View Full Version : Miss Millie does lunch at the Chateau
The plan was to head to the winterless north this weekend.
Where did I find myself?
Throwing snowballs at Maha at Whakapapa Village :innocent:
After our weekend plans were turned upside down we decided to head south and visit some family and friends about the place. I had arranged to have Friday off work so we could avoid the weekend traffic. Friday morning was cold, but dry as we headed south. I resemble something a bit like a pass the parcel pressie when winter riding, but I still managed to get cold as we went down the Bombays and into the foggy Waikato Brrrrrrrr. Stopped at Mercer for a feed and to warm up and applied another layer to my ensemble, much warmer after that.
It turns out every share-milker and his friggen herd were also heading south on Friday, so we had to share the road with stinking, shit spewing, cattle trucks. Just into a nice grove on the Ohinewai Road when we caught up with 2 truck and trailer units full of cows :puke: Managed to get past them, but not before getting a liberal spraying of fine cowshit all over Millie and me! Then as we approached Te Poi yet another truck came into view. I was really hoping we were not facing this all the way to Vegas.
Once we were through Morrinsville we left the trucks behind and had an uneventful trip into Rotorua. I hate riding in traffic when I am not overly familiar with the road layouts. Some wanker in a lowered POS decided he needed my place on the road requiring me to take evasive action to avoid becoming his hood ornament. To his credit his passenger gave me a wave out the window by way of apology. Arrived safely at our destination and settled in for the night.
Saturday morning dawned dry, but grey and gloomy, and COLD… Being the little hot house flower that I am, I do worry about getting cold, but thanks to my 3 layers of merino, thermal lined jacket and heated grips I was warm as a toasty thing. I love riding in the winter ( no sarcasm) you really do feel the benefit of your gear, you can tell it is really cold, but you are warm. Good Stuff. I thought my pinlock visor was going to let me down though when I first took off though. I was so hot in my gear my breath did try to steam up the visor, but it settled really quickly. We were going to stop for coffee in Taupo, but it was a heaving mass of people. We stopped lake front for a piccy. The mountains looked really great.
Maha suggested we go to Turangi and then come back up the Western Access on the other side of Lake Taupo. When we got to Turangi, I thought it was a good idea to have lunch at the Chateau. So we did. The road through the National Park is really awesome to ride. Lots of nice corners where you can leave the throttle open and simply ride through. It was a bit windy in places and really cold. A little bit of misty rain was about the place but we could see the Chateau in the distance bathed in sunshine.
Had a lovely feed at the Chateau, but when we came out it was raining and really bitter. I was a bit pissed off about that, as plans were to go and make a snow angel in one of the bunkers on the golf course that was still full of snow :wings: My gear is known to be a little less than waterproof at times, and I did not want to risk getting wet in the snow and then riding wetter than I needed to be. Headed down to National Park and decided to head north as the weather really was dark south. We were heading to Mangakino btw, so were really taking a large detour. Went to Taumaranui, as you do, then we back tracked across State Highway 41 towards Turangi so we could take the Western Access route north again. Now that road is a doozy for sure. It climbs and climbs. The weather by this time had turned to persistent rain. It obviously gets really icy up there as there was grit all over the road. Combine the grit with lichen and large amounts of water, it made for an interesting ride.
I really enjoyed the Western Access road too. Again nice sweeping corners. Arrived in Mangakino safe and sound. The sun had come out making the glare off wet roads quite challenging at times, it was getting late in the day by then and sun strike was a real hazard. All good things to keep you concentrating fully at the end of a day in the saddle.
Headed home this morning. Mangakino turned on a grey, damp, drizzly morning for us, we did not see any sunshine until Rangairiri. I have to say the ride up the poxy motorway in Auckland would have to rank as one of the most soul destroying rides you can make. Only things of interest were the 2 cars that attempted to change lanes on top of me in the city and the lovely little tunnel in town that for some reason makes Millie drop down a few cogs and zoom through on the pipe :innocent:
Great weekend end away, just on 1000 kms in total.
http://maps.google.co.nz/maps?saddr=63+Percy+Street,+Warkworth&daddr=-37.3812587,175.1024808+to:-37.6214002,175.5958017+to:-37.6423178,175.6308142+to:Malfoy+Street,+Rotorua+t o:Thermal+Explorer+Hwy+to:Turangi+Town+Centre,+Tur angi+to:Whakapapa,+Tongariro+National+Park,+Manawa tu-Wanganui+to:National+Park,+Manawatu-Wanganui+to:Taumarunui,+Manawatu-Wanganui+to:Whakamaru,+Waikato+to:Mangakino,+Waika to+to:Te+Awamutu,+Waikato+to:Mercer,+Auckland+to:W arkworth,+Auckland&hl=en&ll=-38.017804,176.022949&spn=3.40997,8.453979&sll=-38.619016,176.047668&sspn=1.690979,4.22699&geocode=FciD1P0dTSNpCik7oX70nd4MbTHbeuFI7YjZKA%3BF Xabxf0dENpvCikZR6iW8E9tbTEwWg8HYe8AEw%3BFWjxwf0dGW F3CilVP5fGDAptbTEEDKRzQSdGUw%3BFbOfwf0d3ul3CimRzfG lzKBtbTHApQsHYe8AEw%3BFT7yuf0dQBqBCiljTAUeFSdsbTGK 7CBjEVlZVA%3BFf7Osf0dO5p-Cg%3BFdEPrf0d7KB6Cikv9kFID5ZrbTGwEKNDYe8ABQ%3BFSPZ qf0dEYV2Cimf418b1gFrbTH6Eg6g2LwfQw%3BFQhGqv0demt0C ikdUU3CRhxrbTGQ6KJDYe8ABQ%3BFVKwrv0dKERyCikLJKe13U ZrbTHACaNDYe8ABQ%3BFfe1tf0ddZd6Cikb818a8XBsbTGQ8qJ DYe8ABQ%3BFSeLtv0dlhp6Cim3Ihp5RnlsbTHA3aJDYe8ABQ%3 BFXMTvP0dlQ9zCimpeeBpO-dsbTHwCqNDYe8ABQ%3BFWoqx_0dJgVvCillExTGLFFtbTEAy6J DYe8ABQ%3BFaGZ1P0dnRtpCikLML7G9N4MbTEwGKNDYe8ABQ&oq=Warkworth&mra=ls&via=1,2,3&t=m&z=8
Laugh of the day today. New road safety signs.
Rural Road, slow down for corners :clap:
Couldn't find a decent coffee in Taupo (and it was a bitter wind blowin' in off the lake) so we took a piss behind the fire station and headed for Turangi, surprisingly mild there by comparison. :msn-wink:
The western access and Waipapa roads are some that we'll do again for sure.:niceone:
turtleman
2nd June 2013, 17:42
Nice write-up, guys - Sounds like you had fun !
Gotta love a lot of those Central NI roads, and the scenery :niceone:
Nice write-up, guys - Sounds like you had fun !
Gotta love a lot of those Central NI roads, and the scenery :niceone:
I tell you, we live in the most beautiful country for sure. Coming home today through the back roads of the King Country, it takes your breath away at times. We travel at just able to smell the roses/silage/cow shit/new mown grass kinda speeds generally. I saw a HUGE flying fox today and recall thinking "what mental bastard would attempt that?" I am google searching the adventure company to give to a guy I work with. Right up his alley :weird:
turtleman
2nd June 2013, 17:56
I tell you, we live in the most beautiful country for sure. Coming home today through the back roads of the King Country, it takes your breath away at times. We travel at just able to smell the roses/silage/cow shit/new mown grass kinda speeds generally. I saw a HUGE flying fox today and recall thinking "what mental bastard would attempt that?" I am google searching the adventure company to give to a guy I work with. Right up his alley :weird:
Yep, there's not a lot of this country I haven't seen, 80% of it on a bike. And I never tire of going a 2nd or 3rd time for another look :msn-wink:
I miss riding in your neck of the woods (I lived up that way for around 5 years) but planning to revisit that area and Northwards later this year. :headbang:
Yep, there's not a lot of this country I haven't seen, 80% of it on a bike. And I never tire of going a 2nd or 3rd time for another look :msn-wink:
I miss riding in your neck of the woods (I lived up that way for around 5 years) but planning to revisit that area and Northwards later this year. :headbang:
Look us up when you venture Norf.
Nice write-up, guys - Sounds like you had fun !
Gotta love a lot of those Central NI roads, and the scenery :niceone:
There were some roads I have not been on for 30 years or more and some...never. No GPS/Map book. Only the once did I think ''where are we going''?...I knew I had gone passed a road we should have taken, but carried on and ended up in the town where we were heading anyway. I wanted to go have a look at Horopito (where Smash Palace was filmed) but when we got to National Park, the weather to the left was dark with a rainbow so turned right and rode towards to lighter stuff. I don't think I have ever been on that bit of SH4 National Park/Taumaranui.
SH41 between T/nui and Kuratau Junction was the worst bit of the trip condition wise, misty rain, the cloud was on the ground and there were places with ice grit on the road which was an arse, but once over the summit and down the other side, the sun was there waiting.
You can see the dark cloud coming in from the right in the pic...
Rosso
3rd June 2013, 10:24
Thanks for posting your trip , I really enjoyed reading it, and copied your map , been around alot of the NI but never to the Chateau on the bike and few other roads you mentioned.
Will file it for when I am able to ride again .
Thanks for posting your trip , I really enjoyed reading it, and copied your map , been around alot of the NI but never to the Chateau on the bike and few other roads you mentioned.
Will file it for when I am able to ride again .
The roads down there were fantastic to ride. Honestly, easy, cruisey stuff with a few twisties thrown in for good measure. I had a blast! Even crappy weather at times did not make a difference. I would love to go back when there is a bit more snow around though, just because I have never ridden in snowy conditions. Hope you are able to get back on two wheels soon.
Smifffy
3rd June 2013, 10:55
Couldn't find a decent coffee in Taupo (and it was a bitter wind blowin' in off the lake) so we took a piss behind the fire station and headed for Turangi, surprisingly mild there by comparison. :msn-wink:
The western access and Waipapa roads are some that we'll do again for sure.:niceone:
Give us a buzz when you do? Love them roads.
george formby
3rd June 2013, 11:43
Phew! Spotted this thread & immediately remembered the txt I forgot to reply too. My apologies. Looks & reads like a lubbly weekend.
I'm not riding anywhere until my nipples defrost.
Phew! Spotted this thread & immediately remembered the txt I forgot to reply too. My apologies. Looks & reads like a lubbly weekend.
I'm not riding anywhere until my nipples defrost.
Forced change of direction became apparent on Thursday when it our northland digs had been booked out for a bunch of stock car drivers...I rode the whole way with my summer gloves, Anne had her girly heated grips on :rolleyes:
I did have my winter gloves with me but did not need them.
Edbear
3rd June 2013, 14:09
Nice ride report guys! Only a wee bit jealous...
bluninja
3rd June 2013, 14:19
What miserable bastards :bleh: KB gathering in Turangi and you didn't bother popping around to say Hi. Still the KB gathering was not a good description...more like a KB "where did they go". The people I met were nice, but I only rode with 1speedy doing the Gentle Annie up to Napier. 2 of the people out of the 6 there I never even met! Still the riding was godd as was the hot pool in the evening.
What miserable bastards :bleh: KB gathering in Turangi and you didn't bother popping around to say Hi. Still the KB gathering was not a good description...more like a KB "where did they go". The people I met were nice, but I only rode with 1speedy doing the Gentle Annie up to Napier. 2 of the people out of the 6 there I never even met! Still the riding was godd as was the hot pool in the evening.
Thought we might have seen ya somewhere on the road down that way, didn't know what your Saturday ride was.
bluninja
3rd June 2013, 15:02
Thought we might have seen ya somewhere on the road down that way, didn't know what your Saturday ride was.
Saturday I did Whangamomona, Taumarunui, Turangi but started late. I now have to wash all the mud off the wheels that is still there from Saturday!! Sunday was Taihape, the gentle Annie run to Napier, down through the vineywards to Dargaville, the Manawatu gorge and then back up to Taihape and Turangi. This morning I wanted to get home, so it was Turangi to Taumaranui, Awakinho, Mount Messenger, home.....in less than 3 hours.....and completely dry :)
What miserable bastards :bleh: KB gathering in Turangi and you didn't bother popping around to say Hi. Still the KB gathering was not a good description...more like a KB "where did they go". The people I met were nice, but I only rode with 1speedy doing the Gentle Annie up to Napier. 2 of the people out of the 6 there I never even met! Still the riding was godd as was the hot pool in the evening.
Hey Bulimia! It would have been nice to catch up on Saturday, but we did not know we were going to go there until we did, and then we had no contact numbers etc. The plan was to go Rotorua to Mangakino a distance of some 70 odd kms, not go throwing ice balls at Maha. Have to say that was really fun :D
Grizzo
3rd June 2013, 17:29
Great write up, this is what its all about.
I really do have to get off my ass more often and get some of this.
Madness
3rd June 2013, 17:39
Saturday I did Whangamomona, Taumarunui, Turangi but started late. I now have to wash all the mud off the wheels that is still there from Saturday!! Sunday was Taihape, the gentle Annie run to Napier, down through the vineywards to Dargaville, the Manawatu gorge and then back up to Taihape and Turangi. This morning I wanted to get home, so it was Turangi to Taumaranui, Awakinho, Mount Messenger, home.....in less than 3 hours.....and completely dry :)
Wow. How was Dargaville?
Don't worry, I'm just jealous.
Great write up, this is what its all about.
I really do have to get off my ass more often and get some of this.
Just DO IT! Honestly, some of the best times I have is out and about on my Millie. I am lucky to have a hubby that shares the same interest, so it is a couple thing for us. We do a bit of group based, organised riding, and while they are enjoyable too, just getting out there and blowing cobwebs rocks!
Wow. How was Dargaville?
Dragsville? Last time I rode through there it was just the same old hole it usually is. Didn't even stop this time, may have even sped up a bit to get through quicker. Horrible place.
nadroj
3rd June 2013, 18:03
What miserable bastards :bleh: KB gathering in Turangi and you didn't bother popping around to say Hi. Still the KB gathering was not a good description...more like a KB "where did they go". The people I met were nice, but I only rode with 1speedy doing the Gentle Annie up to Napier. 2 of the people out of the 6 there I never even met! Still the riding was godd as was the hot pool in the evening.
There were 9 turn up, with the 4 you didn't meet staying down the road at a different motel to that advertized.
There were 9 turn up, with the 4 you didn't meet staying down the road at a different motel to that advertized.
Like herding cats eh :rofl:
bluninja
3rd June 2013, 20:40
Wow. How was Dargaville?
Don't worry, I'm just jealous.
Thats Dargaville for dyslexics
<iframe src="https://skydrive.live.com/embed?cid=A527D1ADE9D82029&resid=A527D1ADE9D82029%211030&authkey=AHJfLkAtjYxPLOg" width="319" height="240" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe>
Thats Dargaville for dyslexics
On any fine day, Dargaville can be quite picturesque.
Grant`
5th June 2013, 15:38
Where was ya visit to Cambridge to come and say hello! :oi-grr:
You throw like a fuckin girl!
You throw like a fuckin girl!
Thank you :D And you are quite correct. The first one I threw at him was so pathetic even I was disgusted with myself, I was actually trying to get him :facepalm: That one is a gentle girly lob, something I was certain I could do really well. It was perfectly executed I must say :woohoo:
Where was ya visit to Cambridge to come and say hello! :oi-grr:
What can I say. I don't read maps, I just follow along behind, I really had no idea how far we were from anywhere really. Don't feel bad, I did not go and see my daughter in Hamilton either :pinch:
Grant`
6th June 2013, 13:19
What can I say. I don't read maps, I just follow along behind, I really had no idea how far we were from anywhere really. Don't feel bad, I did not go and see my daughter in Hamilton either :pinch:
Ok i will let you off this one time, but that doesn't let Mark off :oi-grr:
Ok i will let you off this one time, but that doesn't let Mark off :oi-grr:
I let myself off ..no wait, that doesn't sound right :facepalm: Anne spun and won two free coffees at T/Mutu Z and I didn't fancy a beer, so had a coffee then headed to Pirongia but didn't stop again till Rangiriri.
We will make a special trip to see you soonish. ;)
wysper
6th June 2013, 17:00
I tell you, we live in the most beautiful country for sure. Coming home today through the back roads of the King Country, it takes your breath away at times. We travel at just able to smell the roses/silage/cow shit/new mown grass kinda speeds generally. I saw a HUGE flying fox today and recall thinking "what mental bastard would attempt that?" I am google searching the adventure company to give to a guy I work with. Right up his alley :weird:
Agreed.
For some reason, one of my favourite sights is when heading north and over the brynderwyns just seeing the vista of Northland. I spent my high school years in Whangarei, and for some reason, that moment always feels a little like coming home. Even though I was born and bred in the Waikato and have lived here almost all my life except for the 6 or so years during and after high school which were up in Whangarei.
The view is not particularly awesome but invokes some great memories and nice feels.
I saw a HUGE flying fox today and recall thinking "what mental bastard would attempt that?"
I saw that also, think it was on the Waipapa road close to that Dam we stopped at. My first thought was, that Telstra had put the Ultra Fast Broadband cable a tad too high..:blink:
This door in the side of the cliff opposite the dam was....different. :yes:
This door in the side of the cliff opposite the dam was....different. :yes:There's usually a labyrinth of tunnels and corridors under and around dams.
trustme
7th June 2013, 08:03
If you get the chance stay a night at the Chateau, they will lock the bikes up in the garage over the road. The Mrs loves it
unstuck
7th June 2013, 08:20
May be what you are looking for......http://www.adventurewaikato.co.nz/flyingfox.html
May be what you are looking for......http://www.adventurewaikato.co.nz/flyingfox.html
Yepper that is it :)
If you get the chance stay a night at the Chateau, they will lock the bikes up in the garage over the road. The Mrs loves it
I have done some Flooring work there over the years, always in bloody cold weather. Only once in the Chateau itself, the other times were up the mountain in two separate ski lodge's.
The weather was so bad at one of them , the chair lifts were not working so I followed a sparkie down to the Bruce car park on foot. The van I was using was iced over, so drove dwon the Bruce with my head out the window until the snow turned to rain...ended up with a fucked van by the time I got back to Taupo.
If you get the chance stay a night at the Chateau, they will lock the bikes up in the garage over the road. The Mrs loves it
I have stayed a night at the Chateau once. As I recall it was my 20th wedding anniversary. For something to do my now ex thought climbing to the summit of Ruapehu would be a great idea :yes: So Mom, Dad and 3 kids did exactly that. We got caught out in some really filthy weather up the top and got really, really cold coming down. Then to add insult to injury, he was so tight that the 5 of us shared a room. One of those kids stay free deals. Happy Anniversary!
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