Due to circumstances beyond our control, one KB member decided to Ride from Wellngton to Taupo on 15 March 2008. In typical KB fashion, this has been blown all out of proportion with a number of us wanting to go with him and then have a long cruisy ride around the lower north island. We're getting quite keen on the idea now and serious planning is under way.
The original intention was to do this in a day but we have now settled on 2 days overnighting at Taupo's Great Lake Holiday Park ($25ea in a cabin). Yet another member decided on that weekend that he'd like to do the Gentle Annie between Napier and Taihape. We're getting towards the end of the summer and this may be a great opportunity for a last-hurrah weekend for the lower north KBers from Wellington, Wairarapa, Manawatu, Hawkes Bay and Taupo areas.
The proposed route so far is 841km and stays off the state highways where possible but without adding hundreds of k's to the ride. The current plan is to take in some well-known roads running nearly parallel to the SHs on surfaces that are sealed, generally clean and within hailing distance of gas stations.
The route-at-large is Day One: Upper Hutt, Masterton bypass, Eketahuna bypass, Paihiatua bypass, Danniverke, Ormondville, SH50, Taradale, SH5 Napier-Taupo ... Day Two: Western Lake, Ohakune, Taihape, Upper Kawhatau, Pemberton, Cheltnam, Feilding, Pahiatua Track, Masterton, Wellington. Now that we're taking a whole day to come back on the Sunday, we've added in the Taupo Western Lake road and the Pahiatua Track so that we stay off SH1 and it's Sunday Log-jam at Otaki
Approximate Timing details for Saturday March 15:-
- Assemble Rimutex 8:30am
- Depart Rimutex 9:00am
- Eketahuna approx 10:45
- Dannevirke approx 11:45
- Taradale/Napier 1:15pm
- Lunch Napier Waterfront by the Marina
- Depart Napier 2:15pm
- Taupo 4:15pm
- Overnight at the Great Lakes Holiday Park
For rendezvous call my helmet-mobile (021) 41 41 96
Approximate Timing details for Sunday March 16:-
- Assemble outside Subway 8:30am
- Depart Subway 9:00am
- Arrive Taihape (cafe behind the old Post Office/Bank?) 12:00pm
- Leave Taihape 1:00pm
- Arrive Ashhurst 4:30pm
- Eketahuna 6:00pm
- Rimutex 8:00pm
For rendezvous call my helmet-mobile (021) 41 41 96
Please stick your name on the Calendar list if you're thinking about it. It doesn't matter if you don't go, it just indicates interest at this stage.
Here's the Calendar to plonk your name on
The unanswered question is ... is this better as a 2-day ride overnighting in backpackers or camping so it stays cheap as we can make it? The other alternative is just to make it a 1 day affair. That will be hardest on the welly crew but for the Wairarapa, Manawatu and Hawkes Bay tems, it's just a doddle.
Reply With Quote
- What a brilliant way to wave goodbye to Summer....
- 2 Days - An overnighter with Good food - Some Drink - Great Company......How can one refuse....
...I'm in
..
.."What's with all the lights"..officer..
Originally Posted by Grub
Bookmarks