and thunderstorms, thankfully we only got a bit of rain, although the route we took through the Waitakere ranges ensured the road was wet!

But First............

I arranged to meet Phillip where he does his other training courses.  This is a car park behind a gym and while we were there he decided it would be a good opportunity to try some slow speed manoeuvring exercises.  Now this could be interesting.  Although my slow speed skills have improved a great deal, throwing the 220kg sprint around a 15 foot wide turn with lots of little orange cones,   was perhaps a little optimistic on Phil's behalf.  Of course never one to turn down a challenge  I thought bugger it lets give this a go............and I did...again (fail)....and again(fail)....and again(fail)....and again(fail)....and again(fail).....and again(fail)....and again(fail)......shit this is hard!  So Mr McDaid...aka Phil steps in.   So I then get to watch this little man..and yes he is not a big fella, throw this Honda ST, all 300kgs of it through this obstacle course as if it is a  GN125!  Shit, feeling a bit like a plonker now.

OK Phil so you proved a point, now let me have a go on one of those little 125's you have on the back of the trailer there?  Whoop.......I am away.  At least I nailed it, perhaps not the first time, but I did eventually  get this bloody little bike around two fingers of this orange cone obstacle course.   In case you haven't noticed I am beginning to get an aversion to "road cones"!!!!!!!  Of course I did try my best to destroy as many as possiable but the little bastards pop back into shape.....no matter how many times you run over them.

With my helmet sufficiently soaked with sweat and my hands sticking to the inside of my winter gloves, we ended the obstacle courses challenge and set out on a ride.  Enjoying Auckland's peak hour traffic and intermittent rain.

The route took us through Scenic drive in the Waitake rangers, a very picturesque part of suburban Auckland, and from a bikers point of view a great road.  Certainly a challenging road.  Full of speed zone changes, hidden driveways, 25km bends and anything else you may want to through into the mix.

Once stopped the feed back begun.  So the negatives were.  Missed a couple of shoulder checks when the lanes went from two to one.  I did check my mirrors  but as Phillip pointed out it is easy for a car to enter theses roads from a driveway and the mirror check is just not adequate.  Was a bit lapsed on my indicating on a couple of round abouts.  And was not chasing my vanishing point as well as I should when exiting corners.  This is an area that I am aware is a weakness in my riding. 

So now the positives.  It is clearly obvious in my riding that I am applying the skills that are associated with Advanced riding.  I am using the full road , altering my position when I need to, watching my following distances and making a degree of smooth progress in most cases.  It comes down to a lot of fine tuning and working on the little things that need work.  The big thing for me is that I have improved from my previous observed ride.  It is there, I just need to continually reinforce the small stuff.

Fathers day ride and prizes!

So last Sunday was Fathers day, old news I know, but not for being frantic at work this week I may have been able to write about it earlier.

I was given the delicacy of toast, baked beans and coffee.........with a slash of ham on the side.   All made with love and appreciation, which is all i can ask for.

Nathan had a friend over, so that breakfast was where fathers day started an ended for him, still Taylor was keen to go for a ride, and she even mentioned a  "long ride", dangerous words indeed.

SO with Nathan off to his mates place, my partner working, Taylor and I headed north, stopping at the chocolate factory for a very yummy brunch.......(forgot photos sorry).  WE carried on north after that and took the scenic ride through Wellsford, SH 16 to Helensville, and eventually home.  we were away for about 6 hours, and Taylor didn't seem to mind in the slightest.  I think I may be turning her into a biker yet.  A few years ago anything longer than 20 Min's was considered a long trip.

It was great  to get out for a ride on what was a nice day with my daughter.  She seems to be growing up so fast that the time will come when she will be far to busy to come with me any more.

Soccer season has finally ended.  Taylor's team finished second from the bottom, but it was a great journey along the way.  Yesterday was the Girls 13th Grade prize giving.   Taylor won "Most Valuable player", I thought I should of won most "vocal sideline commentator" and supporter award, but it was not to be.

Proud Dad

Most improved, Most Valuable, and Sportsmanship award, The three winners from Taylor's team.

Still very proud of my girl, first season of football and she won a ward.


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Why Bother?

On the ride on Sunday I had the opportunity to talk to Simon (my observer) in some detail.  I wondered what would inspire a man, or anybody for that matter, to give up there time freely to educate others bikers.  To put time and effort into teaching with no possible financial reward.

I have spent a few days since Sunday thinking about this very thing. 

In the end I came to several conclusions.

All over NZ, and obviously many other countries, countless individuals will give there time and commitment to helping others, or promoting some thing that they consider important.  They do this because they are passionate about it. They do it cause they love to do it, and they do it because the results far out way the time they put in.  Weather it be couching a girls soccer team, or a boys rugby team, weather it be meals on wheels, or collecting for the blind.  There is some thing very rewarding about doing such activities.

But...........what motivates people to do such things?

Which brings me back to IAM, and the conversation I had with Simon on Sunday.  I asked him why he did what he was doing.  Mainly because it was clear to me that he is a busy man and I am sure he probably had better things to do with his time than follow a chubby guy around behind a red triple.

He went on to tell me about a recent motorway accident involving a biker.  With out going into detail, the biker lost control while entering a on ramp, slid across three lanes and into the wire rope barrier  (or as we call them over here "Cheese cutters") He was picked up in four pieces.   This alone is motivation for encouraging better riding.  Seeing the consequences of some body's riding and knowing that you can teach and help people to ad void such tragedy's would be very motivating.  It would be for me.

When he stops a biker  for reckless or dangerous driving he always promotes IAM and encourage's them to seek out and get some better training.   Not one single rider has ever taken him up on his offer. 

Which brings me to a point which applies to every sport or exercise where training is required.

YOU CAN ONLY TEACH SOME ONE IF THEY WANT TO LEARN

and here lies the problem.

The single and most motivating factor for me in  getting some training was not my stupidity or lack of training......it was some else's. Some one who, if I could of I should been able to offer some commonsense and some up skilling. But if you are blind you can not tell a blind man what you don't see.

I have long given up on the government doing anything sensible about such things.  If I want to make a differenc then only I can do so.  In your chosen field what ever it maybe, if you are passionate about it then you can make a difference.

I look at like this.  If I and Geoff get to a position where we can train just two people, and those two people go on and train another two people each, and those four train two each, and those eight train two each....... you can see where this is going. 

Thanks for reading everyone..............and or all the Kiwi Fathers out ther, Happy Fathers day on Sunday!