The world famous Minginui - Matawai - Motu Midwinter Madness Ride is on again 22-23 August
Similar format to last time:
The ride will kick off from the Rangitaiki Tavern on the Napier-Taupo Rd Saturday morning at 8am sharp. There is food, beer, basic cabins & camping there for those who want to arrive Friday night. Phone them on 07 384 2803 to book yourself a bed.
More comfy accommodation, & extra bunks are also available 5km back down the road towards Taupo at the Rangitaiki Lodge. They have a couple of nice motel units, some tidy cabins & a bunkhouse. Call them on 07 384 2800 to book. As the Lodge bar usually closes at 8 the main Friday night gathering/meal/beers will be back at the pub.
8am Saturday we will leave the Pub & head North along the Waipunga Rd. We will use the cornerman system through the forest to Minginui. The challenge section we have done in the past is blocked by fallen trees at present so we will do a short side trip up to a forest lookout. This is suitable for all bikes but pay attention on the last little bit if it's been wet.
If anyone wants to join in at Minginui go hard. We will stop in at the Waikaremoana Motor Camp for a coffee & fuel.
We will then continue on from Waikaremoana, to Wairoa (if you need gas), Tiniroto Pub for some refreshments & a few backroads to Matawai. I will post up a route sheet & GPS tracks so people can do their own pace Minginui - Matawai & have the choice of bypassing Wairoa on backroads if time & fuel range permits. You need 230km fuel range to bypass Wairoa.
At Matawai there is accommodation at the Pub ph 06 862 4874 & the campground over the road has basic bunks, ph 06 862 4800 or 027 445 8755.
The Matawai pub does a good dinner, they may do a buffet, watch here for details. If you want dinner at the pub & are not staying there give them a call & let them know so they have an idea on numbers.
On the Sunday we'll head off down the Motu Rd to Opotiki, From there the route is routesheeted again via some highway & a few more backroads back to my place at Rotoiti. There are a few side trip options if for Sunday if the weather's nice too.
Any trailer scum planning to attend are welcome to drop their car & trailer at my place for the weekend. If you are traveling far from home & would like to crash on my couch on the Sunday night get in touch.
Remember this is a MIDWINTER ride. Based on previous MMMMM rides there is an 85% chance it will rain, a 30% chance of snow, an 80% chance it will be bloody cold & a 100% chance that all those mad enough to do the whole ride will have lots of fun. The main route is all tar & gravel roads, nothing technical, do able on any adventure bike with any tyres. Some of the gravel is often fairly rough & muddy though so you will enjoy the ride more with some knobbyish rubber, particularly if you are a n00b or on a bigger bike.
Distances:
Taupo - Rangitaiki Pub - 35 km (no fuel)
Rangitaiki Pub - Minginui - 75km (no fuel)
Minginui - Waikaremoana 70km (thats 180km from Taupo - pack extra gas if you've got a small tank)
Waikaremoana - Wairoa 60km (Waikaremoana - Matawai on Ohuka Rd etc 230km)
Wairoa - Matawai 180km
Matawai - Opotiki 75km
Routesheet now attached. Same as last year. GPS track is over on ADV: http://advrider.com/index.php?thread...-2015.1084236/
I will probably head over to Rangitaiki on the Friday through the forest as usual. Leaving my place 3pm
Cheers
Clint
Bookmarks