New Tyres...Bring on the kms!

Got my new tyres fitted on Tuesday and picked the bike up on Wednesday.
 
Nanny Ann and I had to meet Nasty on Friday for business matters which took about 10 seconds but the coffee and chat lasted about 2 hours and Friday night we went to the fundraiser film evening for Shaun Harris which was quite enjoyable.
 
Saturday I worked on a couple of lightcatchers and when I had to go for milk, I thought I better check the new tyres out so I took the bike to Johnsonville.....via Ngaio Gorge, Tinakori St to Karori, through to Makara and up the Ohariu Valley. Not a road I normally like to go on as it's a bit rough and narrow....probably only half a point better than the Akatarawa Rd.
 
Saturday night I watched the Aussy / Sth Africa test but gave the Tour de France a miss as I decided Sunday was to be a ride day.
 
For the first time in awhile I went for a long ride by myself, getting away from home about 1000 with only 50 kms on the new tyres and about 50 kms out of the full tank. The temperature was still only 1 degree, the roads damp and with me still getting used to the fact I had decent tyres on, I took it pretty easy.
 
I had decided to ride over the 'hill', up to Masterton, then out through Te Ore Ore and up to Weber via Pongaroa. From there it was on to Wimbledon and Porangahau before coming out onto SH2 at Waipuk', then back down through Dannevirke and Woodville, over the Saddle to Ashhurst and onto Wanganui via Cheltenham, Vinegar Hill, Hunterville, Fordell. From there I would return to Wellington via SH1.
 
I caught up to a Kaw'i KLR on the Hutt road and rode with him to the top of the hill where I saw Ron waiting on his Goldwing Trike. I only had time for a wave as I headed down the hill, the temp was varying between 3 & 5 degrees, the sky was clear and road still predominantly damp as I continued on at my Nana pace.
 
As I headed toward Greytown I thought about stopping to take a photo of the Tararuas which had some snow caps in the background and some residual mist along the base...impressive...but I was on a mission. I continued at my Nana pace until I was past Pongaroa and the roads were a bit dryer and wider and it eventually took me about 3hrs20 to do the 300+ km to Waipuk'.
 
As I headed through the township, I spotted a couple of bikes outside a cafe and recognised Robertybob as one of the patrons so I turned back for a brief chat before heading on to fill up at Woodville, the temp now up to around 9 degrees. The rest of the trip through to Wanganui was pleasantly uneventful, I got there at 1600 and stopped there with whanau for an hour before heading for home in particularly heavy traffic, which was basically a solid line from about 5 km north of Otaki.
 
By the time I got home it was 1920, the temp was back down to 3 degrees and I had done 715 kms. The new Pilot Road 2's felt pretty good, but then what new tyre doesn't. They were were well 'planted' on the road and quite smooth through the transitions and it was great to feel so stable after persisting with the Road Attack until it wore out.......Bring on more kms!!