Auckland to the MMMMM, Friday 27 July

[Crisis management]

I am absconding from work friday to do my usual west coast wander to the MMMMM start if anyone wants to tag along or suggest other routes etc.

My usual impeccable plan is:

IF it's raining, wait till later in the day and head straight sounth via Mangakino, boringish but takes 3.5 hours to Taupo.

If it's fine......

Leave the Autobahn (sthrn motorway just past Papkura) at 8.00 am

West coast to Raglan, then Kawhia and on to Pio Pio, thats around 300kms so you may need fuel at Raglan or Kawhia.... usual diversions past Bridal Veils and a couple of back road loops before Pio Pio that make it more interesting (providing I don't get stuck like last time.. :crazy: don't go down to the river flats in winter, it's muddy).

Refuel at Pio Pio then south on the Aria road before cutting back up to Benneydale and into the Pureora forest. Generally get semi lost in the forest, find the geographical centre of the north island (in case it moved since last time) and splash about in the ice and mud. After that it gets a bit boring, into Taupo and fuel up, head out to Rangiteikei (about 30 minutes riding), tell lies and drink beer!

Note:
It is a full days riding and there is not a lot of time for three course meals and coffee stops, a pie at Pio Pio is about it.
I want to get to Rangiteikei before dark (5.30) as it gets bloody cold after that.
You really want to be able to fix your own punctures and carry a map so if you get lost you can get un-lost.
It's all gravel and forestry tracks so nothing difficult and there are a couple of options for getting back on the main road if it becomes unpleasant.

I don't mind trying to meet up with people on the way down and can give estimates of when I will be there but if you aren't there, I'm not stopping as we will run out of daylight if we muck around.

Open to suggestions.... :cool:

[.chris]

Open to suggestions.... :cool:

I am not so keen on that route (Raglan,Kawhia,PoiPio I have done too many times), I was thinking of doing a semi boring trip down to Tirau, then doing the Leslie/Cecil Road into Rotorua, then down to Taupo and head into the Kaimanawa forest (Clements Mill road for a look), I figure with that route at least I am closeish to destination before any portenially time sucking deviations happen.
But Pueroa is a good idea, plenty of fun to be had in there. Maybe I shall skip the Cecil/Leslie road bit and try to meet you there somewhere, SH30 maybe? But I guess you will be pretty late arriving there, not giving much time for the Kiamanawa deviation. Decisions decisions eh!

[Shewolf]

Not sure what I'll be doing yet - may work in the morning but will see how things are going next week. :wacko:

[Crisis management]

I am not so keen on that route (Raglan,Kawhia,PoiPio I have done too many times), I was thinking of doing a semi boring trip down to Tirau, then doing the Leslie/Cecil Road into Rotorua, then down to Taupo and head into the Kaimanawa forest (Clements Mill road for a look), I figure with that route at least I am closeish to destination before any portenially time sucking deviations happen.
But Pueroa is a good idea, plenty of fun to be had in there. Maybe I shall skip the Cecil/Leslie road bit and try to meet you there somewhere, SH30 maybe? But I guess you will be pretty late arriving there, not giving much time for the Kiamanawa deviation. Decisions decisions eh!

Know what you mean by been that way before.... I just hate the 640 on the seal tho!

Kaimanawa thing sounds interesting, I've never been in there but have heard there is lots to look at, we will see if anyone is interested in either route and I may be persuaded to modify my route to get to Pureora earlier... I'd want to be at Pureora by 1-ish tho to leave enough time for kaimanawa... I will have a think!

[Waihou Thumper]

I got Friday off too...so if you want a joiner, I am sure we can find a suitable route South.

[Steelie]

I also have Friday off. Leaving my options wide open at this stage. One option being to start my ride from Clints place. (Because its bloody boring till you get to Tirau) Get to Clints mid morning and explore the lakes etc and spend the day getting to Rangitaiki. Have done no riding in that area except to Clints on the way to Gisborne/East Cape Ride.
Have done Pureroa 3 weeks ago with the Long Way Round and bloody good it was to.
Kiamanawa would be good to have a look at.....
Will keep an eye on the thread and see what you guys come up with.

Ants

[paturoa]

I've go Friday off as well, but will have a couple of erands to run before I leave, so probably will be leaving around mid day.

[That looks like fun]

:psst: Waitaramoa Rd
I have Friday off and am travelling up to Bennydale either by Ohura or Pio Pio :scooter: If you fine bunch of merry men are keen there is a track that needs some exploring up the aforementioned Rd :2thumbsup




I,m just sayin :msn-wink:
:wait:

[Waihou Thumper]

:psst: Waitaramoa Rd
I have Friday off and am travelling up to Bennydale either by Ohura or Pio Pio :scooter: If you fine bunch of merry men are keen there is a track that needs some exploring up the aforementioned Rd :2thumbsup



I,m just sayin :msn-wink:
:wait:

Heads towards the forestry. You done Ringinui road and before that Taupaki Rd, with a little detour down a small paper road alongside a farm.

[That looks like fun]

Waitaramoa Rd is the road almost opposite the forestry :cool:
Ringinui or Ranginui? :scratch:

[Waihou Thumper]

Waitaramoa Rd is the road almost opposite the forestry :cool:
Ringinui or Ranginui? :scratch:

Ranginui sorry :) then Wairehi Rd to Taupaki. I will be doing it, but from the north...

[ducatijim]

I got Friday orf too! :niceone:

[Gremlin]

Bastards... I'll leave after work on Friday evening and head to Taupo for the night... I suppose I should say "Hope you have fun"

but I don't

[Crisis management]

Waitaramoa Rd is the road almost opposite the forestry :cool:
Ringinui or Ranginui? :scratch:

Thank you gentlemen, took me a while to find those roads but I will definately add them to the friday list. I'm not offering to meet up as that will be too difficult, but I will look out for you and hope to see you.

[That looks like fun]

Thank you gentlemen, took me a while to find those roads but I will definately add them to the friday list. I'm not offering to meet up as that will be too difficult, but I will look out for you and hope to see you.

But you wont know where to explore unless we meet :rolleyes:
Not keen on poking my nose too far in there alone as it involves a few river crossings :2thumbsup

Bugger Phil sending his bike to America just when I find somewhere new to explore :headbang:

[Crisis management]

But you wont know where to explore unless we meet :rolleyes:
Not keen on poking my nose too far in there alone as it involves a few river crossings :2thumbsup

Bugger Phil sending his bike to America just when I find somewhere new to explore :headbang:

Ok, where can we meet, I can get to Pio Pio around 1.00ish....






(It's always good to have someone skilled at pushing the 640!)

[Oscar]

Ranginui sorry :) then Wairehi Rd to Taupaki. I will be doing it, but from the north...

Aotearoa Road (from Wharepapa South) to Wairehi Road is pretty cool.

[Horney1]

Ok, where can we meet, I can get to Pio Pio around 1.00ish....



(It's always good to have someone skilled at pushing the 640!)


Not sure if I'll be able to be ready in time but I might try and catch up along the way??? If not, see you there.

[That looks like fun]

I will be at the Fat Pigeon in Pio Pio around 1. (Plan a ;) )

[Crisis management]

Ok, I've been trying to work out how to get to Pio Pio for 1.00 pm without leaving the traffic jamb up here at 5 in the morning, cause that doesn't sound like a lot of fun. Short answer is; I will try to get there but I think I will be pushing it so if I'm not there by 1.30 carry on without me. Sorry I can't be more definate than that but I do want to spend the time on the west coast back roads rather than the seal....

If I'm not at the pub by 6.00pm then I'm stuck in the Pureora mud somewhere, you'll come and get me won't you????

[.chris]

Ok, I've been trying to work out how to get to Pio Pio for 1.00 pm without leaving the traffic jamb up here at 5 in the morning, cause that doesn't sound like a lot of fun. Short answer is; I will try to get there but I think I will be pushing it so if I'm not there by 1.30 carry on without me. Sorry I can't be more definate than that but I do want to spend the time on the west coast back roads rather than the seal....

If I'm not at the pub by 6.00pm then I'm stuck in the Pureora mud somewhere, you'll come and get me won't you????

I figure my plans for leaving will revolve around the traffic out of AK. I plan to leave the Shore about 9:30/10am, quietly make my way down.
I plan to do a run through Pureora Forest then into Kaimanawa if time permits.
That should put me heading into Pureora around 1ish, Kaimanawa around 3, the pub around 5/6.

Don't worry, if you don't make it to the pub, I shall take care of the beer. We will come and rescue you (on our way home on sunday)

[Crisis management]

Don't worry, if you don't make it to the pub, I shall take care of the beer. We will come and rescue you (on our way home on sunday)

Knew I could rely on you.... :oi-grr:

Have a good ride down!

[Steelie]

I'll be rolling over the Tuakau bridge about 9am and heading out through Onewhero. No set plan except there will be coffee stops and plan to get to Taupo for a beer and fuel and out to Rangitaiki well before dark. Happy for anyone to tag along.

[paturoa]

Leaving west orks before mid day - hopefully!

[Shewolf]

trailering to Clints...sometime this afternoon - see you all in Rangitaiki :niceone: