Highlander
30th September 2006, 12:09
To celebrate my 500th post...
The designated day dawned clear, after weeks of anticipation it was finally here :banana: . A real assortment of 11 machines, all tanked up and rearing to go gathered in anticipation of an 0830 start, picking up the 12th bike on our way through Katikati made for a group of 14 all up.
We fell into formation and took the scenic Old Tauranga road past Waihi and on toward Paeroa. After a brief fuel stop at Ngatea we flicked right and took in the Western side of the Firth of Thames past Miranda, Kaiaua and stopped at Cleveden for a debate about where to next, which turned out to be another fuel stop at Papakura before hitting the infamous Auckland Motorway system (first time on a bike for some of us). On the way between Kaiaua and Cleveden we were amused to see a large group of scooters (I’m no authority on the subject but it looked like a Vespa club or something), good on them, they are on two wheels, out there, and doing it.
An uneventful length of the Auckland Motorway system led us over the harbour bridge and on through the North Shore, and to our next stop for a latish lunch at Waiwera. Well, for most of us anyway. A little bit of communication breakdown here, the two guys at the front ended up having lunch at Warkworth (oops). They waited there while the rest of us caught up and we gathered for a fuel stop.
The day had developed into a cloudless scorcher of a day that put us in good stead for the rest of the trip, as we progressed on Highway 1 to regroup on the outskirts of Whangarei. I was doing my bit for the team by cruising along slow enough to allow the others time for a break while I caught up (being too cheap to run the risk of impromptu donations to the roadside tax collectors).
Next stop was the public conveniences at Kawakawa. What a neat project. We were pleasantly surprised at the lack of tagging and general vandalism that they had suffered, well done. Didn’t feel right taking the camera in so only took a couple of photos from the outside. Well worth the detour and stop if you’re up that way.
The day was to end at Paihia where we checked in to the backpackers we were booked in to and walked down the road to feed the worms that were starting to bite. We had had a good ride and a great day for it, couple of degrees cooler would have been nice but I am not complaining.
Day 2
Another cracker of a day, not a cloud in the sky. No plans had been made, this was to be a free day to explore and do the touristy thing, spending a second night in Paihia at Captain Bob’s (shameless plug, great place. Look it up if you’re staying up that way).
Some of the group were keen to do the ferry across to Russell and go see Kerikeri and the likes but a couple of us were keen to make a push for the top. So we did.
Two bikes and off we went, running along SH10 up round the Eastern side of the land with some very pleasant roads and most impressive views out over the bays and townships scattered along the way. We stopped to fill up the tanks and tums at Awanui before the final run to Cape Reinga. I hadn’t been up this far up, and heard a rumour that the road had now been sealed right to the cape. I am now in a position to confirm it is a rumour, the last 20Km was gravel and we could see no signs of that changing in the near future. Having never really ridden in gravel I was a little apprehensive but soon got into the swing of it. Really just a matter of being relaxed and letting the bike move around under you while gently guiding it where you want to be (not the most technical explanation). What a neat road. Open enough to have to consciously hold the speed down, bendy enough to be fun, no serious hills – more gently undulating. After doing the photo thing at the lighthouse (as you do) we headed back to Kaitaia the way we had come stopping to top off on the tanks before heading through the scenic, bendy Awaroa road to via Broadwood and the Mangamuka road to rejoin SH1 at the Mangamuka bridge and back to Paihia. Timing was perfect, we got back to the backpackers and took off our helmets and jackets as the others arrived back from their looking around at Kerikeri.
Another glorious day, another 470Km. Looking around the table as we had dinner at a café down the road you could see happy looks on the faces as we all started to succumb to the creeping tiredness.
Day 3
:sunny: :sunny: :sunny: Another pearler. We all packed up the bikes again and prepared to head off. My turn to lead, and what do you know the first corner I head right when we should have gone left (:Oops: ), I don’t think anyone was too upset though:spanking: , it was great day for a ride, and the road was quite interesting, besides we were only 50km the wrong way before anyone pointed out my error and we doubled back. So there we were 150 km later we got to where we wanted to be back at the Mangamuka bridge heading to the ferry across the Hokianga Harbour to Rawene. Strangely enough I didn’t get invited to lead again, which is fine by me I’d rather be near the back of the group anyway (because I ride like a nana).
After lunch at Opononi we continued on down Highway 12, stopping at Tane Mahuta (Big old Kauri Tree) then on to Dargaville. Yet another awesome road and a brilliant day for it. We made a stop at Brynderwyn to regroup and headed to Hatfields Beach where we had our nights accommodation booked at the Marco Polo backpackers (another top place to stay, they even came in to Orewa and picked us up after we had walked in for dinner).
We were running a little later than we intended as the darkness was creeping (probably on account of having taken the “scenic route” in the morning). Speed was edging upward but settled pretty quickly when we rounded a corner and two of our guys were stopped just in front of a car with red and blue lights flashing in the back window.
Day 4
This one was a bit foggy at first but soon burned off to reveal another beauty. Some of the crew had family in Auckland to visit and so on se we split up here and arranged to meet at the Autobarn at Papkura around mid day before heading home. Those of us without family in Auckland did a tour of the bike shops to kill the morning; surprisingly none of us spent anything. Then we headed off to the meeting spot and all arrived within a few 10 minutes or so each other so we ate and moved on with another uneventful ride south through Ngatea, Paeroa Waihi to Katikati and on to home. For some reason my ipod hadn’t charged overnight and I ran out of music – about 1 ˝ Km from home.
Summary
I covered 1650 Km from home to home; it cost me about $330 for fuel food and 3 nights accommodation.
I found some fun roads to ride and saw some beautiful scenery in a part of the country I’d not been to before. I will definitely be going back up there, hopefully I can get my wife to pillion next time.
They were a great bunch to travel with, and I look forward to riding with them again.
No one binned their bike, and only the one brush with Mr Plod.
A great trip.
The designated day dawned clear, after weeks of anticipation it was finally here :banana: . A real assortment of 11 machines, all tanked up and rearing to go gathered in anticipation of an 0830 start, picking up the 12th bike on our way through Katikati made for a group of 14 all up.
We fell into formation and took the scenic Old Tauranga road past Waihi and on toward Paeroa. After a brief fuel stop at Ngatea we flicked right and took in the Western side of the Firth of Thames past Miranda, Kaiaua and stopped at Cleveden for a debate about where to next, which turned out to be another fuel stop at Papakura before hitting the infamous Auckland Motorway system (first time on a bike for some of us). On the way between Kaiaua and Cleveden we were amused to see a large group of scooters (I’m no authority on the subject but it looked like a Vespa club or something), good on them, they are on two wheels, out there, and doing it.
An uneventful length of the Auckland Motorway system led us over the harbour bridge and on through the North Shore, and to our next stop for a latish lunch at Waiwera. Well, for most of us anyway. A little bit of communication breakdown here, the two guys at the front ended up having lunch at Warkworth (oops). They waited there while the rest of us caught up and we gathered for a fuel stop.
The day had developed into a cloudless scorcher of a day that put us in good stead for the rest of the trip, as we progressed on Highway 1 to regroup on the outskirts of Whangarei. I was doing my bit for the team by cruising along slow enough to allow the others time for a break while I caught up (being too cheap to run the risk of impromptu donations to the roadside tax collectors).
Next stop was the public conveniences at Kawakawa. What a neat project. We were pleasantly surprised at the lack of tagging and general vandalism that they had suffered, well done. Didn’t feel right taking the camera in so only took a couple of photos from the outside. Well worth the detour and stop if you’re up that way.
The day was to end at Paihia where we checked in to the backpackers we were booked in to and walked down the road to feed the worms that were starting to bite. We had had a good ride and a great day for it, couple of degrees cooler would have been nice but I am not complaining.
Day 2
Another cracker of a day, not a cloud in the sky. No plans had been made, this was to be a free day to explore and do the touristy thing, spending a second night in Paihia at Captain Bob’s (shameless plug, great place. Look it up if you’re staying up that way).
Some of the group were keen to do the ferry across to Russell and go see Kerikeri and the likes but a couple of us were keen to make a push for the top. So we did.
Two bikes and off we went, running along SH10 up round the Eastern side of the land with some very pleasant roads and most impressive views out over the bays and townships scattered along the way. We stopped to fill up the tanks and tums at Awanui before the final run to Cape Reinga. I hadn’t been up this far up, and heard a rumour that the road had now been sealed right to the cape. I am now in a position to confirm it is a rumour, the last 20Km was gravel and we could see no signs of that changing in the near future. Having never really ridden in gravel I was a little apprehensive but soon got into the swing of it. Really just a matter of being relaxed and letting the bike move around under you while gently guiding it where you want to be (not the most technical explanation). What a neat road. Open enough to have to consciously hold the speed down, bendy enough to be fun, no serious hills – more gently undulating. After doing the photo thing at the lighthouse (as you do) we headed back to Kaitaia the way we had come stopping to top off on the tanks before heading through the scenic, bendy Awaroa road to via Broadwood and the Mangamuka road to rejoin SH1 at the Mangamuka bridge and back to Paihia. Timing was perfect, we got back to the backpackers and took off our helmets and jackets as the others arrived back from their looking around at Kerikeri.
Another glorious day, another 470Km. Looking around the table as we had dinner at a café down the road you could see happy looks on the faces as we all started to succumb to the creeping tiredness.
Day 3
:sunny: :sunny: :sunny: Another pearler. We all packed up the bikes again and prepared to head off. My turn to lead, and what do you know the first corner I head right when we should have gone left (:Oops: ), I don’t think anyone was too upset though:spanking: , it was great day for a ride, and the road was quite interesting, besides we were only 50km the wrong way before anyone pointed out my error and we doubled back. So there we were 150 km later we got to where we wanted to be back at the Mangamuka bridge heading to the ferry across the Hokianga Harbour to Rawene. Strangely enough I didn’t get invited to lead again, which is fine by me I’d rather be near the back of the group anyway (because I ride like a nana).
After lunch at Opononi we continued on down Highway 12, stopping at Tane Mahuta (Big old Kauri Tree) then on to Dargaville. Yet another awesome road and a brilliant day for it. We made a stop at Brynderwyn to regroup and headed to Hatfields Beach where we had our nights accommodation booked at the Marco Polo backpackers (another top place to stay, they even came in to Orewa and picked us up after we had walked in for dinner).
We were running a little later than we intended as the darkness was creeping (probably on account of having taken the “scenic route” in the morning). Speed was edging upward but settled pretty quickly when we rounded a corner and two of our guys were stopped just in front of a car with red and blue lights flashing in the back window.
Day 4
This one was a bit foggy at first but soon burned off to reveal another beauty. Some of the crew had family in Auckland to visit and so on se we split up here and arranged to meet at the Autobarn at Papkura around mid day before heading home. Those of us without family in Auckland did a tour of the bike shops to kill the morning; surprisingly none of us spent anything. Then we headed off to the meeting spot and all arrived within a few 10 minutes or so each other so we ate and moved on with another uneventful ride south through Ngatea, Paeroa Waihi to Katikati and on to home. For some reason my ipod hadn’t charged overnight and I ran out of music – about 1 ˝ Km from home.
Summary
I covered 1650 Km from home to home; it cost me about $330 for fuel food and 3 nights accommodation.
I found some fun roads to ride and saw some beautiful scenery in a part of the country I’d not been to before. I will definitely be going back up there, hopefully I can get my wife to pillion next time.
They were a great bunch to travel with, and I look forward to riding with them again.
No one binned their bike, and only the one brush with Mr Plod.
A great trip.