Re-cycled
20th May 2004, 14:57
Chook Chasers Delight
I wrote this note to record my Sunday (16th May 04) ride on my DR650 down the length of the West Coast (Manawatu/ Kapiti) beaches and thought others might also find interest in it. This is something Scrosser and I had been talking of doing for more than a year now, based on an idea originally floated by 4skins.
The beach trip was a superb day out, we did more than I had imagined might be possible. Scrosser came with a workmate Ken on an XT600. Ken's last experience on sand had been in the Sahara on a Norton ! And Andy from Levin joined us too which was a bonus as he has a lot of off road experience (and we got cream scones for morning tea when we called to collect him!)
We hit the beach at Himitangi and went all the way up to Tangimoana, nosing up the river estuary til it got too muddy. Then we returned south all the way back to Foxton where there was no choice but to nip back through the town to get over the Manawatu. Down to Waitarere, then back up to the Manawatu river mouth so we didn't miss any out, and south again all the way to Otaki. A bigger-than-the-rest river crossing at Ohau, I walked it to check the depth and it was enough to fill my boots, but that was a small sacrifice to make.
Andy led us up the stop bank to the bridge at Otaki and we got back on the beach at Te Horo, again running back up to the river mouth so as not to miss anything. There were lots of stony ridges across the sand up that part, but with Andy to show me how I soon got the hang of rocketing across them. That was a good learning experience for me.
Then we were off southwards again and didn't come 'ashore' until Raumati, by which time there were heaps of walkers on the beach and we were getting some disdainful looks from some. But I loved the old lady on a mobility scooter, ploughing along a couple of K's to the North of Waikanae village - you had to admire her spirit.
The Waikanae river was a major obstacle, must have been 50 m wide or more and no ripples to indicate shallows. But I had stayed in my wet socks with such a need in mind and I waded in again. Most of it was knee deep but no more, and with a firm bottom, so having checked that the spark plugs were somewhat higher than that we set sail. We should have some good pics from that bit, between us.
So, a complete success really and a ride to look back on for some time to come. At one point Scrosser was flagged down by a Maori fellow who told him it was a private beach and they didn't want the likes of us on it. If we weren't off it within 15 minutes we would have a bunch of Maoris after us. He headed off northwards in a van, and we figured we were getting off it anyway by progressing on south. I told the guys if there was any more such nonsense I'd speak with them, as I reckon I'm 'tangata whenua' in that area. Just a bit of silliness really, but I had half expected something of the kind.
Altogether a grand day out and it brought back memories of riding the 90 Mile Beach around 1990, on one of my first adventure ride experiences. It was quite similar on the local coast really, with the beach stretching off into the distant haze and 100 kph well within the comfort zone when no one was about (and it’s legal, there are open road speed limit signs here and there along the beaches).
I wrote this note to record my Sunday (16th May 04) ride on my DR650 down the length of the West Coast (Manawatu/ Kapiti) beaches and thought others might also find interest in it. This is something Scrosser and I had been talking of doing for more than a year now, based on an idea originally floated by 4skins.
The beach trip was a superb day out, we did more than I had imagined might be possible. Scrosser came with a workmate Ken on an XT600. Ken's last experience on sand had been in the Sahara on a Norton ! And Andy from Levin joined us too which was a bonus as he has a lot of off road experience (and we got cream scones for morning tea when we called to collect him!)
We hit the beach at Himitangi and went all the way up to Tangimoana, nosing up the river estuary til it got too muddy. Then we returned south all the way back to Foxton where there was no choice but to nip back through the town to get over the Manawatu. Down to Waitarere, then back up to the Manawatu river mouth so we didn't miss any out, and south again all the way to Otaki. A bigger-than-the-rest river crossing at Ohau, I walked it to check the depth and it was enough to fill my boots, but that was a small sacrifice to make.
Andy led us up the stop bank to the bridge at Otaki and we got back on the beach at Te Horo, again running back up to the river mouth so as not to miss anything. There were lots of stony ridges across the sand up that part, but with Andy to show me how I soon got the hang of rocketing across them. That was a good learning experience for me.
Then we were off southwards again and didn't come 'ashore' until Raumati, by which time there were heaps of walkers on the beach and we were getting some disdainful looks from some. But I loved the old lady on a mobility scooter, ploughing along a couple of K's to the North of Waikanae village - you had to admire her spirit.
The Waikanae river was a major obstacle, must have been 50 m wide or more and no ripples to indicate shallows. But I had stayed in my wet socks with such a need in mind and I waded in again. Most of it was knee deep but no more, and with a firm bottom, so having checked that the spark plugs were somewhat higher than that we set sail. We should have some good pics from that bit, between us.
So, a complete success really and a ride to look back on for some time to come. At one point Scrosser was flagged down by a Maori fellow who told him it was a private beach and they didn't want the likes of us on it. If we weren't off it within 15 minutes we would have a bunch of Maoris after us. He headed off northwards in a van, and we figured we were getting off it anyway by progressing on south. I told the guys if there was any more such nonsense I'd speak with them, as I reckon I'm 'tangata whenua' in that area. Just a bit of silliness really, but I had half expected something of the kind.
Altogether a grand day out and it brought back memories of riding the 90 Mile Beach around 1990, on one of my first adventure ride experiences. It was quite similar on the local coast really, with the beach stretching off into the distant haze and 100 kph well within the comfort zone when no one was about (and it’s legal, there are open road speed limit signs here and there along the beaches).