Forgotten Highway Warning [Archive]

Bassmatt

27th January 2012, 12:38

The Baron

27th January 2012, 12:44

Was this new road works or tar bleed at the Taumarunu end. It's bad in the wet too.

Bassmatt

27th January 2012, 13:32

It looked like it was new but had been "completed" as there were no warning or road works signs or workers around.
Alot of it was going up and down the saddles between Whangmongama(?) and Stratford.
The cynic in me wonders if its a deliberate "traffic calming" exercise.

MSTRS

27th January 2012, 13:44

It looked like it was new but had been "completed" as there were no warning or road works signs or workers around.
A lot of it was going up and down the saddles between Whangamomona and Stratford.
The cynic in me wonders if its a deliberate "traffic calming" exercise.

You don't want to know what it was like to ride in 35+ degrees and NO chip at all...

Bassmatt

27th January 2012, 14:25

You don't want to know what it was like to ride in 35+ degrees and NO chip at all...

Well I didnt think it could get much worse, but you win :laugh:

The unsealed section was bliss compared to that mess, no wonder it has a " High Motorcycle Crash Rate" sign at the beginning.

There is now also a fair bit of tar in a certain motel room in New Plymouth. :innocent:

Hitcher

27th January 2012, 16:00

vifferman

27th January 2012, 20:15

It's all my fault. I must've worn it out when I rode it a few weeks back.

Sorry...:facepalm:

shafty

27th January 2012, 22:03

Rode in to Whangamomona from New Plymouth last week. There was resealing underway between Gordon Road and the Douglas railway crossing, and the whole of the Strathmore saddle had just been resealed. Other than that, the road was as good as always.

Having parked outside the pub I was advised to move my bike (please) and got a free coffee for my troubles. A long story involving a photo opportunity for two red Nissan 370Z convertibles, one of which was owned by Mrs Publican.

It's a nice Z too, Penny's is.

Similiarly I rode the local route a couple of weeks ago passing 2 cars comfortably on the gravel - translating to a nice surface. Have you experienced the Rural Riders Rally thereabouts Hitcher?

Gremlin

28th January 2012, 01:38

Other than that, the road was as good as always.
Subtle that. Last time I was there was for the Capital Cruise... in the rain. Always an interesting road in the rain... :sweatdrop

caspernz

28th January 2012, 19:20

Subtle that. Last time I was there was for the Capital Cruise... in the rain. Always an interesting road in the rain... :sweatdrop

Even more interesting as a midnight excursion...wildlife galore.

martybabe

28th January 2012, 19:50

The cynic in me wonders if its a deliberate "traffic calming" exercise.

I thought the same, it was crap in all the places you wouldn't want it to be crap, coincidence? maybe, dunno but I shan't bother again for a while, much better roads to heading for at the moment.

Bikemad

28th January 2012, 20:21

chateau to the plateau goin thru there tomorrow..............anyone ridin down in the morn

sinfull

29th January 2012, 07:42

It's a nice Z too, Penny's is.

Similiarly I rode the local route a couple of weeks ago passing 2 cars comfortably on the gravel - translating to a nice surface. Have you experienced the Rural Riders Rally thereabouts Hitcher?
Is that the Anzac weekend or the one they now have over independance weekend Pete ?

Could quite see Heidi and I doing Anzac weekend again this year, a little close to the cold duck and of course my aversity to camping, but it is a good (read small enough to enjoy) rally and the ride of course is superb !

shafty

29th January 2012, 08:20

The ANZAC one Bill, - likewise - it's a good size and well laid back - see you there?

O'night at Matiere if you like :drinknsin:

Bassmatt

29th January 2012, 11:59

So I'm still cleaning bloody tar off things. Under whos' jurisdiction does this road fall?
They are going to hear from me :yes:

MSTRS

29th January 2012, 12:24

It's a numbered highway - so NZTA

Movistar

29th January 2012, 18:47

You don't want to know what it was like to ride in 35+ degrees and NO chip at all...

The exact reason why during summer it's best to get out there before the sun gets too hot. That's until they start to reseal sections in fun parts of the journey...

Doesn't worry me now - I've found a new favourite road that's every bit as good (if not better) and gets less use than SH43.

martybabe

29th January 2012, 19:52

The exact reason why during summer it's best to get out there before the sun gets too hot. That's until they start to reseal sections in fun parts of the journey...

Doesn't worry me now - I've found a new favourite road that's every bit as good (if not better) and gets less use than SH43.

Tease, just tell me, it'll be our secret :yes:

Movistar

29th January 2012, 20:56

Tease, just tell me, it'll be our secret :yes:

Hmmm, alright then: Turn left at the ugly river and head to where Turi sprained his foot and it became stiff and made him lame (his foot I'm talking about!).

Don't want to make it too obvious - remember there's not a lot of traffic on this road so it would be nice to keep it that way!

If you can't work it out we'll go for a ride there some day soon, Mart. It's been too long since we've done that ayway :msn-wink:

martybabe

29th January 2012, 21:54

Hmmm, alright then: Turn left at the ugly river and head to where Turi sprained his foot and it became stiff and made him lame (his foot I'm talking about!).

Don't want to make it too obvious - remember there's not a lot of traffic on this road so it would be nice to keep it that way!

If you can't work it out we'll go for a ride there some day soon, Mart. It's been too long since we've done that ayway :msn-wink:

Cripes, Mr cryptic :laugh: I know it well as it happens. The camp-site at the lame place does good cheap Kai.:yes: ever done the right turn after the left at the ugly river? quite fancy making a loop of that but I don't know if it be gravel down that way.

Movistar

29th January 2012, 21:59

Cripes, Mr cryptic :laugh: I know it well as it happens. The camp-site at the lame place does good cheap Kai.:yes:

Sure does :niceone:

The best part is, you can take the gravel road in and the long way home if you choose; or not.

Thought you may have ventured that way already. Beautiful part of the country - the journey and the destination!

ever done the right turn after the left at the ugly river? quite fancy making a loop of that but I don't know if it be gravel down that way.

Not sure about that road, I would say it would be mostly gravel, but I am guessing. Will ask when at the servo out that way next, they're sure to know.

gunnyrob

30th January 2012, 06:50

Did Chateau-Plataeu yesterday, the road is fine. Gravel section is hard packed and easy. LOTS of camper vans though.... be careful in the narrow bits.

R650R

29th December 2012, 12:19

Went through on Thursday afternoon, what an awesome piece of road. Wasn't as difficult as the bar room legends had made it out to be. Others at the Whangamomona pub said its in a lot better shape than it was when they went through three years ago. Someone said a 1098 had biffed it up the road on an especially slippery patch but me and my mate didn't find anything too worrysome above the normal level of respect for wet shiney tar bleed. Gravel section was packed down hard like concrete almost, prob due for a grade soon... Will hvae to go back again and stay night at the pub and explore more from there.

Some pics from Whangamomona http://www.flickr.com/photos/media-rp/sets/72157632359963147/

pritch

29th December 2012, 13:04

Rode it on Wedensday in nice warm weather.
Probably half of it was basically liquid tar.:angry: My bike, bag and gear got absolutely covered in tar and i am still finding tarry stones in all sorts of places.
Not impressed to say the least :angry:

My condolences, I understand that would be a piss-off. Us locals avoid it in the wet and on very hot days.

Congratulations on keeping everything upright in the circumstances. (Every little cloud etc...)

merv

29th December 2012, 14:15

How did those that went through find the railway level crossings? There are no trains as such running any more but you now have to look out for hi-rail golf carts which legally, because they are on rail, have the right of way. Haven't been right through for a while myself but all the level crossing signage should be in place.

Tours on rail are run as per this website http://www.forgottenworldadventures.co.nz/

Hitcher

29th December 2012, 15:58

I'm intrigued by those golf cart thingos. Presumably these will be allowed to run in each direction. What happens when one meets another head on? What happens when both are going in the same direction and the second is desirous of travelling faster than the one in front? There aren't that many sidings now between Stratford and Okahukura.

shafty

13th January 2013, 18:46

See www.forgottenworldadventures.co.nz

Note they have a West and an East tour, so I presume they alternate days thereby relocating the carts. They travel in convoy and I believe have a Guide ride in a separate cart thereby thwarting my efforts to attract them into the Matiere Club.......

SMOKEU

13th January 2013, 20:23

Zedder

13th January 2013, 21:10

NZ is not a hot country. We have a temperate climate, and there are many countries in which temperatures greatly exceed those of NZ, and yet they still have sealed roads without these problems. Take a look at the Middle East.

The Middle East not only gets very hot but very cold as well (desert climate) which means the asphalt is quite a different type to NZs.

Polymer Modified Bitumin is often used in road pavement construction over there plus geotextile due to the sandy substrate.

Coldrider

13th January 2013, 21:12

The Middle East not only gets very hot but very cold as well (desert climate) which means the asphalt is quite a different type to NZs.

Polymer Modified Bitumin is often used in road pavement construction over there plus geotextile due to the sandy substrate.I've heard that moisture evaporating under the road bleeds tar up, is this true or false.

ducatilover

13th January 2013, 21:25

You don't want to know what it was like to ride in 35+ degrees and NO chip at all...
Was interesting being the chase car in the Silver fern rally on the boring (eastern) side...
I love that road, ride/drive it as much as I can

Zedder

13th January 2013, 21:40

I've heard that moisture evaporating under the road bleeds tar up, is this true or false.

Moisture can cause bleeding but more commonly it's the binder in the asphalt mix being affected by high temperature.

trumpy

13th January 2013, 23:22

Moisture can cause bleeding but more commonly it's the binder in the asphalt mix being affected by high temperature.

And the binder that is used is then inadequate for New Zealand summer conditions. I wonder why that might be?<_<

Late last Northern summer I drove from L.A up the coast road to San Francisco, across to Yosemite, down to Bakersfield then on up and through Death Valley, Vegas and back to L.A. While there was certainly the odd repair, not once did we come across tar snakes or tar melt of any kind and I can assure you that the temperatures were higher in many places than some of the high temperatures we are having in some parts of NZ right now.

It is utterly ridiculous to build roads that melt in 22deg of ambient temperature. Yes better materials are more expensive , but I do not believe that the Public Servant Wombles in Wellington or most councils are are taking sufficient cognisance of the true cost of ownership, that's of course if they done the sums to find out in the first place.........

Zedder

14th January 2013, 07:31

And the binder that is used is then inadequate for New Zealand summer conditions. I wonder why that might be?<_<

Late last Northern summer I drove from L.A up the coast road to San Francisco, across to Yosemite, down to Bakersfield then on up and through Death Valley, Vegas and back to L.A. While there was certainly the odd repair, not once did we come across tar snakes or tar melt of any kind and I can assure you that the temperatures were higher in many places than some of the high temperatures we are having in some parts of NZ right now.

It is utterly ridiculous to build roads that melt in 22deg of ambient temperature. Yes better materials are more expensive , but I do not believe that the Public Servant Wombles in Wellington or most councils are are taking sufficient cognisance of the true cost of ownership, that's of course if they done the sums to find out in the first place.........

The USA budgetted $1.75 trillion to get their roads up to scratch starting in 2009 so they've been doing well judging by your trip.

In NZ the binder is meant to be stable at an ambient 30 degrees C and is virtually the same as the one the yanks use. They also make roads just like ours (Hotmix Asphalt) but do use other additives sometimes.

smartley

22nd January 2013, 07:00

The USA budgetted $1.75 trillion to get their roads up to scratch starting in 2009 so they've been doing well judging by your trip.

In NZ the binder is meant to be stable at an ambient 30 degrees C and is virtually the same as the one the yanks use. They also make roads just like ours (Hotmix Asphalt) but do use other additives sometimes.

CAUTION CAUTION!
Not just you be careful out there grasshopper, most roads about the Naki turn into tar lakes.