Anyway I digress, Now where to go for a ride ? That was answered easier enough. The Rimutaka Hill. Wellington's own little motorcyclist play ground. Situated 20 minutes north of Wellington it separates the Wellington region from the Wairarapa. This little stretch of road on weekends can be quite congested as many motorcyclists play & learn (some the hard way) on the winding stretch of road up to the summit. On fine weekends you will always find at least a couple of bike at the top. On a busy day perhaps 20 or more if a group is going for a ride. The summit is graced by a small cafe, which provides human fuel. Once filled up you can the traverse the east side of the hill.

Now on weekdays the hill is fairly quite compared to the weekend and you can get a good undisturbed run on both sides. So back to my little afternoon. The last time I rode over the hill a number of corners had bad corrugations as the hill is the main link and a lot of heavy traffic use it. But most of these had been resealed with tarmac not chipseal, so nice smooth corners = fast corners. So a quick check to make sure no police were behind me, I went for a good hard blat up the western side of the hill. The western side is short and less elevated than the eastern side as you start climbing before you get the the hill. Some corners are blind and the road narrow, so you have to be very aware of on coming traffic, I've had a number of occasions where a car or truck has cut / ran wide on a corner and has not left a lot of room. So a reasonable amount of caution is always required.

A quick no drama run up the western side. Still building up speed, Still learning and trying new technics to make me a safer faster rider. It seems to be working. As the trip up went smoothly and I hit every point I aimed for on the way up. A quick stop for a cuppa and a few photos. back on the bike for the down hill run down the western side. Another good hard ride down, (Well for me anyway). Then turn around to head back up to the top again. This time I stopped to took a few photos. I don't know how many times I've been over that hill but never took any photos. The hill is great combination of tight corners & open sweepers as it opens out down the bottom of the Valley. Now with the new tarmac smooth corners, corner speed could be kept high. This run up the hill was the first time that I had had any of the SV on the ground with the metzelers. A  bump mid corner got the left hand peg grounded. Once again the road ends far to quickly and then its down the west side heading home.

Still learning the best way to traverse down hill runs, more comfortable riding up a hill. But still learning. As you always do. Then after a quick play on the hill headed back into Wellington.