Wellington to Hastings/Nelson this weekend via Route 52

[fleebag4@]

Going for a ride leaving Wellington early on Saturday morning to Hastings/Nelson and just wandering if anyones interested in a ride that way? Also, anyone know of any issues using route 52 as some people say it can be closed due to slippages and stuff. I don't want to take a boring route and this one comes up trumps :rockon:

[curly]

Do you mean Hastings/Napier?

[Maha]

Do you mean Hastings/Napier?

No Hastings/Paihia.

[fleebag4@]

Cr-p! I mean Hastings/ Napier

[Old Steve]

Don't live down that way now, but originally came from Sthrn Hawkes Bay.

EDIT: Oh shit, you mean Hwy 52 out through Pongaroa! We used to camp out that way at Akitio, were a lot of shingle roads in those days (probably now all 4 lane highways taking the Khandalla cowboys to their weekend baches).

One way would be Hwy 57 through Shannon and Tokumaru? That allows you to bypass Palmerston North by turning right just after Massey University and going through Aokautere to the east of PN, you could turn right at Aokautere and go over the Pahiatua Track onto Hwy 2 at Pahiatua and turn north through Mangatainoka to Woodville - that avoids the Saddle Rd.

I'd start up over the Rimatukas, through the Wairarapa might be a little straight/flat and boring, but that avoids going over the Saddle Road since the Manawatu Gorge is closed. Woodville to Norsewood is OK, mainly sweepers rather than twisties (you could turn right onto Hopelands Rd about 4 - 5 km north of Woodville and ride along Jacksons Rd up the Manawatu River valley, you come out onto Oringi Rd and meet Hwy 2 at Oringi south of Dannevirke) . The area around Takapau is a bit flat, but you could turn off at Takapau onto Hwy 50 and go through Ongaonga and Tikokino and come out near Fernhill.

[Coldrider]

The saddle road is the better than the manawatu gorge, prefer that way now, bye bye gorge, double yellow lined slow slow slow.

[GrayWolf]

How early? I dont get home from work till 11pm Friday, and will need a good sleep.