Waikato rides

[awa355]

Guess I have to find a new home for any riding stories now that the scooter is gone. Infact, I might not bother with any future ride reports. Will see how things turn out.

Anyhow, I took possession of a very tidy Yamaha Virago 250 last week. After two years of riding a 100cc 2t scooter, (previous bike went to allow helping a family member financially) it was time to get back onto a 'real' bike again. These bikes come with quite a low gearing which results in ultra short 1st/2nd gears and a sense of buzziness at 100kph. so my 1st mod was to change the front sprocket from the stock 16t to a 17t. I had thought that later on I would gear up again by dropping the rear sprocket down 2 or 3 teeth. After todays run, I will leave the gearing as it is. The bike has a nice cubby hole at just under 100kph where it feels good, and still has plenty of torque in 5th to pull away from 60k corners. For a 15 year old 250, the little V twin pulls harder than a 15yr schoolboy. (if memory serves me correctly). :drool:. I didn't find one long climb on todays ride that needed changing down unless a tightish corner forced a slowing down.

The ride, met up with Bill at the Parawera store this morning and we headed off along the Owairaka valley rd. I had been a bit concerned with possibly holding up Bill but he was quite happy to sit at 90-100. I had thought that gearing up slightly would see a noticeble drop off on the longer climbs so was pleased to have the bike hold its road speed up to Wharepapa sth. The country could use a decent drop of rain. Brown paddocks right through till we got onto the Old Taupo rd towards the home stretch. A couple of patches of re sealing on the Waipapa road, the virago handled the loose stuff (at 30kph posted :killingme) without a problem. The winding climb up from the Waipapa dam was a blast. The little cruiser flew around the corners. Far easier to ride the tight stuff than the bigger heavier cruiser that i used to ride. We stopped off at the Maraeitai dam but there was very little to see.

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/no1-2.jpg

Cruising on to Whakamaru, we stopped for a coffee and bite to eat. Sitting in the late morning sun and swapping stories gave us a break for 20 minutes, then it was back on the bikes. Before crossing the dam, we swung right into Kaahu rd. I had travelled this ride when I did my coast to coast scooter ride. The surface was in good shape, no potholes, no broken seal. Some lovely country out this way, well it would be if it got some decent rainfall. Left into Poihipi rd for 5 k's then into Tirohanga road. This is a scratchers delight. Wide, smooth, sweeping corners. We barrelled along untill turning into Galaxy road. This used to be part of the Forest Products private road system (I think?) but now appears to be public roading. We stopped on the bridge while I dragged the camera out.

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/no2-2.jpg

Bill is a very patient rider. Several times I would come to a screaming halt, and pull the camera out to take a picture. Bill would sit there slowly cooking in his black riding gear. Also taken from this bridge, this is looking up river towards the Atiamuri dam.

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From here, we turned left on the Ongaroto road heading back towards Whakamaru. This lake has to be one of the most scenic hydro lakes in the North island. I rode past a couple of fantastic photo opportunities thinking there would be better chances a bit further on. The bluffs across the lake dotted with the pine trees looked superb. I collared this shot looking from the road through the near trees, but far nicer views had been bypassed.

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Looking back along the road with the bluffs on the inside of the road. Bill being very patient again.

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Between the road and the lake edge is the cycle rideway that is supposed to be part of Nationals' "think small" projects. Nice to see a family of mum and dad and a swag of kids using it. This would be a lovely section of the national cycleway to ride.

These steps are part of the route, although we noticed the cyclists were bypassing this, and using the road edge.

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/no7.jpg

Got to admit, the thought of lugging a MTB up those steps doesn't appeal too much. From here, we motored on towards Tokoroa. Much of the forestry land along here has been clearfelled and is in the prcess of re planting. We sat around the 90-100kph mark. I'm quite pleased with the little 250. Hit the bottam of the old No7 hill at 90k and the bike was still pulling 80kph over the top. This hill doesnt seem anything special to todays vehicles, but once upon a time it was a deadly piece of road. Many trucks ran out of brakes going downhill and cooked the motors going uphill.

The Old Taupo rd is a very popular ride amongst locals. Lots of corners, little traffic. Between the Whilstdown and Hodderville crossroads is a large dairy farming consotium. This farmland was purchased in 1917 by the Salvation Army and opened as a boys orphanage/ farm training school a few years later. For an organisation based on a Christain caring ethics, the Hodderville boys home was a horrific home for many disadvantaged boys. The beatings, bullying abuse etc suffered by many overshadowed the positives of this home. The Hodderville bus was the last bus away from the Putaruru High School and the school tuck shop was almost stripped of biscuts and lollies before the bus left on a daily basis. This is the last of the original buildings. The Sallies sold the farms to a Chinese company back in the 70's. Their farms were alway a bone of contention with many locals, Being a charity, they never had to pay taxes on the farm earnings. (I could be wrong there).

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At the Arapuni dam was our last pitstop before rounding Maungatautari. Funny how old motorcyclists stop at lots of places while riding, trees, overgrown rest areas, public dunnies, etc.

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/no8.jpg


I had to switch to reserve about 15k out from Lemmington. Filling up and checking fuel usage, the 250 averaged 31kpl. Considering it is still reasonably low geared, and I was possibly keeping up a faster pace than I would, if on my own, I'm happy enough. For a basic 250 engine virtually unchanged since the eighties, ( 2valves, 1 carby), it peforms well.

Thanks to Bill for tolerating the photo stops.

[Maha]

Stunning roads and scenery down that way for sure, we're moving to live in Mangakino in three weeks, just bought ourselves a Triumph Tiger now that we'll have time to ride. Great pic's thanks for sharing.

[unstuck]

I for one hope you keep posting up your adventures. You are off to a great start again, keep up the good work.:2thumbsup

[Moi]

Have to wholeheartedly agree with Unstuck - I would sorely miss your ride reports and photos.

They are first class :first:

We enjoyed our run up the Owairaka Valley Road and the run from Waipapa Dam to Mangakino, and then the next morning the Kaahu Rd.

Maha and Mom will enjoy living in that part of the country - certainly some great riding...

[Murray]

Nice Arthur - post any future ride on the LOR thread if you want - would have quite enjoyed that today.

Cheers and great pictures

[awa355]

Part 1.
I thought about getting the stack of firewood cut up and put away this morning, also thought about a dozen other jobs that have been stuck on the procrastination list. So decided to go for a ride instead. Nothing like being decisive, I think?.
On Sunday Bill and I had ridden around the Whakamaru area so I picked another direction today. The little 250 Virago arrived a week ago, and as of tonight, I’ve clocked up about 700ks’. It is running like a dream and certainly beats the scooter for ease of hill climbing and all round riding comfort.
I fuelled up and took the back road to Otorohanga. Into the Waitomo Valley road then into Fullerton road. There was a lot of dark clouds on the hills and I wondered if rain could eventuate. It didn’t, infact it became quite hot later on. There was a lot of blue haze over the countryside which doesn’t make for good photos. I stopped on Fullerton road and tried to capture the valley below, looking towards TeKuiti.
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/1-1.jpg

A bit further on and I turned right into Oparure road. This is a great riding road. Corners, scenery, old farm houses like this one. I thought being in the middle of a maize crop enhanced the sense of being abandoned.

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/2.jpg

Mairoa road is a continuation of Oparure road. It follows the ridges and comes around behind the village of Piopio. This next pic is looking out over the country just north of Piopio.

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A wee bit further on the village comes into view.

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/4.jpg

I stopped here for a light snack and cup of tea. If you have read my scooter ride reports, you may remember me bitching about the crappy thermos I have never got around to drop kicking into a nearby ravine, well I’ve still got the stupid thing as seen on the picnic table. One cup of warm tea then the rest of the water may as well be tipped out.

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/5.jpg

After this break I saddled up and headed out along the Aria road. Another lovely riding stretch. About 12k out, I stopped to snap a picture of the Mokau river.

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/6.jpg

On the other side of this bridge is a small hydro station that I had completely missed seeing on earlier rides through here. I will write my 2nd part of this ride tomorrow, have to go to work tonight and am full of asthma. I will finish this report tomorrow.

[Murray]

bastard - love your rides and pictures. pm me next time your heading out!!!!!!!!!

[caseye]

bastard - love your rides and pictures. pm me next time your heading out!!!!!!!!!

Hell and me, I'm a Putaruru boy born and breed and I've only traveled most of these roads by car when i was a nipper, your ride reports are brilliant, keep em up.

[gjm]

Keep 'em coming, eh?

Only problem I have is finding time to try and compare your reports to a map! Lived in Te Kauwhata for a year or so but not been near most places you describe; it's great to read about them.

As others have said, please let me know when you;re heading out again, especially if you'll be anywhere near here.

[unstuck]

Infact, I might not bother with any future ride reports.

Think again sonny, looks like the public have spoken. And it is a democracy after all.:laugh:

[awa355]

Just down stream from my photo of the Mokau is a small hydro power station. Called the Wairere pwr stn, it was first assessed as a potential project in 1917. By 1925 it was commissioned and supplied power to any body who could afford power within a 20 mile radius. Last year saw a new generation unit installed.

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/7.jpg

From here Aria is up around the corner. All I could find about this village was that in February 1909 50 sections were put up for sale. 45 sold for prices ranging from $10- 40. Looking around, I’d say those sections aren’t probably worth much more today. I got this photo of Huey’s fan club house. Going by the grass in the gutters, the local ladder has a few broken rungs. A couple of houses had river stones and broken concrete blocks scattered over the iron rooves/roofs??? . Must be cheaper than nails.

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/8.jpg

While parked here I took out the lining from my jacket. The day was becoming fairly warm. Space on the bike was sparse and I seriously thought about tossing my useless thermos away to accomodate the liner in the tank bag. Got it all tied down in the end and as no one was home, anywhere, I rolled on outa town. The Mokauiti road follows a narrow valley floor through some lovely country. I stopped at a small reserve with some nice Kahikatea trees.

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/9.jpg

Across the road is a site of an old sawmill that used to process the ‘white pines’ to produce butter boxes for the export trade. The wood is light, doesn’t smell so was ideal for the 56lb blocks of butter. 56lb is half a …..?. Ask someone over 60 if you don’t know.
The road soon becomes Ramaroa road. It narrows and climbs up from the flat farmland over a saddle and drops down to SH4. Native reserve on the left and a fantastic vista out to your right.

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/10.jpg

It is a shame that the country is so brown. At the end of this road I turned left towards TeKuiti and a few k’s along SH4 hung a right into Kopaki road. This winds through hill country in the direction of Bennydale. A view of the farmland along Kopaki road.

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I had wanted to ride Pukerimu road which veers off Kopaki and comes out back on SH4 just before the Eight Mile junction. This was a great piece of road. It drops down from the Kopaki end then levels out. If you are ever coming from Bennydale towards TeKuiti and have an extra 15-20 minutes, this makes a nice change from the usual route. At Kopaki, instead of turning right up over the railway bridge, go straight ahead on Kopaki rd and look for Pukerimu road on your right. I fueled up at TeKuiti. Had done 167k at that stage and the bike took a massive 4.72 litres. That works out at 35kpl. I’m happy with that. The final stop was at the Big Apple between TeKuiti and Otorohanga

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The ice cream was as big azz. After this it was a straight forward run home. All up, 215k. I think I have run out of brownie points for a while and with eight nights of work ahead, it will be a week or so before I get out again.

[gjm]

Right.

That's it.

I need to go for a ride with the OP. (Careful...! ;) )

Seriously, you obviously know the area well, and know where to go. It's about time I explored a bit more.

Please keep up the reports!

[Moi]

Another great write-up... need to get the map out and have a look for the roads.

Think you need a pair of saddle-bags, with tassels of course :eek5:

Cheers.

[awa355]

No BLOODY tassels, Got it ???:argh: A shot from the GoPro of the Makauiti road, followed by two taken on the Ramaroa road.

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/Mokauitird.png

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/Ramaroard3.png

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/Ramaroard4.png

If you have no life, then you'ill endure this 2 minute clip of the Oparure rd without any qualms. :nya: and I forgot to mute the engine/gearbox sounds.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sg4jbT_1nPY

[Moi]

No BLOODY tassels, Got it ???:argh:

Fishing's good today... :rolleyes:

[unstuck]

I have no life.:weep::weep:

[awa355]

I have no life.:weep::weep:

Dont feel bad, you do live in Gore, remember. :weird:

To be honest, I have never been to Gore so I shouldn't take the piss. This November, I hope to spend 3 weeks in the souf izland so will visit. I'll get in touch when I know for sure, then you can arrange to be out that day:niceone::niceone:

[unstuck]

Dont feel bad, you do live in Gore, remember. :weird:

To be honest, I have never been to Gore so I shouldn't take the piss. This November, I hope to spend 3 weeks in the souf izland so will visit. I'll get in touch when I know for sure, then you can arrange to be out that day:niceone::niceone:

Sounds like a plan.:devil2:

[JATZ]

I've just stumbled on your ride reports. Good stuff :niceone: I went past that ice-cream place the other week and wondered if they really were that big, thanks for confirming

Like the others said.... Dont stop !!
And I think you should ditch the thermos and carry a cooker with a pot. Maybe a coffee bag or 2, as recommended to me by Moi

[Murray]

To be honest, I have never been to Gore so I shouldn't take the piss.

What you have never been to the golden guitar awards? And I would have picked you for a country and western fan!

[Maha]

They talk funny

[awa355]

What you have never been to the golden guitar awards? And I would have picked you for a country and western fan!

I like c & w music but not a bunch of amateurs wearing white stetsons, lacy shirts, cowboy boots standing on the deck of a freight truck at the local A&P showgrounds trying to yodel. :no::no::no::no:

My sister sings at a local club, can sing a couple of songs nicely, but can murder a heap more. :rolleyes::rolleyes:

[unstuck]

I like c & w music but not a bunch of amateurs wearing white stetsons, lacy shirts, cowboy boots standing on the deck of a freight truck at the local A&P showgrounds trying to yodel. :no::no::no::no:

My sister sings at a local club, can sing a couple of songs nicely, but can murder a heap more. :rolleyes::rolleyes:

Not quite the back of a freight truck.:devil2:

http://static2.stuff.co.nz/1307336024/501/5105501.jpg

[awa355]

I wasn't talking about the Golden Guitar awards in Gore. At that level they are as good as any. Was thinking of a couple of local 'big days' years ago, when I attended as a zambuck. Just a shame when a singer picks the wrong song for their voice.

I hadn't picked up on Murrays reference to the golden guitar awards until re reading his post.

[unstuck]

I wasn't talking about the Golden Guitar awards in Gore. At that level they are as good as any. Was thinking of a couple of local 'big days' years ago, when I attended as a zambuck. Just a shame when a singer picks the wrong song for their voice.

I hadn't picked up on Murrays reference to the golden guitar awards until re reading his post.

I have been here 21/22 yrs now and have never been to the golden gutars, so don't feel bad.:2thumbsup

[awa355]

Nothing at all to do with riding (well, I had just ridden home from work), but got a quick shot of the sunrise behind the houses across the road.

When in the car I have sometimes stopped on the way home and taken some nice early morning photos of the sun just breaking across the farmland. Low rays of sun back lighting the wispy mist and trees.

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/sunrise..jpg

[awa355]

My wife was having a Toastmasters meeting this afternoon at home so it was time to head for somewhere, anywhere :eek:.

I have a sister in Putaruru so phoned up and told her I'd be over for a cup of tea after lunch. Rain seemed to be on the way so I slipped the rain gear into the tank bag which resides on the pillion seat and headed off. Got to Arapuni so rode around the streets of what was once a lovely Hydro Electricity village. What a shame to see the place now. I don't think the place has seen a tin of paint in 30 years. Turned down the side road that drops down to the power house. You used to be able to drive up the service road above the power house and come out at the dam.

This is part of the view across the tail race towards Mt Maungatautari. Well it's part of the view. The editing programme wouldn't match up my photos.

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At the bottom of the road a bridge crosses the Waikato river below the power house. The swinging bridge above the main building was put in place about 1929 to give pedestrian access for the workers to the construction site.

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As a kid I was always too chicken to walk across the bridge. First time I crossed it was as a 16yr old, pissed as a fart, I rode my XS2 across it late one night. Got to the steps on the village side and God knows how my mate and I got the bike turned around. Another mate also rode his H2 750 Kwaka across behind me. The silly idiot backed his bike all the way off the bridge. Dumb arses maybe but good fun. A sadder side to the swing bridge history is a number of people taking their lives by jumping of this bridge, hence the high netting sides nowadays. This photo is looking down stream from the road bridge. This spills out into the head of Horahora lake or Karapiro lake, depending which end of the lake you live closest to.

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On to Putaruru and after a break at my sisters, I decided to go visit some local back roads that are part of my history of growing up at Putaruru. Headed south and turned left into Ngatira road. The Litchfield hall used to stand here, scene of Saturday night Scottish dancing, Strutting around in front of the girls trying to look 10' tall, getting eyeballed from the fathers, local cops Alf Gyde and Jack Lopdell searching our cars for booze etc. Talking the next day about getting laid ( we all knew we didn't). Just along from the start of the road is an inconspicous house on the right. This was moved here by 'Bull' Holmes way back in the late 60's. His wife started grizzling about living in a paddock, and wanted a lawn. Bull owned the Ryolite quarry just down the road and a cocky who owed Bull some money offered to level the lawn out and sow the lawn if Bull bought the seed. Duly done, a month or two later Bull decided the lawn was full of weeds and crap. Turned out his two quarry workers had mixed a heap of turnip seeds into the sack of lawn seed.
About 8 k's or so further on, the road petters out at the Ngatira Marae. Many years ago there was a large mill here down in a deep gully. There was quite a thriving settlement here but that's all long gone now. My father told me of one chap here who had a '39 Dodge. He took a very sick man into Putaruru to the doctors. The chap died while there, so they sat the deceased in the back seat of the Dodge and drove him back out to the family home. The railway from Putaruru to Rotorua runs past Ngatira. This water tower still stands, surrounded by blackberry and gorse.

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The end of the Ngatira road.

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/Ngatira%201.jpg

On the way back I tried for a long distance zoom shot of a horse on the skyline. I had bought my old camera and the zoom is not as great as my new camera.

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/P1030730.jpg

Half way back towards SH1 I turned into Kokako road. This road ends in a pine forest where I used to run a logging gang many years ago. I cover the ride home in the next post.

[awa355]

Along Kokako road I turned into Cox road. This meets up with Te Rere road and comes out on SH1 just south of Litchfield. Cox road winds and climbs but lots of corners and in good condition. I stopped and took a picture looking back across the Mamaku plateau.

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/P1030731.jpg

Looking the other way out to the sth Waikato, not much to see in either photo, but I can't be arsed looking for something more interesting at midnight. :oi-grr:

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Most of this farmland is now dairy farming. It used to be mostly dry stock country. Out on the main road, I turned back towards Litchfield until the Wilstdown road. Past the dairy factory and a brief stop at the bridge over the Pokaiwhenua stream. This was known locally as 'Taxi' bridge as my uncle had crashed his Morris Oxford taxi here leaving him badly crippled.

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/P1030733.jpg

Further along I passed the site of the old Wilstdown mill. There used to be lots of houses coated in the black creosote with the white trimmings. This was a common feature of many early mill settlements. My fathers logging trucks used to travel this road up to 7 times a day carting logs into the PTY mill. A lot of the tight corners have been taken out over the years. Just before the mill site there was a narrow wooden plank bridge with no sides. At the Wilstdown cross roads I turned right into the Old Taupo rd. I described this section in an earlier post. At the next crossroads (Hodderville) I turned left and rode through to Waotu, then followed Lake road up to Darby rd. I love Lake rd. lots of sweeping corners. From the dam I could see heavy skies ahead. Past Pukeatua I pulled up and pulled on the rain gear. Just out of Kihkihi, it bucketed down. I think some decent rain gear might be in order. :yes::yes: Got home and hung everything up to dry out.

This morning I had changed the gearing on the 250 down from the 'upped' ratios I had installed. I now have a decent top gear that pulls much better over the 70-100kph range. With the previous gearing, 5th was pretty much an overdrive gear. I'll leave it as it is for now. If the weather is fine on Sunday, I may look at a ride out to Kawhia.

[unstuck]

More good pics, and some good history. Cheers.:Punk::Punk:

[Moi]

I always enjoy your reports - sounds very official that... interesting photos and chatty and informative commentary.

Arapuni is an interesting hydro - the power house used to have great marble panels with the switch gear and the control room used to be all marble panels as well... wonder if it is still like that? As a child the powerhouse there seemed so huge in comparison to Karapiro. Remember the days when if you turned up at the door of the power house someone would happily show you round, they had great pride in what they did and the villages were always immaculate.

[awa355]

Arapuni also housed some of the biggest rats seen, in the tunnels going back into the cliffs. Also huge eels and trout below the outlet. We used to be able to fish off the front of the power house, but the PC brigade put an end to that.
A few more photos showing a closer view of the power house,

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/P1030722.jpg

A wider scene of the old water tower at Ngatira.

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/P1030729_1.jpg

[awa355]

Some bloody mainlander snatched the Waikato tag the day before I was heading that way. :argh: Anyway, this morning I decided I wanted to ride the circuit regardless so set off under a blue sky which promptly turned to low gray clouds shrouding the hills to the west. Just up from the Ngutunui-Kawhia junction I stopped and pulled on the rain gear. The rain started as a light drizzle. There had already been rain dropped as the road surface was wet. It was a steady ride with both eyes on the shiney wet seal.

Throughout the ride, right back to Otorohanga the road stayed wet with periods of light rain. Most of it had passed over in front of me and I was copping the tail end. I stopped and took a quick pic of the country I was heading for. It looked worse than the photo shows.

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/no%201.jpg

Turned onto Harbour road and meandered along stopping to collect a few more photos. Some fantastic rock formations throughout the Waipa district.

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/no%202.jpg

I stopped and got the current tag picture and then umm'dd and arr'd as to whether to return home the way I'd come or continue on and see if the weather improved. Decided to continue so cruised on until arriving at the first view of the inner Kawhia harbour. Waipuna rd climbs right from Harbour rd here so I thought there might be a slightly different view outlook from this road.

The tide was turning to go out. Usually I find mostly mudflats at the times I ride this road, so seeing the upper reaches full of water made a change.

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/upper%20harbour.jpg

On the far bank is a small cottage with its reflection on the water. I had a go at zooming in and seeing what the resulting image would look like. It did not come out as well as I'd hoped. Have loaded the picture in anyway.

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/no4_1.jpg

Back on the road, the weather had cleared a bit and the only tricky stuff was a lot of stony gravel that had washed down off the banks. In some cases the slips had crossed the full width of harbour road. Harbour becomes Te Waitere road and climbs up through a narrow valley. It was here that I spotted this odd cloud formation. It looked quite different from the cotton wool layers that were sweeping across the sky. The spiral cloud was a lot higher than the layered clouds. It does not look as impressive in the photo as it did in reality. Not sure why this one cloud was so different from the rest.

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/no%205.jpg

After Te Anga, I caught up with the rain. Much of the Te Anga road has recently been re sealed. Quite a few tourists at the Piripiri caves and the natural bridge. The combination of wet road surface, unmarked lanes, loose chips (from the re sealing) and tourist drivers in camper vans made for a sedate pace. Also I felt the front tyre (new Pirelli City Demon) slide a few times. Nothing startling happened for the rest of the run home from Waitomo. This wasnt a fast pace, the sun stayed hidden for most of the ride, lots of drizzle but it was an enjoyable ride anyway.

[awa355]

Saturday was my only free day of the weekend, so I decided to get a way for a ride somewhere. I took the back road through to the Karapiro dam and crossed the highway to Karapiro road. Flat and plenty of corners, it soon becomes Taotaoroa road. This climbs and drops over the rolling hills of the Buckland district. First picture is of a common hazard found on many Waikato roads.

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/Taotaoroa%20hazards.jpg


More unpredictable than possums, ice, asian drivers etc. I crossed H29 into Totmans road, H27 into Langlands rd and onto Okoroire. Crossing the bridge and seeing the hot pools along side the Waihou river bought back memories of Paul Gunderson and myself, as kids riding our push bikes out from Putaruru to sneak around the old green corrugated fencing trying to spy on the naked bathers through the various holes. We got chased once, hid with our bikes down a bank and got a way with it. After Tapapa I stopped half way along the Glades to see if there was a chance of a photo. Luckily the traffic was quite light.

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/glades%202.jpg

I had pulled up behind three Indians who were walking around amongst the trees. I was tempted to ask them if they had remembered the petrol, but then thought better not.

A wee bit further along the road was rebuilt some years ago away from the steep bluff that used to see a number of vehicles plunge over the side, never to be seen again. It reminded me of a story my father told of travelling to Rotorua back in 1959 to see the British Lions playing Thames Valley / Bay of Plenty. As dad drove past this section of road he saw a chap sitting on the side of the road with a fair bit of blood on him. He had somehow gone over the edge of the deep dropoff but somehow the car got stopped by a tree not far down. Dad and his brother bound up most of the chaps cuts etc and thought he had broken a couple of fingers. Dad asked if he needed to be dropped off at the Rotorua hospital. “ Buggar that, just drop me off at the bloody game”. They did.
Further along I turned into the side road leading to Mamaku. This settlement has had many sawmills her going back to the 1880’s. I stopped at this old display .

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/mamaku%202.jpg

This board tells a bit about this rail tractor.

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/mamaku%204.jpg

Another of the rear of the unit.

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/mamaku%203.jpg

A run down of some of the many mills that have operated around Mamaku over the years.

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/mamaku%20mills.jpg

A run down Dansey road and into Rotorua to top up. The 114k’s had used 3.3l so the 250 is doing about 34k per litre. I made my way back through Ngongotaha and stopped to get another pic, this time of the lake.

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/hamurana%201.jpg


From here, I was going to ride over some of the roads swinging around onto the Gate Pa- Rotorua road. I will cover that in part two.

[awa355]

Part 2.
Further on from the rest area I turned left into Te Waerenga road. This climbs away from the lake and levels out on the top of the hills. I stopped part way up and tried for a scenic photo. The edges of the photos did not marry up so you get half the panaramic vista.

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/te%20waerenga%20rd.jpg

As often happens, you get a wee bit further on and a far more scenic view appears. This road is a double laned road and in beautiful condition. Some nice but short glimpses over looking Lake Rotorua then the road heads away from the lake. I soon turned right into Penny road. Lots of tight bends as the road descends downhill. A short distance on and Penny T-bones Kaharoa road. My original idea had been to explore right out to the ends of these ‘out of the way’ roads. The weather had been overcast all day and being up in the Mamaku hills rain seemed to be not to far away, so I stuck to the seal. Part way towards the junction with SH36 I turned onto Kapukapu road. This goes for a long way before ending nowhere, but what I did ride was lovely country. Clean green paddocks interspersed with long deep gullys filled with native bush.

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/kapkapu%20rd.jpg

After returning to Kaharoa road, it wasn’t far to the main Ngongotaha-Gate Pa road. This passes through some rugged country. I pulled up at a car park at the bottam of the Mangorewa Kaharoa gorge. Used as a track by the early Maoris, it was developed as a coach road in 1870 and the first coach used it in 1873 to transport tourists from Tauranga to Rotorua. ( wonder if they bought plastic Tiki’s back then?). The tourist trade dropped off in the 1890’s when the Auckland-Rotorua railway started up. Local were the main users after that. The first car through the gorge was a Darracq in 1906. Here is a photo I took of the road in the early days.

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/gorge%203%202.jpg

Okay, I didn’t take the original photo, but I did get this photo. Try and work that out. This is what the same road looks like today.

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/gorge%204.jpg

In 1942 when the Japs had landed in Tauranga and forced the local fish & chip shops to sell sushi, they apparently set out to conquer Rotorua. Howard Morrisons mob decided their maori roast outlets were too valuble to lose so they set up tank barricades in the gorge. Must have worked, because the Nips never made it to Rotovegas untill years later when Newmans buses bought the sneaky buggars in from the Waikato.

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/gorge%202.jpg


These ‘tank stoppers’ are similar to the ones on Old Mountain Road inland from Raglan. I’m interested in finding out if there are any other antitank barricades around the country. Incase you’re wondering how come I know so much, I read the information board at the carpark, although the bit about the Japs is slightly embellished. :brick:
From the gorge the road climbs up through some massive cuttings. They give an idea of how hard the horse drawn waggons must have had it going around and seesawing up the steep bluffs.

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/cuttings.jpg

My ride continued on to Gate Pa and onto the Kaimai road. I veered left onto Omanawa road. This climbs up through the country in behind McLaren Falls Lake. Like most rural land around here, it is wall to wall Kiwifruit orchards. A few pleasant k’s on and I turned into McLaren Falls rd

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/Maclaren%20falls%20rd..jpg


After a brief stop at the dam end of the lake, I continued on to the main road. Nothing exciting about the return ride home except for the rain from Totmans road to Te Awamutu. Another timely reminder to buy some decent wet weather gear. The rain made for a slightly slower ride back over Taotaoroa road. All up, 308k.

[awa355]

A short video of Penny road. It would be a mean hill climb coming the other way. 1min30.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asFPCP17qlg&feature=youtu.be

[Murray]

Arthur I am starting to dislike you intensly

[awa355]

Arthur I am starting to dislike you intensly

You could've had a sickie:msn-wink: As it was, today would have been a washout. My day catching up with a distant relative and comparing family history was a good one.

[Murray]

_Nah had all the balloonists and conferences on - I wouldn't let the rest of the staff down like that.. Trina had to work til 3 anyway.

Bah humbug - great pictures nice rise

[Motu]

I haven't explored east Waikato much, always thought it a bit flat and boring. I was wrong, time to find out where the good roads are.


http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/mamaku%202.jpg[/IMG]

It's not a Bedford, it's an Austin/Morris or BMC FFk. I wonder if the running gear is BMC too. I guess I'll have to go and find out myself then.

[awa355]

I haven't explored east Waikato much, always thought it a bit flat and boring. I was wrong, time to find out where the good roads are.



It's not a Bedford, it's an Austin/Morris or BMC FFk. I wonder if the running gear is BMC too. I guess I'll have to go and find out myself then.

I didn't think it was a Bedford either, Pulling 70 tonnes seems over the top for a morrie (or Bedford for that matter). I cant remember any of the smaller pommy trucks using diesels that would put out the grunt to drag that sort of load.

[Moi]

It's not a Bedford, it's an Austin/Morris or BMC FFk. I wonder if the running gear is BMC too. I guess I'll have to go and find out myself then.

You might find Paul Mahoney's 'The Era of the Bush Tram in New Zealand' [Pub: 1998 by IPL Books; ISBN 0-908876-80-7] - especially pages 164-168 and p174...

Just found this as well... http://www.internationalsteam.co.uk/tales/lythgoe85.htm

[awa355]

You might find Paul Mahoney's 'The Era of the Bush Tram in New Zealand' [Pub: 1998 by IPL Books; ISBN 0-908876-80-7] - especially pages 164-168 and p174...

Just found this as well... http://www.internationalsteam.co.uk/tales/lythgoe85.htm

Thanks Mark, your link would suggest that the one in my story is a real bitza.

[awa355]

This was a short simple ride to scuff in the new rear tyre. I wasn't planning on any specific route, so meandered out along the Kihikihi rd and turned off onto Owairaka Valley road. After the flat section I stopped to watch some local students trying out the rock climbing that abounds in this area. My camera was left at home and I really found out how bad the cell ph camera is. Any attempt to use the zoom in feature produced a grotty pixelated image.

This pic shows one person half way up the face.
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/no%201_2.jpg

A wee bit further on and the sad remains of the Wharepapa Sth store. Old wooden country shops from yesterday are sadly becoming rarer.
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/no%202_1.jpg

I tossed up whether to turn left or right here, chose left and motored on with an idea of riding around Mt Maungatautari. The afternoon sun was throwing a lovely deep sheen over the countryside and the heavy concentration of clouds and blues sky made for some scenes. Unfortunately, the ph camera is crap and doesn't produce nice photos at all.

This next one is from the top of Rotongata road.
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/no%203.jpg

From here I continued through to Oreipunga road. Just past the turn off to Finlay Park I turned right onto Plantation road. This has some lovely sweeping curves before swinging left onto Maungatautari rd. Some more corners, good road surface's and views looking towards Mt Maungatautari. A few k's further and I veered right onto Stokes road. This is a lovely short road, cambered corners, views and only a few kilometres extra before becoming Head road and returning to Maungatautari road.

The lake at Karapiro looked quite scenic under the late afternoon sun.
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/no%205_1.jpg

After here, it was a short call in to my riding mate, Bills' place at Lemmington for a chat and cup of coffee. From here a slow run back home through Roto O Rangi road. The countryside is slow to take on an Autumn look with few trees starting to lose leaves and changing colours.

I wish I had taken my camera tho'. Ah well, next time.

[unstuck]

Good stuff, glad you decided to keep writing up your adventures.:Punk::Punk:

[Moi]

Despite not the best camera, still have some great photos with great cloud formations... especially like the photo of Karapiro...

As unstuck said... keep the reports and, especially, the photos coming...

[frogfeaturesFZR]

Arthur, thank you. ( Maybe )
You keep reminding me how much I love that part of the country.
Auckland just doesn't cut the mustard any more.
Keep the rides, and photo's coming.
It's great to see scenery I recognise, while stuck in this rat race.:niceone:

[unstuck]

Arthur, thank you. ( Maybe )
You keep reminding me how much I love that part of the country.
Auckland just doesn't cut the mustard any more.
Keep the rides, and photo's coming.
It's great to see scenery I recognise, while stuck in this rat race.:niceone:

Torbay is most certainly not the great place it was in the late 70's early 80's. Hiding from truancy officers in the tunnel at the top of the tor at little Waiake beach, ah the memories.:2thumbsup

[frogfeaturesFZR]

Torbay is most certainly not the great place it was in the late 70's early 80's. Hiding from truancy officers in the tunnel at the top of the tor at little Waiake beach, ah the memories.:2thumbsup

Theres a council sign on the Tor these days advising that rocks might drop down, and it could be dangerous.
Really ?
Who'd have thought ?
When we were kids we'd figured that out for ourselves, Meh.
I find theres a wee bit more common sense out of Auckland.

[awa355]

Friday morning and the weather was not particularly friendly looking. The sky was blocked out by the clouds but the lady with the big boobies on TV had assured us that the day would be fine and no rain was likely, so Bill and I left his home in Lemmington a bit after 8am and rode off towards the east. With no sun breaking through it was quite chilly. I stopped in Morrinsville to get some warmth into my legs. I was quite cold. Bill had dressed for the cold, I had dressed for the warm sunny day that was ‘going to arrive’. Bill has been riding for 65 years and has learnt a thing or two. I’ve only been riding for 46 years and appear to be somewhat of a slow learner.
Approaching Te Aroha and the TV tower behind the township looked quite neat as the clouds swirled past it. By the time I had decided that I would get a photo the clouds had dispersed a bit so my pic doesn’t look as good as 10 minutes earlier.

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/no%201_3.jpg

Next town after Te Aroha is Paeroa. A car showroom caught my eye and I snapped this Mercury through the window.

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/no%203_1.jpg

At the other end of the main street we pulled up for a brief break.

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/Paeroa.jpg

The Rotunda was built in 1906 and originally had a moat around it. A concert was held in the Rotunda as part of the opening ceremony. Nowadays concerts are held in stadiums.
It was about this time (today, not 1906) that the sun finally hit the ground. Leaving Paeroa we aimed for Ngatea. Just out of Paeroa is a little marine type museum. One day I will take some time to have a good browse around this place. At Ngatea we turned right onto Pipiroa road which runs through to SH25. Left here then at Waitakaruru right onto Front Miranda road. Either side of the road is flat land not much higher than the Firth of Thames estury. A couple of years ago,(well, quite a few years ago) all what we know as the Hauraki Plains was sea bed. Not a lot of birdlife to be seen but world reknown as a bird sanctury when various seabirds migrate from as far away as Siberia and Alaska. How the first birds ever picked the Firth of Thames over Bali, Fiji, Gold Coast etc has me beat. It might have been the sea food menu at Kaiaua. A mixture of fish, oysters, squid rings, salad chips made for a pleasant lunch. The sun never burst into life for long throughout the ride.
We continued up the coast road. There was not a lot of traffic and the pace was an easy cruising speed. I tried at a few places for some photos but with the tide out and little sun about we stuck to enjoying the ride. Turned off at Orere Point. A short ride down to the bay. . A stoney beach which Bill said was trucked in many years ago to help form a launching pad for boats. Bill remembers coming down here as a youngster when it was simply grass and gravel roads with a walking track down the bank.
One looking out towards the islands of the Hauraki Gulf.

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/no%204_1.jpg

One all round good buggar,

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/no%205_2.jpg

Bill got his bike licence back in 1953, after his apprenticeship, he and a mate took their bikes over to Aussie and spent a year working and riding around. His was a Triumph Tiger 100, his mates, a Matchless twin. Bill turns 80 in the next month or so but is still riding like a young fella, We stick to a sensible speed and enjoy the rides. No big dramas, plenty of yarns at the stops.
From here we carried on towards Kawakawa bay. Got this photo of the bay.

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/no%207.jpg

The road between Kawakawa and Clevedon was great. Lots of winding road, corners, native reserve on both sides. We refueled at Clevedon then turned onto Monument road. This climbs through the farmland that spreads back up the foothills of the Hunua ranges.
In 1863 William Jackson raised a company of Forest Rangers based from Clevedon to patrol the Hunua Ranges and engage the Maori forces that were threatening the Auckland province. This company was to operate for three months only due to finance restraints. My Great Grandfather William James Raven was one of these original rangers. Von Tempsky accompanied Jacksons originals as a correspondent before forming his own company of rangers later. Cruising over smooth sealed roads making crossing the gullys and ridges a breeze it is easy to ignore the conditions that travelling on foot through mud, rain, steep ridges, unmarked tracks must have been like.
Bill took the lead along here and soon turned off onto Falls road leading into the Hunua Ranges. We pulled up at the Hunua Fall car park which must have been sold to the Chinese, going by the number of Asians all armed with Iphones. Bill told of winding their way over narrow washed out gravell roads to finish up at grassy flat before taking a track through the scrub to view the falls. Now it is painted car parks and raised wooden paths. A bridge across the stream gives a nice view of the falls.

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/no%208.jpg


From here we rode back out to the turn off to Cosseys Dam. Narrow and overhung from native pungas and trees this sealed road winds its way over a saddle and down to the Cossey Dam. The road is blocked off to vehicles here and as it was a wee walk down to the dam face, we were not too keen to leave the bikes and helmets that long.
Following Bill on the Cossey Access road.

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/Massey%20rd.jpg

Back out on White road we carried on until a roadside general store where we took a short break. Through Hunua village and along Hunua road and onto Paparimu road. All good roads, light traffic untill making our way onto SH2. The rest of the ride was fairly boring. From here we found SH27, passed through Tahuna and into Morrinsville. Back to Bills home, a cup of coffee and then my last stint to TeAwamutu. For me, the distance was 410k. A great ride over roads I had not been over for many years. It is Saturday as I’m writing this and the rain hasn’t stopped. Glad we went yesterday.

[Moi]

Nice way to waste, oops, spend a day... any excuse to consolidate one's riding skills... ;)

Thanks for sharing.

Cheers.

Heavy rain and lightning/thunder here this morning...

[Robbo]

Nice ride report (as always) Arthur. You'll be glad you did the ride yesterday and not today otherwise you would have needed a jet ski and not a motorbike. How are you finding the new bike after all those past miles on the scoot?

[unstuck]

Another good write up.:headbang::headbang:

Used to swim at the falls when I was a youngster, don't know if I would be keen to swim there now though.

[awa355]

Nice ride report (as always) Arthur. You'll be glad you did the ride yesterday and not today otherwise you would have needed a jet ski and not a motorbike. How are you finding the new bike after all those past miles on the scoot?

The bike is way better in most regards. Where I would prefer the scooter is on gravel. The scoot gave much more feedback than the cruiser. One job I am going to do to the virago is change the rear brake pedal position. The pedal pad is way to high. I have a groin muscle problem and lifting the whole weight of my right leg up in a hurry to get over the pedal is a slow sore move. The pedal is not a simple spline on shaft setup so some ingenuity will be called for.

[awa355]

Roads to Lake Whakamaru.
As it is supposed to be raining tomorrow I decided to get in a ride today. Fuelled up and rolled on out to Wharepapa south. Plenty of people having a go at the rock climbing that is quite popular in this district. Past the school and instead of the usuall route to Mangakino I continued along Aotearoa road. Quite narrow and tight corners but in good condition. Part way along I stopped to photograph this rock. I am quoting from memory here, but I believe this chap was once a great Maori chief who was turned to stone and left to guard the valley behind him.

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/Aoteroa%20rd.jpg

I will check the story out tomorrow and amend this text to be sure of getting my story right. I’m writing this tonight so haven’t done my homework properly.
A few k’s on and Aotearoa road becomes gravel and winds up and over a saddle to drop down into the Ngaroma district. Some tight corners made for a fairly sedate pace but I was there for the scenery anyway. This is a still from my GoPro camera.

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/Aoteroa%20rd%201.jpg



Here is looking back towards Maungatautari.

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/Aoteroa%20rd%203.jpg

Trying to be a trendy type with the camera, looking through a rather high deer fence gate.

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/Aoteroa%20rd%202.jpg

The road went from narrow to narrowER! As it passed through the Arohena Scenic reserve. Wasn’t long and it was back onto the seal and along Wairehi road and then Waipapa road. I stopped at the dam but this has been photographed so many times so I wont post a picture of this lake. No traffic anywhere on this road, I crusied into Mangakino and pulled up at the lake edge. Along here somewhere under the water is a road bridge built across the Waikato river to connect with the Tokoroa road. The bridge was left in place when the dam was finished and the lake was formed. My father drove a RD8 Caterpillar bulldozer over this bridge in 1946/7. He and my uncle drove the RD8 from Arohena mill to Mokai. They re-crossed the Waikato at Ongaroto near Aitimuri. With the pines cut down across the lake a lot of the scenic view has gone. Crossing the Mangakino river , I turned the bike around and went back to get this photo looking down towards the lake. I had never noticed the swinging bridge before.

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/Mangakino%20river.jpg

I carried on to Whakamaru for a coffee and light meal.
After a spell I rode on over the dam and down the Ongaroto road. A short way along and pulled off down by a boat ramp/picnic area. A white cross at the lake edge marks a tragic moment for someone.

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/Whakamaru%201.jpg

Carrying on, I kept an eye out for any opportunities for a photo shot. I stopped at the steps built as part of the national cycle way. In a earlier report I posted a photo taken from the first set of steps looking back along the bluffs. This is similar but from at the top of the climb. Not funny when you’re an overweight geriatric in heavy riding gear.

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/Whakamaru%202.jpg

This is looking over the lake from the same spot.

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/Whakamaru%203.jpg

Back on the bike and a bit further on, was a lakeside camping area. I tried to find some nice views of the lake but the growth along the edge hampered me a bit. This is the bike having a breather.

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/Whakamaru%204.jpg

I did get this view from small gap in the undergrowth.

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/Whakamaru%205.jpg

At this stage the clouds were building up and I could see the sun would be gone for good so decided to return the way I had come. Saw a potential photo opportunity and climbed up a bank to take one more picture.

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/Whakamaru%206.jpg

It was from here that I saw something that killed the day for me. Across the lake.

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/for%20sale.jpg

Right on the lake edge under the pine covered cliffs. Two houses were already in place. The beauty of Lake Whakamaru for me has been the total lack of intrusive lakeside housing. The lake has always been for the most part as it was when it was first formed. I know the lake is man made but it has always been something special to me. I have drifted down the lake fly fishing, sat on the rocks and soaked up the sounds and sights of the birdlife. Now the almighty dollar has pushed its way in. So, in a mood to match the grey sky I crusied on back home. It was still a great days ride, but seeing the developers moving in was saddening.

[awa355]

A couple of extra photos.

Looking up stream from the Mangakino river bridge.
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/three.jpg

The dam end of the lake.
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/six.jpg

Another view of the steps.
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/four.jpg

Winter colours at the campsite.
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/five.jpg

[Maha]

Good to meet you today Arthur and Bill, I have subscribed to this thread, enjoy the rest of the ride, look forward to more photo's.

[Mom]

What a lovely surprise to see you guys parked up at Whakamaru today. It was really great to be able to put a face to a name. You certainly picked a boomer day for a ride. Looking forward to todays ride report. I am subscribed to this thread as well, and look forward to reading more about what you get up to.

[awa355]

It was good to meet up with you two as well. Anyway, here's the report of todays ride. Not too many photos but as I explain was too chilly to stop and start all the time.

I woke up to a light frost and clear skies, so our ride was still on. Got to Bill’s place about 10am and headed off up the Maungatautari road. We were both dressed for the cold weather and it wasn’t a particulaly cold day but neither of us really warmed up throughout the ride. At the junction of Plantation and Maungatautari roads is a pleasant man made farm pond. We pulled up and I tried for a photo of the pond through the trees.
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/no%201_5.jpg

Bill waiting patiently.
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/DSC00919.jpg


Moving on along Oreipunga road, the country looked lovely. The sharpness of the sun, green paddocks and even the bare winter trees made for pleasant views out over the Arapuni district. The drop down to the Waitete stream was shaded and the frost still on the ground. Both Bill and I are too long in the tooth to go trying to out ride our skills on ice so we took thing quietly through all the shaded sections that still harboured ice.
We stopped at Arapuni dam to warm up a bit.
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/no%202_3.jpg

From here we ducked up Darby road and right onto Lake road. Lots of wide sweeping corners and scenic country to Te Waotu. This ride we carried on along the Wilstdown road. Warm out in the farmland and much colder in the latter half when in the shade of the pine plantations with the road surface still carrying a frost.
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/Whilstdown%20rd..jpg

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/Whilstdown%20rd%202.jpg


Right onto the Old Taupo road and its amazing to see the land being root raked and smoothed off for dairy conversion. This has always been pine country to me. The Radiata Pine is going to make the endangered species list if this conversion keeps going.
Out along the Tok – Whakamaru road and again the large scale of clearing the pine plantations is going on. Whether this gets replanted or converted I don’t know. The road lifts up from the twin lakes and usually you can see across the cleared pines to Mangakino. This morning a huge fog bank rose above the lake and spread across to the road. With the fog on the right and the sun on the left it was a nice scene. I would’ve stopped to take a photo but it was too bloody cold!! Thankfully it cleared as we rode down to the dam and pulled up at the Whakamaru café. It was wonderfull to pull off the gloves and get some feeling back into my fingers. Bill harping on about his heated grips didn’t help. That aside, Bill was just as pleased to get off the bike and warm up.
Sitting in the sun having coffee and hot pies, we soon warmed up. Then we were approached by a couple of locals. Maha and Mom had seen the bikes and came over to introduce themselves. It was really neat to meet up with them and swap a few stories. I have met very few other KB members so it was nice to chat. A pleasant couple. We talked away for a good spell before deciding to carry on. Down the road we turned left and rode on towards Bennydale. I did not stop to take any more photos as I just couldn’t settled or get warm. Have added a few stills from the GoPro. This is from the ‘reserve along Scott road. It really is nothing more than a few mottely Rimus that were either dead or dying and weren’t worth dropping when the native logging was in full swing. The road from here to Bennydale has improved from the metal road that I used to travel over back in the ‘70’s.
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/pouakani%202.jpg


You can see the freeloader clinging to the top of the camera lense. Buggar didn’t even have a helmet.
After Bennydale there are some great pieces of winding corners. Even with only 250cc it was fun to flick the bike through the bends. Just before Tekuiti.
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/Kopaki%20rd.jpg

I re fueled in Tekuiti and we decided to stick to the main drag for the run back to Te Awamutu. It was a great ride with sunshine, frosts and a bit of fog. 258k all up. It was especially good to spend time talking to a couple of other members of the forum.

[Moi]

The Northern Odyssey followed a number of those roads, really nice riding and the temperature was far more agreeable when we came through that way... OK, it was February... :facepalm:

Nice photos, like the one along Wiltsdown Rd. Something about bare trees against a blue sky...

[Mom]

It was really chilly out and about around here this morning. When we went out for groceries at 10:30 it had almost tipped 2 degrees. The fog was really thick and the frost was halfway up the trees! There was no frost on the ground thanks to the fog, but we still had ice on the top of our letterbox! I take my hat off to you both riding towards us at this time of the year. Really loved meeting you both. Next time come for a coffee at ours...

[FJRider]

It was really chilly out and about around here this morning. When we went out for groceries at 10:30 it had almost tipped 2 degrees. The fog was really thick and the frost was halfway up the trees! There was no frost on the ground thanks to the fog, but we still had ice on the top of our letterbox! I take my hat off to you both riding towards us at this time of the year. Really loved meeting you both. Next time come for a coffee at ours...

It would still be minus 5 at that time here in paradise ... :(

[eldog]

The Northern Odyssey followed a number of those roads, really nice riding and the temperature was far more agreeable when we came through that way... OK, it was February... :facepalm:

Nice photos, like the one along Wiltsdown Rd. Something about bare trees against a blue sky...

Got to agree with Mom, Maha and Moi.
This is the best time and weather for this type of riding, wish I had more time to do stuff like this.
And I am going to do the NO 2016 again. This time I will be more prepared :brick:
Great Thread Post and pics Awa love this part of KB, you travellers rock:headbang:
I am including others like Jatz, KoroJ and Tazz too in this group :cool::niceone:

(I gotta learn how to attach pics once I get some worth while to post):facepalm:

Come on FJRider, -5 isn't that bad and I thought you lived in paradise
it's the damp AKL weather that is bad. I like the crisp winter days down south of the Bombay passport control office

keep them posts coming, it's like I am there too, even though I cant.

[awa355]

After answering a query about up loading photos this morning, I started wondering why I didn't use the PNG format as opposed to the JPEG format that is the norm. (as an experiment). The png is supposed to be the 'lossless' version of jpeg images.

This PNG is 1.27MB. the JPEG pic of the same size, 800 x 600 is 407KB. So the png format would certainly take up more download width.
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/DSC00865.png

A jpeg of the same photo. Same pixel size.
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/jpeg.jpg

For viewing on line, the PNG doesn't produce a better picture really.
So now I know. :innocent::innocent:

[awa355]

Been playing with the effects within Live Movie Maker to produce something a bit different. Here's a short clip from the ride Bill and I did last Wednesday. I'm a complete bunny at this, I can't get the video to fade out at the end. Still, fun trying.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-vhUTa06x8&feature=youtu.be

[awa355]

With my wife at work until lunchtime and a sunny day I thought long and hard for about 10 seconds about With getting in one last ride before heading back to work tomorrow. On the back of a white envelope I wrote those three little words that mean so much to wives of riders everywhere, “Wont be long”, and bolted. :scooter:
Fueled up and followed SH3 out as far as Te Kawa then left onto Ngahape road. A wide road, good surface and sweeping corners. Then veering right at Mahihi onto Paewhenua road. As the saying goes, ‘shit happens’. Almost the length of this road was coated in mud and cow crap from tractors. Got to the end, turned right and rolled down to Otewa road. Lots of minor slips from the recent rain but nothing compared to the damage further down the island. I stopped at the bridge over the Waipa river. What a horrible sight. All the poplar trees have been cut down, nothing but mud, stumps and high piles of branches. This used to be a lovely scenic river.

I took a photo of the surrounding farmland.

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/1_1.jpg

Continuing along Otewa road the bare trees and swollen dirty river had nothing worth photographing. Before Otorohonga I turned left onto Tahaia road. This is a narrow sealed unmarked road that follows a valley with lots of prime farmland with pockets of native trees on the hillsides.

Tahaia road.
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/2_2.jpg

A few k’s on and it was left onto Bush road. Sealed for a short distance then gravel as the road climbed up for most of its length. Little patches of scrubby reserve lined the road for much of the way. I stopped and got this panaramic view of the country off to my right.
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/3_1.jpg

Another two of Bush road.
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/8_1.jpg

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/4_2.jpg

Stopping part way through a stretch of bush I pulled up to take a photo and discovered the remote for the GoPro had been shaken off the magnetic mount on the tank. I was a bit peeved off but as I had not bothered to tether the remote to the bike, had only myself to blame. A bit further and I turned around and made my way back down Bush road to Ngapeke road. Stopping at the place I had taken the above photo from, lo and behold?, there was the remote. Thankfully no traffic had followed behind me. :no: Back at the Bush rd turnoff, Tahaia had become Ngapeke road. All gravel and fairly rough in places. The road follows a ridge and the scenery was terrific. A lot of sheep and beef farming along here.

Stopped and took this snap of a few locals.
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/5_2.jpg

Rolling along the surface became a lot smoother and the 250 was cranking up quite well. The speedo nudging close to the 100kph mark on the gravel before sense hit home and I backed off somewhat.
Right onto Walker road, and this was the find of the day. I had not travelled any of these last four roads before, and Walker road was brilliant. Wide (ish), sealed and great views. The corners were cambered, the road climbed and dropped through two valleys before dropping down into Tekuiti.
Here is looking back towards the Rangitoto ranges from Walker road.
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/6_1.jpg

From the same spot looking the other way.
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/9_1.jpg

Part way down the hill to Tekuiti I got this photo of the township nestled within the surrounding hills.
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/7_1.jpg

Into the town and I skirted around the main shopping centre by following the back streets to come out on Hangitiki road. More corners, no traffic, cruising heaven. I came out onto the highway at Hangitiki and rolled up to the Big Apple. A well deserved BIG ice cream, then a steady ride back home.
If you are heading north from Tekuiti, think about a cruise along Walker road. About 10-12 k’s and if the gravel of Ngapeke road doesn’t suit you, turn around and return to Tekuiti. This road is a piece of riding heaven. Well worth looking for. Today's trip was 140 kilometers all up. The sun behaved for most of the ride, the wind was very chilly, and so was the reception back at home, but she soon settled and I get to sleep in the house tonight. :yes::yes:

[Mom]

The sun behaved for most of the ride, the wind was very chilly, and so was the reception back at home, but she soon settled and I get to sleep in the house tonight. :yes::yes:

Bloody Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. You mad bugger :D

[swarfie]

Bloody Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. You mad bugger :D

I've ridden all of those roads and as Awa says they're bloody brilliant. Great photos by the way and thanks for sharing...just reminds me I'd better get back out that way again soon. I took some Aussies over Rangitoto and Barber road a while ago and they were stoked. The scenery looking out towards the Rangitoto ranges is great and the roads are normally in good nick. The Waikato is an awesome place to live and ride and the whole place is a great back yard :clap:

[awa355]

I've ridden Barber and Rangitoto a few times now, and this time I wanted to cut across the middle. I would have gone right through to the top of Bush road and along Rangitoto rd, but met a flock of sheep coming towards me. I decided to return to Ngapeke road and keep an eye out for my missing remote. Glad I did. Both Walker and Rangitoto roads have a similar outlook over Tekuiti as you come down into town.

On reflection, Walker may not be quite as great as I painted it in my report, but is still a fantastic piece of road. I hit it after a lot of gravel so that may have made it seem so good.

[eldog]

Bloody Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. You mad bugger :D

Mom are you refferring to the ride or the recption when he got home? :bleh:

Myself, its the perfect weather for trips and the colours/atmosphere is perfect.

and I have no idea were these places are, but it prompts me to look. Instead of the std Akl to Welly blast.

Carry on Awa and others. I enjoy your trips :Punk:

[Moi]

Despite the chilly reception, what you did certainly beats hands down what I spend a good part of the day doing...

Superb photos...

[Mom]

Mom are you refferring to the ride or the recption when he got home? :bleh:

Myself, its the perfect weather for trips and the colours/atmosphere is perfect.

and I have no idea were these places are, but it prompts me to look. Instead of the std Akl to Welly blast.

Carry on Awa and others. I enjoy your trips :Punk:

I prefer winter riding too. Nothing better than feeling the weight of your gear, and wiping the dew drop off the end of your nose :sunny:

[awa355]

The Waikato is an awesome place to live and ride and the whole place is a great back yard :clap:

I still refer to anywhere south of the Puniu river as The King Country. Google even has Awakino under the Waikato umbrella. To me, that is bordering on the Taranaki province. Is the term 'province' still officially used?.

Next Wednesday or Thursday, I'm hoping to ride the Marakopa- Awakino road again. I did it in January this year on my 100cc scooter. I just have to remember that in the 'King Country' the frosts can sit in those shaded corners all day. A late morning start might be in order then.

Just finished cleaning the bike after yesterday's ride involving mud and cow shit. I even got down to taking the front mudguard off and cleaning the under side. Used an old tooth brush on the front of the engine and frame. Hope the wife doesn't complain about the toothpaste. :2thumbsup .

[awa355]

I enjoyed this bit of Walker rd so much, I went back up to the top to ride it again.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7xcCfcOIv0&feature=youtu.be

[frogfeaturesFZR]

Nice ride :2thumbsup

[insomnia01]

Ngahape Rd/Whibley Rd/Maihihi Rd/Paewhenua Rd/Otewa Rd is one of my favourite loops On Any Sunday ;)

[awa355]

Ngahape Rd/Whibley Rd/Maihihi Rd/Paewhenua Rd/Otewa Rd is one of my favourite loops On Any Sunday ;)

Got to ride down to Tekuiti tomorrow afternoon for xrays. I'll look at going down one side of the main highway and coming back the other side. Should be a good clear day if we get a decent frost tonight.

[eldog]

I prefer winter riding too. Nothing better than feeling the weight of your gear, and wiping the dew drop off the end of your nose :sunny:

Maybe I am doing something wrong then, I only feel the weight of my gear when it's fully wet, and there hasn't been any dew on the end of my nose unless I have a cold.

perhaps I have the wrong gear....... Or maybe I ride to slow......

whatever, the closest thing I can get to riding the areas like Awa shows is via KB.:first:

[awa355]

A dripping nose is one thing, A big hoik before realizing you're wearing a full face helmet isn't much fun. :(:(

[eldog]

or feeling a cockroach crawling all over your face and over your eyes while your riding isnt much fun either. I have never stopped and removed my helmet so fast.:rolleyes:

i can usually avoid most sneezes on the ride, a good benefit of wearing a balaclava, crap catcher.:crazy:

[awa355]

I eventually get the hang of most things. Some things take longer than others. :wacko: A couple of rides ago, I mentioned loosing my gopro remote from the magnetic mount on the fuel tank. Thankfully I returned to a previous stop and found the remote with the message on the screen ":doh:".

Well today I wobble my way out towards Pukeatua via Parkland and Monckton roads. I decided to try out all the various video recording settings on the gopro and compare the quality of each. I had my remote fitted to the suction cup mounting on the fuel tank. I do not use the remote much as the wireless function tends to hog the battery life of the camera and the remote's battery wont last as long as the camera will anyway. I got out to Pukeatua, pulled up and 'Hellooo? where's the bloody remote?. I rode back slowly hopeing to see the remote and suction cup lying on the edge of the road. No such luck. I returned at about where I could remember glancing at the digital screen on the remote, did another U turn and slowly crawled back to Pukeatua. Nothing, got back to where I had originally stopped, hopped off the bike and damn near stood on the remote. This time on the screen was this :bash::bash::bash:, "next time noddy, I stay lost". So I've given up on the magnetic and suction mounts. I will go back to the plastic ties on the handlebars, (which worked perfectly) or just leave the stupid thing at home. :brick::brick::brick:


Anyway, I decided to take a run along Maunga road. This is a no exit road that runs along a ridge but like many similar roads around the hills of the Waikato, the views can be spectacular. About 6k long and some lovely farm views of deep gullys, exposed rocks and clumps of trees etc. The weather was a mix of gray clouds and patches of deep blue sky. I took a couple of photos but the cloudy light didn't make for the best of shots.

Here's one of returning back towards the Arapuni road.
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/first.jpg

Past Pukeatua, Waimanu road goes off to the right. Double laned in places and quite narrow in others, this is a delight. Tight corners and sweeping bends and great views towards Mt Maungatautari and over the Sth Waikato. This is looking towards Maungatautari.
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/third.jpg

Another showing some of the farmland.
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/second.jpg

It was here that I upheld the public impression of 'bikies'. Busting for a pee, I reckoned the odds of anyone driving past in the 30-40 seconds it take to have a quick slash on a quiet road like this are pretty long. So stashing the camera away, I hopped over the barrier arm and started admiring the view. Within seconds I heard a car, glanced round and caught the eye of a soccer mum and a couple of rugrats in a 4wd. Don't think she was too impressed. :facepalm: . Almost immediately granny follows, I'm sure she was smiling. Well, if she could see what little I was waving in the wind, there's nothing wrong with granny's eyesight.

Back on the bike and followed the road to Wharepapa sth. I kept going onto Seafund road and with the sun out by now it was a great run down the hill and across the valley. The outcrops of rocks and hillsides and trees makes for some pleasant country to ride through. No road works, resealing, the road surfaces in top shape, clear colours, cold wind but fantastic to be out riding. Turned right into Bayley road and wound down the drop to the junction with Lethbridge road. I thought about where to from here, thought about what a great ride so far, so did a U turn and went back the same way. Lots of hills with hairpins, tight corners, Bliss.
Here is the start of Seafund road on the return leg.
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/fouth.jpg

Only photo left to post is of Waimanu road showing the scene of the dastardly deed committed by some 'low life'.
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/fifth.jpg

This wasn't meant to warrant a report but the ride was too good to not rub it in to all those poor sods who had to work. :scooter:
Still, I am back at work for eight night tomorrow, so I guess what goes around, comes around.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WxJMHBKOzk&feature=youtu.be

[eldog]

Awa - I might have to put you on the ignore list - posting pics like this when I am at work till this stupid hour is not on :devil2:

At least they remind me of what I have to look forward too - awesome :2thumbsup

[frogfeaturesFZR]

you get great rides, great weather, and I get.....rain.
Bugger.
Thanks for the pics though !
Have you ridden through Ngaroma lately ? :niceone:

[Moi]

I'm just a wee bit envious... Wait... No! I'm really quite envious...

What a super day for a ride through the country-side. Always like your photos, you're good with the camera :niceone:

[Being out on the bike is certainly better than doing stuff round the house and spending more money on accommodation in Italy. Yet to take the big one for a ride, might try next week. The other has its licence on-hold as I knew I'd not be riding for at least a month and then don't see the point in having it licenced while away for nearly 15 weeks...]

[sil3nt]

Never had an issue with the suction cup mounts. Flat surface + water/spit + locking mechanism engaged and you could almost pick the bike up with them!

[awa355]

you get great rides, great weather, and I get.....rain.
Bugger.
Thanks for the pics though !
Have you ridden through Ngaroma lately ? :niceone:

Haven't been through Ngaroma for a while. I will get back there in a couple of weeks. Glad I did a ride yesterday. The fog is down low and staying around today.

Here's a couple more photos. The blue gums look terrific with the sun shining on them. I should have stopped and used the camera for this shot. The sun on the leaves and strips of back hanging off the white trunks makes for some nice patterns.
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/image%203.jpg

Talking of patterns, Some cloud formations create interesting images. To me, this almost looks like a mountain in the distance.
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/image%202.jpg

[awa355]

I had planned to sneak out and have a look at a couple of roads in the Paewhenua district that I have ridden past on previous rides. So about lunch time I set sail. SH3 untill Te Kawa then turned left onto Wharepuhunga road. The weather was perfect. I did not even notice the cold. This is always a great ride, usually the way most go when travelling to Ngaroma. I stopped at the bridge on Lethbridge road to check out the Mangatutu stream. It was quite high and discoloured. Hours have been spent on this stream, fly fishing. A lovely stream to fish and can deliver some strong fighting trout. The stream runs along side the road for some distance and as a result gets thrashed during the early part of the season.

Today it didn't look so good.

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/maungatutu%201.jpg

Further on, I turned onto Mangatutu road. This leads away from the Wharepuhunga road and winds over some rolling hill country into the Mahihi district. Had a ride up a couple of the no exit roads but there was nothing worth showing from these roads. I left Mangatutu rd and rolled onto Mahihi road. This runs across the spurs that come off the Rangitoto hills. The roads were clean and all in good condition. Many do not have road markings but still have plenty of tight corners and sweeping curves that can be a blast to ride without having to hit supersonic speeds.

Stopped and got a photo of these funny looking cows.

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/maungatutu%202.jpg

Deer farming was the new 'Sliced Bread' back in the '70's as far as farming went but seems to have dropped off the radar since.
Just past the deer farm I hung a right onto Paewhenua W road. (I presume the 'W' means west). Stopped soon after and got this photo of the countryside.

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/Paewhenua%201.jpg

This would look nice in the spring with the trees in their green foliage. Opposite this was what was the local school. From 1921 to 1955. Pae rd drops slowly from here but the views are well worth taking your time and enjoying. Lots of swinging through left/right corners, just dont wind it up too much. Hedgerows, a narrow road and a certainty of farmer Jones using the road means not a lot of options open, should shit happen. About 6 k along I turned left onto Lurman road. I had not ridden this road before and it is a beauty. It winds through a short narrow gut before climbing up a steady rise. Rocky cliffs, big rocks and a mini rapids in the streamm that runs along side the road.

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/Lurman%202.jpg

At the end of this photo, the road climbs and the stream slows as it runs across the valley floor below the road. I posted this pic in the LOR thread but it really belongs here.

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/lurman%204.jpg

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/DSC01169%20Stitch.jpg

How fantastic it would be for children growing up on this farm.
Moving on after a 'time out' here the road climbs a bit more then slowly decends and still more scenic views. Turning right onto Sircombe road, I posted a brief video of the road winding up onto a saddle in the lor thread. Sircombe road is short and soon meets up with Rangiatea road. This would have taken me into Otorohanga but a wee way along I turned back onto Lurman road. I wanted to cover this end of Lurman and a side road, Otoru road. This soon turned to gravel but there are some nice farms up here. Back onto Lurman to complete the full length and enjoy the ride down into the bottom of the road. Back on Paewhenua road and I rode back home via Ngahepe road.

Only a short run but neat roads. On Sunday I may ride this same route again but might return along Lurman rd, Paewhenua road then right onto Mahaihi rd and cross the Waipa river, Otewa road, then left onto Hewer road. I will wind my way into Tekuiti via Whawharua and Mangarino roads. From there I will umm and aah about which way home.

[Moi]

Superb photos...

[frogfeaturesFZR]

Great photo's and ride report.
Thanks :yes:

[awa355]

This wont be a usual ride report, cause I'm knackered and ready for bed. Phil and I left town about 10.30 to ride down to Tekuiti via some roads I rode in my last report. A couple of roads were new to me and other roads new to Phil. I did not bother to stop for any photos apart from a break on Kopaki road.
Most on this post were taken from the GoPro.
From Ngahape road, we hit Rangitea rd then left onto Sircombe road. Left at Lurman, right at Paewhenua rd. One great smooth corner after another.

Otewa road

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/otewa_1.jpg

Left onto Hewer road, an unmarked sealed road with a good surface and goes from one corner to the next. Not a fast road but lots of fun. Left onto Mangawhero for a brief spell then right onto Whawharua rd. Again, a narrow but smooth flowing corners. Puketawai, Old Tekuiti and onto Mangarino road. This was a new road for me and follows a narrow flat valley before climbing for a way before dropping down into Tekuiti.

Mangarino road

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/mangarino%201_1.jpg

Tekuiti

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/town%201_1.jpg

After refueling the virago, we headed out to Kopaki road. We struck our first serious patch of icy road here but it caused no problems. Stopped to capture this view.

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/Kopakai%20rd.jpg

Onto SH4, we turned left and cruised down to Ramaroa road. The hill leading down to the Mokauiti valley still had a heavy frost on it so the view out to the left got little attention. It was a very cautious run down to the sunshine of the valley.

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/ramaroa%204_1.jpg

A pleasant cruise through to Aria where we managed to avoid hitting anyone. :blink::blink:

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/aria_1.jpg

After a break at Poipio, we found Troopers road and rolled on through to Oparure rd then Fullerton road.

At Waitomo we dog legged onto Waitomo Valley road and kept up a steady run right back to Te A.

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/waitomo%20valley.jpg

The roads were all fantastic (apart from the icy bits), the views pleasant and all up it was one of the better rides I've done. This was a ride to enjoy the bike without stopping every 5 minutes to get out the camera.

I've got the dog standing here with his front paws on my leg and one shoe in his mouth, so I think he is trying to tell me something. Time for a walk I think. :laugh:

[awa355]

I decided on a short ride today and revisit some of the roads off Limework Loop road behind Te Pahu.

Pirongia used to be a one horse town. It has grown a lot since, now, it is a two horse town.

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/1%20j.jpg

From the first road over the Waipa river looking at Mt Pirongia.

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/1.1%20j.jpg

Back down and along Rosborough and Te Pahu roads and left into Corcoran road. This is another lovely no exit road that winds up to the edge of the Forest Park. I had not been up here before and just shows how much beauty these side roads have that few riders bother to go and see. The farmland on the slopes, the trees, and the little creeks flowing down from the forest park covering the volcanic peak. Nearly all these roads are sealed, and the ones that are gravel (usually the top ends) are a piece of cake to ride.

Corcoran rd from the GoPro's perspective.

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/2%20j.jpg

Typical of the streams coming off Pirongia.

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/4%20j.jpg

A bit further up. and I made a panorama of the view looking back across the Waikato region.

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/3%20j.jpg

Continuing on to the top of the road was an even better lookout. A helipad, obviously for uplifting injured hikers from the park. A car park just inside the forest and a well set up start to the Tirohanga track.

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/9%20j.jpg

A fantastic ride back down to the Te Pahu road and along to Limeworks Loop road. A wee way along the narrow valley, and Arthur road looked like another dead end road, a waste of riding time, but as I had not been up it before, away I went. Sealed, unmarked but what a great little road. Smooth surface, views with no end. It turns to gravel well up, but even just to the end of the seal, this is worth riding. Doesn't take long. I will load up a vid clip showing some of the corners to be found on these roads. Back down on Limeworks rd and my next stop was the Kaniwhaniwha stream. A couple of photos showing a lovely stream that can be damn hard flyfishing.

Upstream from the bridge.

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/6%20j.jpg

Tried to zoom in and see if the clarity of the water would show.

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/8%20j.jpg

From here It was uphill and overlooking more countryside. I have posted a similar photo in an earlier scooter ride report.

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/12%20j.jpg

At the end of Limeworks rd I continued to Grove road. This climbs up onto a ridge and runs back towards Pirongia giving some of the best views of the mountain.

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/7%20j.jpg

So many neat roads that because they have a 'No Exit' sign or have no markings, that many riders ignore. Grove road bypasses Te Pahu, doesn't look much from the road ends but is about 10 k's of smooth cambered flowing corners and spectacular views.

Only 115k but all quality time out on the bike.

A very short clip of Arthur road.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNgfcpIdHpc&feature=youtu.be

A gopro still while riding up Arthur road.
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/Untitled%20picture_13.jpg

[frogfeaturesFZR]

Great photo's, nice ride, good weather.
Pretty much perfect.
Sure beats Auckland !

[Moi]

Beautiful day all round - whether out riding or mowing lawns and tidying up round the place after last weekend's stormy weather...

Always enjoy your reports and photos, many thanks.

[awa355]

The plan was to ride the rolling country out to Kawhia while the full moon bathed the surrounding farmland with a fairy tale like glow which would result in some lovely night photographs. Didn't quite work out like that, but was still a terrific night ride. The temperature was fairly mild, roads good and the little bike went like a rocket.

I stopped at the Ngutunui school to turn on the GoPro. This is not a night capable camera but I thought trying the time lapse recording might come up with the odd interesting photo. It did not, all the stills taken on the move were blurry, as shown here on my return when a couple of locals decided to cross the road.

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/nine.jpg

Back to the school and it was here that I remembered the little flashlight still on the sideboard back home. :brick: I practiced some Braille pretty quick concerning the buttons on the camera, then twigged, the bike comes with a built in torch.

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/one_3.jpg

Rolling along until the lookout point. By now the cloud cover had thickened somewhat so the fairy tale twinkling starlight effect was a no show.
The night mode on the camera is a weak point for sure. I played around with the flash on/off and the results went from bad to worse. :weep::weep:

A couple of the bike (supposedly) lit by the moon.

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/two_2.jpg

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/three_2.jpg

From here I rolled on to the Oparau roadhouse. Chatted with the old fella for a while I met this bloke when I did the Pirongia West road on the scooter a year ago.

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/four_1.jpg

Got this Gum tree lit up, from the roadhouse lights.

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/five_1.jpg

Just before Kawhia,

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/six_1.jpg

Onto Kawhia and I pulled up to try for a photo of the water front with the lights reflecting off the water. This was when the camera battery decided to die on me. I did have my old camera as well so put that into service, unfortunately, I was too impatient to get out the little tripod. I thought the pictures were okay but back home, I saw how shaky I was.

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/seven_2.jpg

Went on through to the wharf, but the local drongos were having a weed and rap music party so came back along the street and got this.

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/eight.jpg

Also from the same spot, a still from the gopro while the bike was stationary, so maybe the blurred pics while on the move may be a result of the new MK11 camera mount.
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/ten.jpg

Heading back I chose to swing left and try for a photo at Aotea. The road out to here is sealed and is worth riding if you are doing the Kawhia run. Down on the water front I tried for a couple of photos but whether the sodium street lights were making the camera misread the scene, I don't know but the photos are not worth posting.

The ride back was a smooth flowing run, apart from the two sheep that were playing chicken with the traffic. Only at Ngutunui did I start to feel the cold. I only wore a thermal T shirt and a woolen jersey under the riding jacket with long johns, jeans and nylon over trou.

No brilliant photos but on that front, it was a learning curve. The ride itself was a ball.

[Moi]

So... nothing on television worth watching last night?? - the photos at the Oparau Roadhouse are good, especially like the trees lit by the roadhouse's lights.
Cheers

[IkieBikie]

To much technology

Oh for the old SLR cameras with attachable flash units

[awa355]

To much technology

Oh for the old SLR cameras with attachable flash units

I had a camera with all the manual options but I find for 99% of my photography, what I have now, is fine. The flash is good for close-up stuff. I played around with the auto flash and flash off settings last night.

The bike is just out of range of the flash light.

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/flash%201.jpg

An attempt to get the moon but the clouds had thickened quite a bit. The red flash is the gopro time lapse light indicator.

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/flash%202.jpg

[Moi]

... I played around with the auto flash and flash off settings last night...

One good thing with digital photography... expensive film and processing is not wasted...

[awa355]

One good thing with digital photography... expensive film and processing is not wasted...

Yes, the gopro recorded 991 photos with the time lapse set to 10sec. I kept three of them. Deleted the rest, with digital, there's no cost for unwanted photos.

Just got back from a pushbike ride around town. It was a damn sight colder than my ride to Kawhia last night.

[Maha]

Kawhia can offer up some awesome moments for that memorable photo.

[insomnia01]

Riding out to Kawhia is highly under rated in my opinion, most local riders opt for Raglan which is a cool ride too but congested roads are a major let down :sleep:

[awa355]

A lot of the road between the lookout and Oparau is starting to ripple under the seal, especially on the uphill stretches. Still beats the Raglan road anyday. The loop around Harbour rd Waitomo is always a great ride. Out to Taharoa/Marakopa are extras, There are the the Hauturu/Kaimango/Honikiwi roads if you dont mind gravel. Great views.

Had the country been lit up by the moon last night, I was going to return via Kaimango-Honokiwi roads. Would have been fantastic riding through the bush with the moonlight giving its eerie glow.

[awa355]

Kawhia can offer up some awesome moments for that memorable photo.

Nice photos. I think I have a photo of that sign with my bike in front of it somewhere.

[Swivel]

I am quoting from memory here, but I believe this chap was once a great Maori chief who was turned to stone and left to guard the valley behind him.


Long ago this rock TOKAHAERE was a human being; he was a man of this world and his home was at Titi-raupenga, that sharp-topped mountain which stands southward yonder, not far from the north-west side of Lake Taupo. (“A famous mountain that; it was a great place for birds—tui, korimako, kaka parrot, and koko or wood pigeon; all these we used to snare and spear there in great numbers and pot in their own fat, in totara-bark baskets.”) This man had a wife, and she was a most troublesome one. She had love affairs with the gallants of the tribe, she talked a great deal, and it was even said that she beat her husband. The husband, instead of silencing her with his stone club, as of course he should have done, decided to leave her. He set out to travel far away to the northward, to seek another home and a more pleasant wife. He travelled by night, and having supernatural means to aid him, he reached this Aotearoa country by dawn. But his wife's vengeance pursued him. She induced a powerful tohunga to bewitch her husband and the spell fell just when he reached this Manga-komua valley and he was turned to stone.
There are other stories told about Tokahaere but this is the story I know
This Rock is sacred to my ancestral land, my Marae's are not too far from there, Aotearoa Marae and Owairaka Valley-Rawhitiora Marae

[awa355]

Probably about time I bumped this thread along. Today's ride was a 'nothing' type of ride, but regardless of the drab weather, it was still good to get out.

I had it in mind to go over a few of the side roads between Te A and Raglan today. By 9.30 the cloud cover had not deepened so I decided what my flu and asthma combo really needed was a day out in the cold damp air.
After the Sunday run with the LOR riders, I had decided to run the tank down to the reserve to get an update on the range of the tank before needing reserve with the forth coming 1,000k ride in November looming. The tank is supposed to hold 6.9l main tank and a further 2.6l on reserve. With 221k on the trip meter I felt reserve was not too far away so filled the tank to be safe. 7.1l filled it, 31.1 kpl. Considering I pushed it harder on Sunday than I would if on my own, That’s not too bad. Riding by myself I tend to average 33kpl.

Back to the ride, cruised out past Pirongia and left onto the Te Pau road. From here, right onto Grove road. Usually lovely views from this road but everything above ground level was pretty much hidden by cloud. The rain never became more than a few localized light drizzly showers through out the ride. I have mentioned Grove road before, not super fast but 7k of dips and brows, left and right corners. You can have a ball without breaking the sound barrier. Back on Te Pau road I rolled along untill the Old Mountain Road turnoff. After 5k the gravel appears and this badly maintained road climbs over the Ahomiro saddle before dropping down into the Waitetuna Valley. The gravel has worsened a lot since I last rode this on my scooter. Corners are heavily corrugated and recent rain has left many deep potholes. Tried for a photo showing the surface but the roughness doesn’t show up.

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/1_4.jpg

You can see the boards along the road edge. Down the bank at this point is the poor mans rubbish tip. Infact, everywhere over the edges I looked had screeds of household rubbish.
Over the top and the countryside becomes mostly dry stock farmland, with small blocks of Pine trees.

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/mtrd%203.jpg

The anti tank blockades stem from the second world war. Put in place to stop those nasty Japs driving their tanks over to Rugby Park from Raglan, they must have worked. Very few tank tracks this side of the blocks.

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/mt%202.jpg

After passing through the lifestyle blocks that make up Waitetiuna, it was onto the main road and onto Te Uku. Turned right here onto Okete road. This is a loop road passing through dairy farmland that runs back from the main road to the upper reaches of the harbour. I stopped for a quick look at what could be seen of the harbour from the road.

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/2_7.jpg

None of today’s photos came out well. The light and cloud conditions saw to that, and I couldn’t be arsed messing about with the various options on the camera. Continuing along, some more gravel dropping down to a bridge over a small stream.

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/4_6.jpg

On this side of the bridge was a pump shed with an unusual tank beside it. I’m not sure what the purpose of it is, or what the tank may have been in a previous life.

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/3_5.jpg


From here, a short hop back onto sh23 and into Raglan. I turned down Lorenzen Bay road and ended up at the harbour’s edge where I parked up and had a bite to eat. Very pleasant and quiet.

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/5_4.jpg

None of my photos were able to be combined for a panarama shot, so all singles today.
After a rest up I rode back out to the main road and headed back. Turned into Okete road to re ride this stretch. I’m not sure why there is about 3k of gravel part way along a wide smooth well kept two laned sealed road. Part way along I turned onto Hauroto Bay road. This is gravel for about 5k untill reaching the shoreline of the upper harbour reaches. The tide was right in which hid the mudflats that make up so much of the harbour. Quite a pleasant spot to spend time.

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/6_2.jpg

A short spell and I headed out to the highway and a drizzly ride back home.
Nothing startling about this ride, the weather did not allow for good photos and nothing special to see, but every ride has it’s own special place .

[awa355]

Left home at 9am, the weather was looking a bit iffy, clouds seemed to be getting darker and heavier. As it turned out the sun broke through and the day was a goody. Te Pahu road was quiet and I rolled on through and had a brief stop at the junction with the main Raglan road.

I turned off onto the Te Mata road and had a brief stop at the village. Market day was in full swing.
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/Te%20Mata.jpg

Six of the cars were stall holders, the seventh was some poor sod who stopped to ask directions and got dragged into the hall. Leaving town before it was my turn, I took the Kawhia road to the Bridal Veil Fall's. 5 k's of nice sealed road then onto the gravel.

This section of Kawhia road has 'No Exit' signs at both ends of the gravel. Not having learnt to do a U turn without putting my foot down in my 47 years of riding, meant I had no option but too carry on. The no exit bit came from some deadly weather a few years ago from which slips had closed the road. It was good in places and very rough in others. Deep corrugations on the hills and corners. Some pleasant views tho'.

The country was in poor condition looking back towards Mt Karioi.
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/Kawhia%204.jpg

The other side of the road seemed to have been better developed. I spied this lovely piece of water. Not sure whether it is natural or man made.
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/Kawhia%201.jpg

The road climbs quite a way then drops down through a reserve before arriving at the head of the Aotea harbour.
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/gop%201.jpg

Well sign posted all the way.
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/gop%203.jpg

An old abandoned home.
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/Kawhia%203.jpg

At the junction of Kawhia rd (turn left and carry on through to Kawhia) and Te Papatapu road.
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/Kawhia%202.jpg

I have posted a photo of my 100cc scooter in the same place, in a scooter ride thread. Rolling along side the Aotea harbour, I stopped to try for a few photos but like the others, not so good due to the hazy atmosphere and cloudy sky.
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/Aotea.jpg

Te Papatapu road wasn't a heck of a lot better than the 'closed' section of Kawhia road and it was good to get back onto the sealed road. At Temata, the locals had another lost tourist in arm locks and were dragging him across the road towards the hall. I swung left onto Ruapuke road. This is a dream 8-9k of sweeping corners, rolling hills and the views wouldn't be bad either, if you had the time to take your eyes off the next cambered sweeper. At the end of the sealed road I practiced a u turn and re rode Ruapuke road. No traffic, it was a lovely run. Nothing else startling to mention, so I just cruised on back home. Got home at lunch time and had the afternoon to get the lawns mowed.

[eldog]

Nice ride report AWA
been a awhile since i was out that way, hadnt changed that much from the look of it.

I need some more gravel practise.:brick:

[MarkH]

Ah, the gravel roads around Raglan, brings back memories . . .

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-No9gBbwyYzE/Th0PvyT5tYI/AAAAAAAADLw/8j1itUkWEA8/s1152-Ic42/IMG_9016.JPG

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7deUmbUX2EI/Th0RXtK_brI/AAAAAAAADQw/1x4GMaGFQ3Y/s1152-Ic42/IMG_9412.JPG

I definitely remember Te Papatapu road being on the rally stages.
I might just have to take the DR650 for a blat around some of those roads one day!

[awa355]

My gopro footage really shows the corrugations up. I've done these roads on a scooter (10" wheels), and a cruiser. I wonder how an adventure bike would cope??;)

[Moi]

Nice read - I wonder if those lost tourists got away? Great photos...

Cheers

[awa355]

A side note to this post. In this still taken from the GoPro on the Ruapuke rd you can see an old brick house up on the right. In the early '60's, family friends moved to this farm from Putaruru.
On one visit ( 1964/5?)when I was about 12 or 13, the son of the family, Graham showed me his dads brand new Honda farmbike. I can remember it was an orange step through, possibly a CT90. Graham rode it around the house then gave me a turn. I got around one corner then promptly ran straight into a concrete post of the section fence. The headlight and brake lever were broken and something else was bent.

His dad, Stan Gimblet ripped shit out of me and his son. Geezus, I was frightened.

I had previously looked for the old Gimblet farm but never recognized the house until previewing the footage last night. The fence still appears to be standing.
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/Gimblets.jpg

[awa355]

I did not have the best of sleeps on the Friday night. The clock was reading 23:48 last time I remember looking at it, and 03:40 when I woke, knowing that was it for me. Got up and changed my mind once again about what I would wear, ignored all the advice from the pro’s and went with what I always end up wearing. I did swap the coffee for water tho’.
I arrived at the start to find one other couple there. Over the next 30 minutes the rest rolled in. I was eyeing all these late model 1,000+cc tourer's and sportster's and feeling a tad under done with my old XV250 Virago. My bike is 17 years old and the design goes back to the mid 1980’s. Lance was going to link up with me as it was his first long distance ride as well.
We left about 06:35 and headed out of Hamilton. SH1 through to south of Cambridge was endless roadworks with speed zones changing constantly from 50 to 80kph. From Karapiro on the road was good and I sat on a steady 100kph and watched the bigger toys rocketing past. I was thinking, this is going to be a ‘looong’ day. I knew the first stretch to Whakatane would seem the slowest on the 250 due to the open flat highways. Lance and I pulled up in Te puke to top up and watched all the skinflints who were too miserable to pay the $2 toll fee roll through town. I had thought that by then Lance and I would have been the TEC’s. From here, a short run out to the first photo checkpoint. A handful of riders were there so we got our photos.

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/te%20puke.jpg

Some of the riders at the Te Puke stop. From here it was a nothing section of road through to Whakatane, more roadworks on the hill to Ohope. Coming down the hill and the view over Ohope and the sea was beautiful. Unfortunately there was no time to stop for photos on this ride. The ride around the Wainui road was a pleasant one and soon into Opotiki to fill the tanks. A walk around and a sandwich then we headed off on what was now seeming like the ‘real ride’. I pulled up at one place to get a photo of the coastline looking back towards Opotiki.

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/ph%201.jpg


The road was fantastic to ride. The surface was in good shape and the 250 was enjoying the corners while going at 250cc speed I could look out over the sea and take in the wonderful views.

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/pic%203_1.jpg

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/pic%202_1.jpg

At Te Kaha we took a brief break, then carried on. I swung in past the old church to catch a view of it on the GoPro. The props against the walls would suggest the zealots from Wellington had been around.

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/1k%202-1.jpg


More glorious views of sea and coast ahead then at Cape Runaway we turned away from the coast and headed into the rolling hills leading across the cape to Hicks Bay. Climbing up to a small pull off overlooking the coast again at Hicks bay we had a quick stop.
I topped up the tank with the three litres from the tail bag and we enjoyed the view, the smell from the decomposing opossum carcase's, not so much.

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/Hicks%20bay.jpg

More hills and past the turn off to Te Araroa the road seemed to deteriate somewhat.
We must have been slow, the Mayfair store was closed and no one in sight as we pulled up for the 2nd checkpoint photo.

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/cp%202.jpg

Just as well we weren’t relying on their pumps being open, although there were pumps just down the road at the 4 square shop. Lance used one of his extra fuel cans to top up his tank, then we rolled on towards Gisborne. Any of these little settlements would be worth coming back to stay for a while. A lot of seaside camping at various places all the way around this coast.
About 15k out from Gisborne I felt the engine start to splutter so turned the fuel tap to reserve and cruised on till the BP stn on Ormond street. The tank on the virago holds 7.1l in the main compartment and a 2.6l reserve. It took 7.6l to fill and with the 3l put in at Hicks Bay, that was 10.6l used for the 336k from Opotiki. That’s a 31.6 k per litre consumption. The heaviest of the whole ride. I’m quite pleased with that. The little bike was working fairly hard on some of those hills.
From here we rode on til Ormond and located the next checkpoint. At this stage another two riders pulled up. They must have done a diversion along the way to have been behind Lance and I. There was some discussion as to whether we had the right sign or not. I’m sure one of the briefing notes had said Ormond rural pre school.

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/cp%203.jpg

Anyway this was going to have to do, then it was off to find this Waioeka Gorge thingy. What fantastic country through here.

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/waioeka%205.jpg

The late afternoon sun was low and right in front of us. This meant many corners were blacked out by the sun hitting my eyes on the approach. It also meant the GoPro got a lot of sun strike on the lens. I still came out with some lovely footage of the ride through the gorge.
On to Opotiki to top up (4.4l) and the sun was dropping quite low. I was quietly getting a bit concerned about our pace. We had only raked up a bit over 700k by then with still a long way to go. At this stage I was still feeling reasonably good and no nagging aches to speak of. I had been wearing foam ear plugs till now, and the pressure within my ears was starting to tell. I took them out for the rest of the ride and the extra wind noise was still easier to put up with.
Off towards the Rotoma’s and I felt we were back in familiar country and on the home stretch. It was twilight when we arrived at the Rotoma tree.

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/cp%204.jpg

Onwards we rolled. At the junction of sh33 &30, I hung a right then at the junction of 33 and Hamurama rd I pulled up to change my sunnies for clear glasses. Lance caught up and I said “You thought I’d taken the wrong road eh”. He said yes. The Tauranga signs would have given him that idea. The ride around Lake Rotorua was lovely. The sun was setting below the Mamaku ranges and the orange/red sunset glow in the sky and reflecting off the lake was beautiful. It was a distraction from the niggles that were setting in. Our pace, the eta to finish, cramp in my hips and clutch fingers were beginning to be an issue. On Otorua road I noticed I was not going through corners as well as I should have been. Over ran a couple and gave myself one or two wake up calls.
Out on the Mamaku highway I hit the meanest cloud of night insects I come across for many years. At Putaruru I scrubbed 7,648 of the kamakazi buggars off my visor. I also suggested to Lance that because of the lateness and the number of turns, different roads and him not knowing the unmarked roads in the Wharepapa district as I did, we should stick to the Arapuni – Kihikihi road. On this stretch, Lance had dropped behind somewhat and I waited for a while at Kihikihi before he came in view. Lance had gotten confused with the Owairaka Valley rd turnoff and had stopped to check his gps. At this point I had almost had enough riding. Without Lance being with me, I might well have turned right and been home in 5 minutes. Anyway we turned left and rode the longest 25k of my 47 years riding. It took a bit of double checking that we had the right Oto checkpoint.

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/cp%205.jpg

At this stage I decided that we would not make the 10pm finish and I could not see any logic in riding 30k past my home then riding 30k back again. Lance was confident of getting back to Hamilton from there, so we split up then. I would have the 1,000k racked up by then and if the organiser’s decided I didn’t qualify for the badge then at that point, I really wasn’t worried. It was so good to pull up at home and switch that motor off. The stillness and silence of the night was deafening.

A Summary; I am pleased that I had another rider with me. At Kihikihi, I would have most likely pulled the pin and gone home if on my own.
The Virago never missed a beat, and my average fuel consumption was 32.3k per litres from home to home. At 100 kph the engine speed is producing a massive 15 hp. For much of this ride my speeds were well under that. If I could get this motor in a sit up road bike type frame it would be a winner. The suspension is the weak point on this bike. Worn out rear shocks don’t make for fast hard cornering or make for a 1,000k a day tourer, yet it went bloody well for all that.
I ate my last snack bar and drank the last of the water at Gisborne and had nothing more after that. I could have stopped somewhere, but that would be more time taken up.
I would do this ride again but on a smoother faster bike. One that can power up any hill at any speed and make up time on the open road must make for an easier 1,000k day. Still, the bike is an air cooled single carb engine designed 28 years ago, I was designed 63 years ago and 1,000k day trips weren’t planned for back then, so the bike and I did not do too badly.
That’s my report for this ride. I enjoyed it far more the day after.

[awa355]

Mod's, I tried to enter this report as a blog from here but stuffed up somehow. Could someone sort it for me please.

I also doubled up on the church photo, I have replaced it with the correct photo in my ride report but can't seem to edit the blog version. Bloody newbies :brick:

[caspernz]

That’s my report for this ride. I enjoyed it far more the day after.

Well done having a crack at it. Plenty of learning done along the way by the sound of it. I'd guess if you're doing it again you'd stock up a little more on supplies, so your only stops would be for fuel. Quite apart from that, a slightly bigger/gruntier bike, as you already mentioned. And I agree that plenty of the places we scurried thru at pace on Saturday warrant a more leisurely once-over on another day.

[Moi]

Well done :niceone: - quite an achievement, as you say, on a "small" bike.

So, what is next on the "knock-it-off" list?

[awa355]

So, what is next on the "knock-it-off" list?

To ride from one end of Hamilton to the other end without running over a single manhole cover. A damn sight bigger achievement than riding a paltry 1,000 k.

[frogfeaturesFZR]

great writeup, cheers !:niceone:

[Nick from the nick]

Well done Arthur, great write up too :clap:

[awa355]

I decided to go looking for some photos of the sunrise and early morning scenes. The local Waikato Hydro lakes are some of the most scenic in the north island so it was up and away by 4.30am. Cruising along Owairaka Valley road, the night was clear and balmy. The first bug never found my visor untill Mangakino. At Wharepapa sth I switched on the GoPro and while the white edition has an inferior lens compared to the silver/black models (especially in low light), I hoped that as the horizon started to lighten up, I might get the odd still from the footage.
One of the night sky on the Waipapa rd.
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/6j%201.jpg

Another showing the deadly 65w light cutting a swathe through the night. A faint glow on the horizon showing the sun was stirring.
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/6j%202.jpg

At the Waipa dam I stopped hopeing to catch the first rays breaking across the lake, but I was still a bit early. I’ll post these two tho’.
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/20.jpg

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/6j%204.jpg


Carried on into Mangakino. Even at this hour, there were quite a few campers and boaties up and about. I took the Gopro off the bike and set it to the time lapse mode and placed it at an angle to where the sun was slowly climbing above the hills on the far side of the lake.
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/6j%205.jpg


There were a number of rowing crews out on the lake.
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/6j%206a.jpg


The Gopro recorded some 380 stills and I used the p&s camera to record other views of the lake. The lake was a bit busy for the photos I’d hoped to capture but being holiday time I should have expected this. Heading out of town and the sun was beginning to show itself.
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/6j%206b.jpg

Next stop was Lake Whakamaru, by the dam. Not a lot here that didn’t have the low sun straight into the camera so I rode around to the Ogaroto road and stopped at the first access to the lake edge.
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/6j%207.jpg

There were quite a few campers at various places along the designated reserves. The next is of the church camp. I stayed here one night many years ago in a cabin and had two fantastic days drifting along the lake edges in my dinghy fly fishing.
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/6j%208.jpg

Further along I turned right onto a forestry road which crosses the top end of Whakamaru lake to meet with Tirohanga road. An earlier report had a picture of Bill and I stopped on the bridge. Today, I took another photo as it was just so quiet and peaceful. Up stream in the direction of the Atiamuri dam.
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/6j%209.jpg

At SH1 I crossed the road and explored the Atiamuri dam and village. Good thing I did, I found an unknown fact concerning the local history. This area was founded by the “bloody Greeks”.
A Greek fella by the name of Atiamurius is supposed to have settled here some time ago. This is an early temple, hidden away in the blue gums.
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/6j%2010.jpg

Inside was an ancient concrete table, probably had a few virgins sacrificed on it in between bus arrivals
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/6j%2011.jpg


. Moving on, I stopped next at the top of the dam. Another lovely hydro lake surrounded by pines and hills.
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/6j%2012.jpg

The road wound around to a spot opposite to this view and I took a break to have a bite to eat. It was still only 08.15am. I had been going for almost 4 hours. Looking across the the power house with the local prominents rock outcrop behind. SH1 in in between the two features.
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/6j%2015.jpg

A brief ride past the houses showed a quiet well kept village. Most of the homes here would be left overs from the days of the Hydro power stn era.
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/6j%2017.jpg


Back at the highway, I choose to have a brief look at the Ohakuri dam before heading for home. I didn’t take many photos here as I had posted a few in my ‘Coast to coast’ scooter ride. Another scenic dam which I will re visit in the Autumn.
The river below the dam.
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/6j%2016.jpg

Back out on the highway I stuck to the main road back to Putaruru. The ride back was typical SH1, traffic and police cars. had a break at my sisters place then cruised back home arriving at midday.
Riding before sun up and heading in the direction of the sunrise was magic

[frogfeaturesFZR]

Thanks, magic photo's :2thumbsup

[MarkH]

There were quite a few campers at various places along the designated reserves. The next is of the church camp. I stayed here one night many years ago in a cabin and had two fantastic days drifting along the lake edges in my dinghy fly fishing.
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/6j%208.jpg

Further along I turned right onto a forestry road which crosses the top end of Whakamaru lake to meet with Tirohanga road. An earlier report had a picture of Bill and I stopped on the bridge. Today, I took another photo as it was just so quiet and peaceful. Up stream in the direction of the Atiamuri dam.
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/6j%209.jpg


This all looks so familiar, on Monday & Tuesday I was out that way!
I went for a ride to visit the geographical centre of the North Island and I spent the night in the Pureora forest.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-vWRRQpd6VWY/Vosx4jbo1GI/AAAAAAAAFDY/mJmgyVRZkdE/s1152-Ic42/DR650_3d.jpg

Only 300m, figured it was worth a short walk to see the survey marker:
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-j2Qfg37IaE8/Vosx82b_WmI/AAAAAAAAFDg/z8SxJ6P96Tk/s1152-Ic42/DR650_3e.jpg

My bed for the night (Piropiro Campsite):
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-n8f8VzLgzL8/VosyATTycBI/AAAAAAAAFDo/FKzuKwiZpPc/s1152-Ic42/DR650_3c.jpg

My DR650 camping vehicle in front of my bed for the night:
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-RXjAfeouAVQ/VosyFojMnTI/AAAAAAAAFDw/PRSNtDYydOk/s1152-Ic42/DR650_3a.jpg

I got a lot of gravel riding done, lots of fun.

[Moi]

Those photos bring back happy memories... used to stay with family friends at Karapiro and a day's outing was to drive the road that almost parallels the river and stop at the hydros...

In those days there was a pride in what the Electricity Department had done along the Waikato - it was for the good of the country...

[awa355]

This all looks so familiar, on Monday & Tuesday I was out that way!
I went for a ride to visit the geographical centre of the North Island and I spent the night in the Pureora forest.

Only 300m, figured it was worth a short walk to see the survey marker:

My bed for the night (Piropiro Campsite):

My DR650 camping vehicle in front of my bed for the night:


I got a lot of gravel riding done, lots of fun.

Thank God someone else has added their story to this thread. That hammock set up looks as complicated as setting up a tent. One advantage would be not having to find a flat floor space.

I have been meaning to ride in from the Bennydale end and come out at Tihoi. Years ago the Tokoroa YMCA held childrens camps at a camp at Pureora. My son and I tagged along once.

[MarkH]

That hammock set up looks as complicated as setting up a tent. One advantage would be not having to find a flat floor space.

Well, I never thought tents were particularly complicated so I don't have a problem with the setup of a hammock.
I've found several advantages and yes, not needing flat clean ground is a big one - uneven ground, rocks, vegetation, etc is not a big problem.
I've never had a good restful sleep on an inflatable pad in a tent, but I have managed that in a hammock, to me the comfort is the biggest advantage.

I slept in a hammock at the Cold Kiwi last year, I was warm and toasty! The frost on the tent only meant it was cold outside of my hammock!

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-tohHf3avhQc/Ve0tmLppHeI/AAAAAAAAE_Y/iqmBYuVJ0JU/s1032-Ic42/20150905_064740.jpg

That was a more complicated setup because the hammock was suspended from a hammock stand inside my very large tent (Redverz Expedition II with bedroom unclipped & removed).
Trees the right distance apart and using a tarp makes things much easier, the tarp is way smaller & lighter than my Redverz tent too.

[awa355]

I was just about to delete my surplus photos from this ride. There are a few more that I'll post here.

Mangakino Lake.

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/G0.jpg

Just as the first of the sun strikes the hills surrounding the village of Whakamaru.

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/2_8.jpg

The campground at the Whakamaru reserve, and the view across the lake.

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/7_2.jpg

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/3_6.jpg

Pohaturoa, Half a million years ago it was estimated as being twice as wide as it is today. It was formed before Lake Taupo but over time, erosion, the Waikato river and the Ministry of Works have eaten away at it.
There are whare sites, gardens, storage pits on the summit. History is fairly vague as to who the original inhabitants were.

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/5_5.jpg

For those interested, this is an article from the NZ Herald.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=168220

[awa355]

I had to get out of the house this morning while my wife got some sleep so decided to meander through some of the Sth Waikato roads. Cruising through Pukeatua I spied this Palamino horse standing by the rail fence in front of the Agapantha bushes. They are a nice looking animal and not too many around, so I snapped this shot.

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/1_9.jpg

Once over the dam I turned onto Darby, then Lake road. I dont think I cracked the 100kph mark anywhere. It was one of those lazy ride days. Right into Waotu sth road and climbed slowly up through some of the most scenic dairy country in the Waikato. Lots of pockets of native forest scattered across the rolling hills and gullys. I have posted photos of this district before and as the day was cloudy, I just kept cruising.

Back on Wilstdown road I pulled up to fit some ear plugs and thought this old whare has seen better days.

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/2_9.jpg

Another right turn and I was on Stringers road. This is a no exit road but has some lovely outlooks. I remember riding out to here on the pushbike as a kid. My mate and I were knackered by this time so we let a tyre down on the bike and phoned the old man from a farm house to come and get us. :innocent: , A view of the farmland from Stringers road.

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/3_7.jpg

I followed Wilstdown road out to Litchfield and just before the drop down to the Ngutuwera bridge there is a pull off on the left. Two memories spring to mind concerning this rest area.

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/5_6.jpg

One was of a night back in about 1971 when 4 of us young idiots were parked here in my old L15 Citroen drinking up large. There was a local hot chick in with us and Ronnie was doing his best to get her outside on the grass for a bang. Us others thought our Christmases were all coming at once. :woohoo: No more bullshit talk, this was the real thing. We were all looking for our second bonk (having given up waiting for our first). Unfortunately she didn't comply, however two days later she asked me if I'd like to take her out the following weekend. "Yea man!!" it was all on. Then later that week a mate told me that if Ronnie found out, he would kill me. Being a wimp, I backed out of the chance of a certainty (maybe).

Behind all the trees and rubbish at the far end of the photo used to be a quarry. It was still operating in the 1960's. It quarried the same type of stone as at the Hinuera Quarry. This was started because it was along side the railway line and when it started, (late 1870's) Litchfield was a thriving town with 16 residences, a hotel and a school with 5 pupils. The Rotorua rail line was going to branch off here, Putaruru only had two houses then. My father always said that the base blocks for the Dunedin railway station were quarried here. I'm not too sure if that is correct but the stone building known as the 'Bank' in Litchfield was build from stone from this quarry, as was much of the Palace for the Roman Catholic Bishop in Ponsonby built around 1891.

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/4_7.jpg


There are still two houses in Putaruru built of stone from this quarry.
All that is left is the mess of blackberry and trees where the quarry operated. After a stop in Putaruru I wound my way though the back roads to the Maungatautari road. Halfway between the Maungatautari school and the Karapiro complex there is a new lakeside reserve open which gives access to the lake.

A view from the lookout above the parking and picnic area.

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/10_1.jpg

It was a good run but I should have taken my lightweight gloves. The photos are not very sharp. I used a 2nd hand P&S camera that has manual settings which I am learning to use. The image quality is not as good as my regular camera.

[Moi]

:niceone:

Good way to spend a morning...

[philmc]

oh. reminiscing,if only we were young again.

[FLUB]

oh. reminiscing,if only we were young again.
With you there Phil.

[awa355]

Phil and I left town about 9:30am. We turned off SH3 at the Te Kawa crossroads and rolled along until turning left at the Oto-Kawhia junction. Right onto Waitomo Valley rd. No traffic to speak of, just a few unforgiving corners if you are day dreaming. :rolleyes: It was onto Fullerton road and apart from loose limestone chips on some corners this was a pleasant cruise with some nice views over the farmland.

Troopers road was next on the agenda and more of the same
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/pic%208.jpg

Back out on SH3 we rolled into PioPio hoping to find a park and get a coffee. Silly us, we had forgotten it was a holiday weekend!.

The PioPio CBD was chocka, Both tables were in use, the place was really humming.
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/pic%209.jpg

We did manage to collar a table eventually, and over a coffee discussed where to from here. We wanted to ride some secondary roads that were new to us so chose to take the Aria road then hang a left onto Kahuwera road and meander cross country to meet up with SH4 somewhere below the eight mile junction. I took the lead and turned left onto the Aria road. Phil with his GPS on the bike (admittedly turned off) promptly headed for New Plymouth. After some time he did show up and we were back on track. Kahuwera road is sealed and rolls through some nice country. Turned onto Tikitiki road and this ran along a wide flat basin for some distance. The surface was in good condition and we rolled along at a good clip.

Tikitiki road.
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/pic%202_2.jpg

The native reserve soon closed up to the road then back into farmland.
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/pic%206.jpg

Soon we hit SH4 and cruised along into Te Kuiti. We found our way through the streets and started up Walker road. This must be about 5 or more kilometers of steady uphill into the country between Te Kuiti and the Rangitoto hills. This is a beautiful piece of road. At the end we turned left onto Ngapeke road. Six kilometers of gravel then Tahia road. Unmarked but plenty of tight cambered corners until Otewa road. From there we took the highway back home.

I didn't bother stopping and taking photos. It was just too hot. I will include a short clip of Tikitiki road.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfNSxxZ-c9U

and because it is Sunday evening and there's nothing on tv worth watching, here's something else, also not worth watching. :no: the climb up Walker road from Te Kuiti.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jaa6fn1dgYo

[eldog]

Awa, hope you are writing a book on your travels for others to enjoy.

Opurare Rd next? I might be keen for that one.

[oldiebutagoody]

I thought I recognized that bike of yours as I passed the two of you going opposite direction today. Somewhere around Te Kuiti.......

I wondered if I would be world famous on Utube tonight. Alas not, as it must have been a boring road I was on.

Stunning ride up through from Wanganui to Auckland today, and Horopito/National Park/Taumaranui/Te Kuiti was just perfect in every way for riding today.:niceone:

If you missed me, I was on the red one...........:doh:

[awa355]

I thought I recognized that bike of yours as I passed the two of you going opposite direction today. Somewhere around Te Kuiti.......

I wondered if I would be world famous on Utube tonight. Alas not, as it must have been a boring road I was on.


If you missed me, I was on the red one...........:doh:

Which road, I video'd the whole ride from Fullerton road, (2hrs worth). Ya could be famous. :laugh:

[oldiebutagoody]

I cannot recall exactly,.........its a bit of a blur.

It was definitely you on that distinctive 250 cruiser, with a riding partner. "somewhere around Te Kuiti"-ish

Main highway SH4 only today for me.

[awa355]

I cannot recall exactly,.........its a bit of a blur.

It was definitely you on that distinctive 250 cruiser, with a riding partner. "somewhere around Te Kuiti"-ish

Main highway SH4 only today for me.

This chap was doing atleast 170k, Ya wouldn't know him would you?
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/red%20bike.jpg

I was returning to see what had happened to Phil. He was having visor troubles.

[oldiebutagoody]

Fair cop officer.............:Police::Police:

Seriously, yup thats me although I'm sure I never went faster than 80kmh the whole trip :oi-grr:.

Somehow I imagined I would look cooler on Youtube. :cold: It was a scorcher today was it not.

[eldog]

I was returning to see what had happened to Phil. He was having visor troubles.

In other words you got ahead of him and he was lost.... I know the feeling:laugh:

[oldiebutagoody]

I appreciate the effort you went to to find and post the picture. Cheers for that :-)

[awa355]

At 9.30 three of us left Te A still unsure whether the Gods would favour us or not. Out along the Puahue road then the Arapuni road. Through the village on onto the Old Taupo road. No traffic, clean dry surface and no cyclists to be dodging. We topped up in Tokoroa then cruised out towards Whakamaru. As Lance had already rode the distance down from Auckland, we decided take a break at Whakamaru.

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/08.jpg

From here we rode off to Kaahu road, again the road was all good. The farmland was far greener than the last time I rode this road. The volcanic rocks and outcrops give this land a distinctive appearance. A short burst along Poihipi and we turned right onto Marotiri road. Rolling hills, mature trees and well kept farms made for a pleasant run. Onto Waihora rd then Whangamata road. This passes through a lot of mature woodlots lining the roadsides. No photos from here as I was with others and didn't want to be stopping all the time. I will definately go back in the Autumn with the camera.
Back on Poihipi road briefly then onto Oruanui then Link road. It must have been a local 'keeping up with the Jones's ' day. All the lifestyle trendies were out on their ride on mowers. A boring stretch of SH1 then right onto Tutukau road. Down to the Orakei Karako park and a short break.

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/02.jpg

Back on the Tutukau road and a quick stop to view the Waikato river from the bridge.

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/03.jpg

Soon we were out on SH5 and in traffic. Pondering along we hung a left at the Waikite Valley turnoff.
Looking out across the valley, flanked by the Paeroa hills on the near side and the Horohoro hills on the far side.

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/04.jpg

I had remembered the sequence of roads I'd planned to follow from the map back home and managed to stick to the plan. Through the village of Ngakuru, 2nd right onto Twist, then onto Bryce road. This is a magic piece of road. If travelling between Rotorua and Taupo with a bit of time to spare, try this route.

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/05.jpg

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/06.jpg

A good surface, heaps of corners, nice views. Bryce ends at the Rotorua end of the Upper Atiamuri road. From here we filtered into the traffic flow through to Ngongotaha to re fuel and have a light snack. After this it was a regular ride back over the Mamaku's and home.

Phil and I did just under 400k's and Lance covered about 600k. Some new roads for all of us, The weather played ball and we had a good day's ride. Whangamata road had the more scenic views, and the biggest butterflys in the country. Our visors were a mess after these roads. Bryce road had the biggest fun factor. Flip flopping through the corners bought out the smiles.

[awa355]

Popped up town for an ice cream yesterday afternoon. Got lost and finished out Mahihi way. I rode various roads including Lurman, Paewhenua and Otewa roads.

The Waipa river was looking a lot better than my previous ride here.
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/Waipa%201.jpg

A bit further along looking across the river.
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/Waipa%202.jpg

Onto Tahaia road then Whawharua road where I found this old girl put out to pasture.
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/Resting%20up.jpg

Old Tekuiti road was next and I tried out the extended zoom at a lower resolution on this old farm house way off in the distance.
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/DSC05424.jpg

A couple of locals checking me out.
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/DSC05427.jpg

Back on SH3 and into the Big Apple roadside market for my ice cream at last.
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/DSC05434.jpg

Back down to the Waitomo road and ya wouldn't believe it!! The biggest turkey I've ever seen :gob:

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/Turkey%201.jpg
"Honest maw,, it was this beegg" Yes dear, I'm sure it was, now go take your meds".

You could just about put a name to this face.
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/Turkey%202.jpg

From here I explored a no exit road off Haurua road then cruised on back through the back roads to home.

A 'nothing much' ride but was still time out riding.

[Swivel]

Awesome photos and tour reports. Always look forward to the updates.

[awa355]

My wife was sleeping this morning after a night shift so to keep from waking her, I started up the bike in the shed and after warming it up blatted down the drive and away. I took the back roads to Tekuiti and got there as the sun was rising above the hills.

Tekuiti, always looks picturesque.
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/01_1.jpg

Took the highway to Piopio and found the Mangaotaki road. This heads out into the back country in the hills between Piopio and the Marakopa-Awakino districts. A new road for me and what a neat piece of country to ride through.

The Mangaotaki stream.
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/02_1.jpg

Steep bluffs with the characteristic rock formations of this part of the country.
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/03_1.jpg

The road runs along side the Mangaotaki stream with the steep bluffs on both sides.
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/04_1.jpg

And through the Waitanguru reserve. A sign pointed out a walkway to the Waitanguru Falls. A short walk down a well made path bought me to a lookout at the falls. A lovely waterfall cascading over the layer'd rocks.

The falls. Probably about 25 metres high?.
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/05_1.jpg

After catching my breath back up at the park area I carried on a few more k's untill the seal ran out. I thought about carrying on around to the Ngapaenga road and back to the Mairoa road. About 17k of gravel, but decided I needed a coffee after my climb up from the falls, and the 23k's of Mangaotaki rd was just too good not to ride again so did a u-turn and cruised back to Piopio. I will come back to this road when I upgrade my camera. I could spend a day along here. I must have taken 30 photographs of the scenery over this 23k.

After a coffee and bite to eat, I stuck to SH3 for a while then turned right onto Tikitiki road. About 6k along and hung a left onto Nohonoa road. Gravel but super smooth and so easy to ride. Left again onto Tuhua road, more of the same. The flats were lush green dairy farms with much of the hillsides covered with native forest.

Saw this old house and decided to have a poke around.
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/06_1.jpg

It was quite eerie, only a front to rear passage with a single room each side.
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/07.jpg

The passage walls probably had scrim over the boards with newspaper between. The dates would suggest this home went up about 1935.
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/08_1.jpg

Just down the road and before connecting with SH4, is the site of an early historic Mission. The Whakatumutumu Mission. Frederick Miller and his wife came up the Mokau river and chose the highest hill to base his Mission on in 1840. He died in 1848 and is buried right at the top of the hill. You can see the cross on your left, just past the Tuhua rd junction if travelling north.

This must have been the latest in a long line of swing bridges over the years.
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/09.jpg

A maximum of five people, or one fat motorcyclist, ;) The bridge was bowed before I stepped onto it Honest!.
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/10_2.jpg

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/11_1.jpg

I will go back and do the climb up to the grave of ole Frederick Miller some day. He must have been really dedicated to his cause. The local Maori's accepted him and after he died, they escorted his widow and child back to Auckland. Not sure if anyone else ran the Mission after him but successive generations of local Maori tended his grave, a nice gesture.

From here a straight run back to Tekuiti then Oparure/Fullerton/Waitomo roads home. If you are in Piopio and have spare time, ride the Mangaotaki road. The scenery is worth it.

[frogfeaturesFZR]

great photos, great write up. Thanks :2thumbsup

[Motu]

You could've detoured down Pomarangi Rd, really nice country in there, but that road is scary narrow.

http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af212/bmwr65/2015-12-28%2012.18.29_zps1azhfvqh.jpg

[awa355]

You could've detoured down Pomarangi Rd, really nice country in there, but that road is scary narrow.

Don't worry, I've cover that road before, back in 1973. and again in 2010?. I had a CBF250 then and my riding offsider was on his K1100. We came in from the Marakopa end. Grass along the centre and ponga fronds brushing the helmets.

[Moise]

Every few months I try to ride down to Kawhia for a fish and chips lunch. That's the excuse anyway, the ride is always the most fun part.

So I headed down that way last Saturday, but I was late leaving home and the long weekend traffic out of Auckland slowed me down at first. I normally go down what was SH22, but the middle part is a real mess, so I went all the way to Huntly power station, then right onto Hetherington Rd.

There are some typical North Waikato views from the road and I stopped and took this photo.

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160424/671d77124c610e82bae458ec68abf152.jpg

SH22 to the Raglan turnoff is a bit of a pain after being resealed, as there is still some loose metal between the car tyre tracks. After a couple of slides, I dialed it back a little.

Stopped for a coffee and pie at Te Uku, then decided it was getting a bit late to carry on to Kawhia and make it back to Auckland. So I did the tourist thing and went to the Bridal Veil falls for the first time for ages.

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160424/68df2d3540618b84196ef69ee5ab9380.jpg.

Not much water though, but worth the walk.

Rode back to Ngaruawahia through Waingaro, fun ride and almost no traffic. Then the slog back to Auckland...

[eldog]

My wife was sleeping this morning after a night shift so to keep from waking her, I started up the bike in the shed and after warming it up blatted down the drive and away.

And through the Waitanguru reserve. A sign pointed out a walkway to the Waitanguru Falls. A short walk down a well made path bought me to a lookout at the falls. A lovely waterfall cascading over the layer'd rocks.

The falls. Probably about 25 metres high?.
I will come back to this road when I upgrade my BIKE
After a coffee and bite to eat,

A maximum of five people, or one fat motorcyclist, ;) The bridge was bowed before I stepped onto it Honest!.

From here a straight run back to Tekuiti then Oparure/Fullerton/Waitomo roads home. If you are in Piopio and have spare time, ride the Mangaotaki road. The scenery is worth it.

You forgot she was sleeping in the shed!
Waitanguru Falls I think that's on my list.... Waterfalls.co.nz?
its leaving stuff on the bike while I take a detour that makes me nervous - so now it's backpack able. Trouble living in Papakura you never can trust anyone.

Fixed ya camera for ya.

should have ridden the bike over the bridge.

yes quite nice all those areas. Hard living though in the 30's

[eldog]

Don't worry, I've cover that road before, back in 1973. and again in 2010?. I had a CBF250 then and my riding offsider was on his K1100. We came in from the Marakopa end. Grass along the centre and ponga fronds brushing the helmets.


Another road for the cruiser? Just a little gravel, :sweatdrop

[awa355]

You forgot she was sleeping in the shed!
Waitanguru Falls I think that's on my list.... Waterfalls.co.nz?
its leaving stuff on the bike while I take a detour that makes me nervous - so now it's backpack able. Trouble living in Papakura you never can trust anyone.

Fixed ya camera for ya.

should have ridden the bike over the bridge.

yes quite nice all those areas. Hard living though in the 30's


I carried my jacket and helmet down the pathway and stashed them out of sight. Out there, I figured that it would be damn unlucky to have thieves passing by in the short time I was away.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCJYVR0TJE4&feature=youtu.be

[eldog]

I carried my jacket and helmet down the pathway and stashed them out of sight.
Cant attach helmet securely to my bike - no D ring
jacket has plenty of vents so leave on.
I only have a Tshirt/upants on underneath my gear..... I may get arrested.
Certainly won't win any wet Tshirt contests;)
OK looks like enough water to wash the bike.

Better off videoing same sequence with a clip with just the whole of the falls.
I wonder what it's like under the falls
No sound though?

[MarkH]

I was inspired, so I took the DR650 for a ride, went to Bridal Veils Falls, along some gravel to Kawhia and then along a fun winding road to Otorohanga and back home.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6OVzA5NokFU/Vx3I_o15MZI/AAAAAAAAFJI/TJTcCjLiNOM9gttF0pTajS7EeOc7ZyKIgCCo/s720/BridalVeilFalls02.jpg

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-fzsH8N0E86U/Vx3JAWCogkI/AAAAAAAAFJI/WNwQdEiQ-kk0OVPcnecYzKWakFw4XO7UwCCo/s720/BridalVeilFalls01.jpg

[eldog]

I was inspired, so I took the DR650 for a ride, went to Bridal Veils Falls, along some gravel to Kawhia and then along a fun winding road to Otorohanga and back home.
Nice pictures!

[Moise]

Nice pictures!

Yeah, a bit more water after the rain.

For a longer ride back, you can turn right about 15 minutes from Kawhia. Takes you south around the harbour, then you come out somewhere near Te Kuiti. Also a fun ride!

[awa355]

Every few months I try to ride down to Kawhia for a fish and chips lunch. That's the excuse anyway, the ride is always the most fun part.

So I headed down that way last Saturday, but I was late leaving home and the long weekend traffic out of Auckland slowed me down at first. I normally go down what was SH22, but the middle part is a real mess, so I went all the way to Huntly power station, then right onto Hetherington Rd.

There are some typical North Waikato views from the road and I stopped and took this photo.



SH22 to the Raglan turnoff is a bit of a pain after being resealed, as there is still some loose metal between the car tyre tracks. After a couple of slides, I dialed it back a little.

Stopped for a coffee and pie at Te Uku, then decided it was getting a bit late to carry on to Kawhia and make it back to Auckland. So I did the tourist thing and went to the Bridal Veil falls for the first time for ages.



Not much water though, but worth the walk.

Rode back to Ngaruawahia through Waingaro, fun ride and almost no traffic. Then the slog back to Auckland...


I was inspired, so I took the DR650 for a ride, went to Bridal Veils Falls, along some gravel to Kawhia and then along a fun winding road to Otorohanga and back home.



My waterfall was bigger than your waterfall's :pinch: Good to see others out and stopping to enjoy the views. I reckon the Bridal Veil falls have about 270 steps going down and 300 steps coming back up. Leaving your gear safe is the biggest hassle with visiting these places.

I have this weekend off but wont make any plans just yet.

[awa355]

eldog, Here's a link to some NZ waterfalls photography. One section of this chaps photography site. Something for me to aspire to when the new camera arrives. Some of these waterfalls, I had never known existed.

http://www.stewartwatsonphotography.com/waterfalls-and-streams.html

[eldog]

Looked at the website some nice photos there.....

i did did once get interested in photography, back in the day with Fuji 800 grade film and waiting to see how it would all come out. Some real good shots of USA etc.

then camera was stolen in burglary. Lost interest and only take a few shots here and there. Did revive a little of that time a while back with a fellow KB member but things have moved on.:violin:

back to taking the odd shot with phone as you do.

once I get a few more things sorted (there is a long list but I am punching through them) then you may see me take a few more pics when we stop.

Have planned to visit a few waterfalls/natural bridges etc down your way Awa, but I haven't really been in the mood to get much further along with the planning stage.

i don't mind travelling with you (and others) if you want to stop and take pics that's fine, as long as I have time, I would do the same. Just need to plan the route to give as much time at the stops as we can.

[fxxk]

I've got a few waterfalls in mind that should be quite good to check out, one is even up towards Auckland :p

Any rides this weekend?

[eldog]

I've got a few waterfalls in mind that should be quite good to check out, one is even up towards Auckland :p

Any rides this weekend?
Can't this weekend double booked myself already:Oops:.
will scrape by, just.

unless it's a mint ride, need a week to try and get time off. Busy time

[awa355]

I decided I would take a run down to Taupo and see the sidecars in action. It would be a chance to ride a couple of roads between Whakamaru and Taupo that I had not ridden before. I was cruising up the climb to Wharepapa south past a deer farm, when I spotted a stag on top of a rocky peak. Hit the brakes and walked back down the road hopeing the deer hadn't moved. There was a fair bit of roaring going on so I'm assuming the deer was a stag with his antlers removed.

He was still there.
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/DSC06362.jpg

A closeup photo.
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/DSC06359.jpg

At Wharepapa, I turned right and rode Seafund rd then left onto Bayley road. All these roads are in brilliant shape. The Autumn colours of the trees amidst the pockets of native bush on the hill sides made for lovely scenes. On the Ngaroma road I stopped and crossed a paddock to a rocky peak to try for a 'non roadside' photo.

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/ngaroma%20b.jpg

If you use your imagination here, you could almost see a goat's head within the rock on the right.
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/ngaroma%20c.jpg

Further on past Ngaroma on Wairehi road I found this old Fordson on the roadside. Looked like it had been here for a while, but I have not noticed it before. Riding this road is bliss. One corner after another.
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/Wairehi%20rd.jpg

At Whakamaru I found a picnic area a side road off Kaahu rd. Went cross country on the bike and stopped to try for a photo from a different angle to my other efforts.
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/L%20Whakamaru%201.jpg

Kaahu road.
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/Kaahu%20rd.jpg

Once on Poihipi rd I turned onto Marotiri, Waihora then Otake roads. Otake was a new road for me. Part way along one farm had scattered Bluegums covering the paddocks. Looked quite nice. Looking towards a big puddle in the background.
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/DSC06433.jpg

Whangamata road lead back onto Poihipi and I refueled in Taupo. Found the sidecar mob and enjoyed listening to the sounds and sights. They were having an open day for the public to have a go as swingers. Everyone from oldies to kids were having a ball.
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/DSC06440.jpg

From here I found my way to the lower lookout below the Aratiatia dam.
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/Aratiatia%20dam.jpg

Back at the dam, I decided against waiting for the gates to open (spectacular water flows) and crossed the dam to find SH1. A short way along, I turned left onto Link road, right onto Oruanui road. Some lovely Autumn colours along side the road. Next turnoff was Forest road. A new road for me. This is a great road, sealed (which I had thought it wasn't) wide and runs through to Mokai.

Forest road farm land.
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/Forest%20rd.jpg

For some reason this photo came out quite dark. Turn right at Tirohanga road and along to the Galaxy road bridge to cross the Waikato river. Ongaroto road got me back to Whakamaru where I had my first coffee break for the ride. From here, I re-traced my route through the Ngaroma district. This was magic. No hard out speed, just a steady rolling through the corners, the ride just flowed. The late afternoon sun on the hills, this was why I own a motorbike. The rest of the world just disappeared.
Back home, the trip meter showed 347k for the ride.

If you want an alternative route from Taupo to Whakamaru via Poihipi rd, try this route. Poihipi-Oruanui-Forest-Tirohanga roads. From this junction either right towards Atiamuri or/and cross the river to Ongaroto road, or left back to Poihipi/Tihoi road.

[Moi]

Did you have a go as 'swinger'?

As always, brilliant photos - like the one of Whakamaru and the blue gums on the farm. Good time of the year for photography, not that summer harshness of light and the deciduous trees are coming into their splendor...

[awa355]

Did you have a go as 'swinger'?

.

Years ago I wanted to, but my wife wouldn't have a bar of it,,,:( oh you mean the side car??. I thought about it.Not agile enough these days. :weep:

[fxxk]

Coming from Tokoroa towards whakamaru turn left before the Dam and follow that road for about 500m -1km and turn onto the gravel road, it's a camping spot opposite the rocky hill across the lake, great photo opp. Or stay on that road, has a few great scenic corners

[eldog]

That's great eyesight and hearing to spot that dear. Tagged and released.

from Aratiatia take the road east to View Rd, Broadlands Rd, Vaile Rd, see if you can stop off at Reporoa Superette for a milkshake:niceone:

Sidecars, you would have been fine as a swinger:scratch:

i forgot about this and then found I had something else booked.
Will keep an eye out. Fitness needs to improve.

[awa355]

Coming from Tokoroa towards whakamaru turn left before the Dam and follow that road for about 500m -1km and turn onto the gravel road, it's a camping spot opposite the rocky hill across the lake, great photo opp. Or stay on that road, has a few great scenic corners

That's a great campsite. Next spring, I intend to camp there and spend a day riding the cycle track the length of the lake, with my camera. Going slow is the secret to spotting those opportunities.

321294

[Maha]

That's a great campsite. Next spring, I intend to camp there and spend a day riding the cycle track the length of the lake, with my camera. Going slow is the secret to spotting those opportunities.



Can be an awesome spot, even in murky conditions. Photo taken in July last year.

[awa355]

It has been fun, but with the bike now sold my riding days are pretty well done. I enjoyed posting up the photos and stories.
Perhaps someone else will take up this thread, I hope so.

Cheers, :bye::bye::bye:

[Motu]

This has been a great thread, I've enjoyed all your wanderings, and it's given me an incenntive to explore east of SH1...I've always thought it was just boring flat land and straaight roads. So, why have you sold the bike ?

[awa355]

So, why have you sold the bike ?

Retirement from work and looking at a much reduced income.

[eldog]

This has been a great thread, I've enjoyed all your wanderings, and it's given me an incenntive to explore.

Me too.

Enjoyed every moment whether riding with or reading Awa's blogs.

just don't give your gear away just yet......

[Madness]

Thank you awa355 for this thread and for sharing your adventures with us. For me your posts have shown to remind me what beauty exists in our countryside sub-102 km/hr.

I hope this isn't really the end.

[Moi]

I too, as others have said, will miss your ride reports and photos. Thank you for taking the time to put the reports and photos together. All the best for your retirement. Cheers.

[frogfeaturesFZR]

all the best Arthur, hope you win Lotto, and buy your dreambike !
Thanks for all the ride reports.

[Ocean1]

Thank you awa355 for this thread and for sharing your adventures with us. For me your posts have shown to remind me what beauty exists in our countryside sub-102 km/hr.

I hope this isn't really the end.

Me too. Thanks for showing us your back yard, sad that there isn't room for more rides in your life just when you have more room to fit them in.

All the best, and I really hope you get a chance to add to this thread.

[Motu]

Retirement from work and looking at a much reduced income.

Coming to me soon too, and decisions will have to be made, and a shed cleaned out. Despite what younger generations think, not all Baby Boomers are going to reitre millionares.

[Conquiztador]

Someone said: "You don't stop riding when you get old, you get old when you stop riding..."

[SaferRides]

I drove back from Taupo to Auckland this afternoon. I am completely over SH1 and SH27 / SH2, so when Google Maps suggested a route through Whakamaru, and Te Awamutu, I thought, why not.

Very enjoyable drive from Taupo to Te Awamutu. Would be fun on a bike, especially Waipapa Road.

The distance was actually less than SH1, and I doubt it took any longer given all of the roadworks on SH1 at the moment.

[Blackbird]

Our Central North Island IAM group had a cracker of a ride through the Waikato back roads in January. We really are blessed with some stunning roads with virtually no traffic. This is the route we took on Google Maps : https://goo.gl/maps/AcSWHhstJHF2

[awa355]

Wow, useage of the ride/Tour reports have died off. I still recognize a number of names after three years.

[caseye]

Wow, useage of the ride/Tour reports have died off. I still recognize a number of names after three years.

Hey Ya awa355, still got those gloves I picked up from you in TA all those years ago.
How's it all going?
:2thumbsup

[Murray]

hi Arthur?? been a while some of us still visit and occasionally catch up with some long time friends. cheers

[awa355]

Murray, caseye, good to know you are still around. Retired, and loving it. Everyday is a weekend. Taking photos is my enjoyment now. Local sports, widelife etc. Healthwise, hasn't been great for those around me. Cancer has attacked my wife, taken one sister, with another on her way out.

I'm still ticking along but sad to see so many from way back to now falling by the way.

[slofox]

I'm still around too although I did sell the bike recently. Due to lower income and just plain not being able to afford the bike. Bugger, eh?

[awa355]

I'm still around too although I did sell the bike recently. Due to lower income and just plain not being able to afford the bike. Bugger, eh?

Are you still in the same place Jan? I have been past your area a few times and wondered if you were in the same unit, with the steep hillside.

[slofox]

Are you still in the same place Jan? I have been past your area a few times and wondered if you were in the same unit, with the steep hillside.

Yep - still here.