ceebie13
20th February 2007, 10:32
(Part Two)
Next day we woke to a lovely surprise. It was pissing down. Once again I have to say that I’m sure that the Waioeka Gorge is beautiful. But I didn’t see it. We gingerly but steadily navigated each bend joking as we went about how lovely it was and singing old Fred Astaire songs about rain to each other via the comms.. Then suddenly…hang on…in strict Victor Meldrew fashion I said, “I don’t bloody believe it!”…Blue sky…incredible, but true. I wasn’t dreaming! We must have been somewhere between Matawai and Te Karaka. We stopped in a layby and amused the campers in their Maui by dancing around as we joyously took our wets off! (Ha! Ive just re-read that and it sounds like we performed a strip routine inside their camper van!). With a completely different frame of mind we headed down to Gisborne and had a delightful late lunch at “The Works” restaurant. Having studied the map (by now, you’ll understand, my itinerary was totally redundant!) we pushed on south to Napier. The weather was glorious. We signed up for two nights at the Deco City motel, which would give us enough time to check the forecast and see a bit of Napier. (We still weren’t sure whether to abandon this road trip and head home)
Next day we explored the coast in brilliant sunshine and after a relaxing lunch at the Clifton Bay Café, we followed our noses to Ocean Beach. By now the CB was running on fumes, and so being very aware of this we high tailed it with fingers crossed to refuel at Mangateretere. The improved weather settled it for me, and that evening over dinner we planned a route that would get us back in the general direction of Auckland and the far north (where we had family expecting us). To hasten this write-up, we headed up SH5 towards Taupo stopping only for a late breakfast at the Summit Café. Amused by all the rego plates (including one from Hemel Hempstead!) and trucking memorabilia adorning the walls, we devoured a welcome full English breakfast, cooked by an equally welcoming Englishman too. Great stuff! Burp! On arrival in Taupo, we had a bum break and sat by the lake feeding the black swans with the choccy chip biscuits we’d nicked from the motel in Napier. From that spot, I phoned ahead to a motel in Tauranga and it was there that we headed via Rotorua of course. We took SH30 and 33 up to Paengaroa and eventually found the motel in Tauranga (not easy) in time for the ritual soak in the shower. After that it was down to the Strand in town to suss out the restaurants. By now you should be getting an idea of what road trip holidays with Mr & Mrs Ceebie13 are like. Riding, eating, drinking, more riding, more eating, sleeping, riding etc etc.To be fair there were many times when Lyn wished she had her own bike, and naturally she still does aspire to that dream. But she is also quite happy to be chauffeured around by yours truly and we enjoy the nattering as we go. Mind you, she has this unnerving habit of pointing directly at things she sees. This of course gives the vehicle behind the impression that we are about to turn either left or right. Doh!
Next morning after a restful night’s sleep I pulled the curtains back. “Fuck! “ “What’s up dear?” “Do you need to ask?” I said. “..It’s bloody pissin’ down”. The words law and sod came to mind! And so decision time appeared again. Seems plan B was scuppered, so plan C was called up. This involved three things… going to see old family stomping grounds, having lunch and keeping an appointment with Felix (Zapf) who had offered to show us the coast road from Miranda up to Howick. (Being a Wellingtonian I wasn’t aware that Howick is affectionately known as “Chowick”. Suffice to say I now know why!). We got ourselves together fairly rapidly and loaded up the throwovers and tank bag. Even as I settled the motel bill it was pouring with rain (…still).
We left Tauranga en route for Cambridge on State 29. Interestingly Cambridge had the same feel as Cambridge (if you get what I mean)…awfully conservative, quaint and not short of a few bob so to speak. We didn’t stop... even though the rain had. Instead we carried on to Hamilton and fuelled by the thought of a nice relaxing lunch on the west coast we beetled over to Raglan. We enjoyed a beer in the sunshine and pondered our next move. I phoned Zapf who suggested meeting at Mercer from where he’d take us round the East Coast Road pointing out the famous fish and chip shop etc and from there we’d head up into Howick obviously via Kawakawa Bay and Clevedon. This we did, but not before being approached by a bloke in Raglan who was clearly a biker and wanted to talk shop,but who also, as it turned out, lived a stones throw from our old home in the UK…so much so that he new exactly where our house was in Weedon, Northamptonshire! Weird or what? Anyway, after that we back tracked to Hamilton and scooted up to Huntly on the “Oh so boring” SH1. Lyn was desperate to show me her old home. (Did I miss the word “people’s” out there? Oh sorry). Seriously though, she led me over the river and first left so that you go back along the riverbank and then we turned in to her street and sat outside the house for about ten minutes. It brought a tear to her eye…ah, bless.
By now, of course we were late for the rendevous with Zapf so I high tailed it back up the “oh so boring” SH1 and found him devouring an ice cream at the service station at Mercer. After a fill up, we chased him across country to Kaiaua and then followed the coast north (as one does). What a lovely ride. The CB was still on song although by now I had noticed some serious scalloping to the outer edges of the rear tyre. After a phone call to Botany Honda, it was arranged that a new tyre could be fitted first thing the next day while we waited. We had a nosh that evening at the pub in Howick (forgotten its name. Not bad though). I then managed to get lost trying to find my way back to the Golfland Motel…not the best one we stayed at. But find it we eventually did. Interestingly, the antics of the chap in the next studio (who was staying there for two weeks on his own and had chatted to us non stop about his beloved Harley) left nothing to the imagination and was only confirmed when Lyn got up at 2am to get a drink and heard the lady leaving.!! Eeeww!! How horrid.
By now all hint of rain was a distant memory. Everything had dried out, even though my helmet was still a bit stinky pooh. We browsed in Botany Honda’s show room for a while and took a coffee over the road in the pottery shop. (Don’t ask!) We were soon on our way with a new rear set to the correct pressure (it does help) and heading straight for Auckland with the mid morning traffic. My first sight of the Sky Tower (I’ve never been to Auckland before) was awesome. Did it remind me of the Telecom tower in London? …er, no. I just couldn’t take my eyes off it as we headed towards it. It was really weird. I had a mild panic attack. It seemed as if the tower was looming menacingly at me. Well, it was after all.
I literally had to lift my visor for fresh air and take deep breaths. I managed to overcome this weird feeling. I can only liken it to the opposite of vertigo. I didn’t like it. By the time we reached Helensville (is it named after the PM?) we were ready for breakfast, which we enjoyed at the Art Stop Café. Must admit that in all these travels we didn’t really find a duff café, so feel free to make notes and take our recommendations. The riding was now wonderful. We were having a ball heading north to Wellsford on the 16 and treating every logging truck as a challenge – even the ones going south! A dry throat later, we pulled into a roadside café in Waioto to be greeted by a rather enthusiastic bloke who obviously had something to do with the place because he was wearing an apron. (Either that or it was Rene from "Allo Allo" on his holidays) Once inside and still chatting, it transpired that our host was the one and only T.I.E. with whom we passed a few pleasantries, heard all about his “off” and sympathised with him over his lack of two wheeled transport. An L&P later, we said our goodbyes and set off on the last leg which for this day ended in Paihia.
We were really getting about a bit by now and so glad that we didn’t just give up and go home a few days earlier. We did the touristy thing in Paihia and enjoyed the boat over to Russell prior to a romantic dinner for two at Sally’s. It was a fabulous evening, with fabulous scenery, fabulous company (according to Bex) and a fabulous meal. Ever conscious of the time and the need for our bed, we headed for the ferry back to Paihia. Bugger!! Missed it.
(To be continued)
Pic1: Relief at last. No Rain. Near Matawai
Pic2: Clifton Bay
Pic3: Lake Taupo
Pic4: Bex in her element...make up and sunshine at Paihia/Russell
Next day we woke to a lovely surprise. It was pissing down. Once again I have to say that I’m sure that the Waioeka Gorge is beautiful. But I didn’t see it. We gingerly but steadily navigated each bend joking as we went about how lovely it was and singing old Fred Astaire songs about rain to each other via the comms.. Then suddenly…hang on…in strict Victor Meldrew fashion I said, “I don’t bloody believe it!”…Blue sky…incredible, but true. I wasn’t dreaming! We must have been somewhere between Matawai and Te Karaka. We stopped in a layby and amused the campers in their Maui by dancing around as we joyously took our wets off! (Ha! Ive just re-read that and it sounds like we performed a strip routine inside their camper van!). With a completely different frame of mind we headed down to Gisborne and had a delightful late lunch at “The Works” restaurant. Having studied the map (by now, you’ll understand, my itinerary was totally redundant!) we pushed on south to Napier. The weather was glorious. We signed up for two nights at the Deco City motel, which would give us enough time to check the forecast and see a bit of Napier. (We still weren’t sure whether to abandon this road trip and head home)
Next day we explored the coast in brilliant sunshine and after a relaxing lunch at the Clifton Bay Café, we followed our noses to Ocean Beach. By now the CB was running on fumes, and so being very aware of this we high tailed it with fingers crossed to refuel at Mangateretere. The improved weather settled it for me, and that evening over dinner we planned a route that would get us back in the general direction of Auckland and the far north (where we had family expecting us). To hasten this write-up, we headed up SH5 towards Taupo stopping only for a late breakfast at the Summit Café. Amused by all the rego plates (including one from Hemel Hempstead!) and trucking memorabilia adorning the walls, we devoured a welcome full English breakfast, cooked by an equally welcoming Englishman too. Great stuff! Burp! On arrival in Taupo, we had a bum break and sat by the lake feeding the black swans with the choccy chip biscuits we’d nicked from the motel in Napier. From that spot, I phoned ahead to a motel in Tauranga and it was there that we headed via Rotorua of course. We took SH30 and 33 up to Paengaroa and eventually found the motel in Tauranga (not easy) in time for the ritual soak in the shower. After that it was down to the Strand in town to suss out the restaurants. By now you should be getting an idea of what road trip holidays with Mr & Mrs Ceebie13 are like. Riding, eating, drinking, more riding, more eating, sleeping, riding etc etc.To be fair there were many times when Lyn wished she had her own bike, and naturally she still does aspire to that dream. But she is also quite happy to be chauffeured around by yours truly and we enjoy the nattering as we go. Mind you, she has this unnerving habit of pointing directly at things she sees. This of course gives the vehicle behind the impression that we are about to turn either left or right. Doh!
Next morning after a restful night’s sleep I pulled the curtains back. “Fuck! “ “What’s up dear?” “Do you need to ask?” I said. “..It’s bloody pissin’ down”. The words law and sod came to mind! And so decision time appeared again. Seems plan B was scuppered, so plan C was called up. This involved three things… going to see old family stomping grounds, having lunch and keeping an appointment with Felix (Zapf) who had offered to show us the coast road from Miranda up to Howick. (Being a Wellingtonian I wasn’t aware that Howick is affectionately known as “Chowick”. Suffice to say I now know why!). We got ourselves together fairly rapidly and loaded up the throwovers and tank bag. Even as I settled the motel bill it was pouring with rain (…still).
We left Tauranga en route for Cambridge on State 29. Interestingly Cambridge had the same feel as Cambridge (if you get what I mean)…awfully conservative, quaint and not short of a few bob so to speak. We didn’t stop... even though the rain had. Instead we carried on to Hamilton and fuelled by the thought of a nice relaxing lunch on the west coast we beetled over to Raglan. We enjoyed a beer in the sunshine and pondered our next move. I phoned Zapf who suggested meeting at Mercer from where he’d take us round the East Coast Road pointing out the famous fish and chip shop etc and from there we’d head up into Howick obviously via Kawakawa Bay and Clevedon. This we did, but not before being approached by a bloke in Raglan who was clearly a biker and wanted to talk shop,but who also, as it turned out, lived a stones throw from our old home in the UK…so much so that he new exactly where our house was in Weedon, Northamptonshire! Weird or what? Anyway, after that we back tracked to Hamilton and scooted up to Huntly on the “Oh so boring” SH1. Lyn was desperate to show me her old home. (Did I miss the word “people’s” out there? Oh sorry). Seriously though, she led me over the river and first left so that you go back along the riverbank and then we turned in to her street and sat outside the house for about ten minutes. It brought a tear to her eye…ah, bless.
By now, of course we were late for the rendevous with Zapf so I high tailed it back up the “oh so boring” SH1 and found him devouring an ice cream at the service station at Mercer. After a fill up, we chased him across country to Kaiaua and then followed the coast north (as one does). What a lovely ride. The CB was still on song although by now I had noticed some serious scalloping to the outer edges of the rear tyre. After a phone call to Botany Honda, it was arranged that a new tyre could be fitted first thing the next day while we waited. We had a nosh that evening at the pub in Howick (forgotten its name. Not bad though). I then managed to get lost trying to find my way back to the Golfland Motel…not the best one we stayed at. But find it we eventually did. Interestingly, the antics of the chap in the next studio (who was staying there for two weeks on his own and had chatted to us non stop about his beloved Harley) left nothing to the imagination and was only confirmed when Lyn got up at 2am to get a drink and heard the lady leaving.!! Eeeww!! How horrid.
By now all hint of rain was a distant memory. Everything had dried out, even though my helmet was still a bit stinky pooh. We browsed in Botany Honda’s show room for a while and took a coffee over the road in the pottery shop. (Don’t ask!) We were soon on our way with a new rear set to the correct pressure (it does help) and heading straight for Auckland with the mid morning traffic. My first sight of the Sky Tower (I’ve never been to Auckland before) was awesome. Did it remind me of the Telecom tower in London? …er, no. I just couldn’t take my eyes off it as we headed towards it. It was really weird. I had a mild panic attack. It seemed as if the tower was looming menacingly at me. Well, it was after all.
I literally had to lift my visor for fresh air and take deep breaths. I managed to overcome this weird feeling. I can only liken it to the opposite of vertigo. I didn’t like it. By the time we reached Helensville (is it named after the PM?) we were ready for breakfast, which we enjoyed at the Art Stop Café. Must admit that in all these travels we didn’t really find a duff café, so feel free to make notes and take our recommendations. The riding was now wonderful. We were having a ball heading north to Wellsford on the 16 and treating every logging truck as a challenge – even the ones going south! A dry throat later, we pulled into a roadside café in Waioto to be greeted by a rather enthusiastic bloke who obviously had something to do with the place because he was wearing an apron. (Either that or it was Rene from "Allo Allo" on his holidays) Once inside and still chatting, it transpired that our host was the one and only T.I.E. with whom we passed a few pleasantries, heard all about his “off” and sympathised with him over his lack of two wheeled transport. An L&P later, we said our goodbyes and set off on the last leg which for this day ended in Paihia.
We were really getting about a bit by now and so glad that we didn’t just give up and go home a few days earlier. We did the touristy thing in Paihia and enjoyed the boat over to Russell prior to a romantic dinner for two at Sally’s. It was a fabulous evening, with fabulous scenery, fabulous company (according to Bex) and a fabulous meal. Ever conscious of the time and the need for our bed, we headed for the ferry back to Paihia. Bugger!! Missed it.
(To be continued)
Pic1: Relief at last. No Rain. Near Matawai
Pic2: Clifton Bay
Pic3: Lake Taupo
Pic4: Bex in her element...make up and sunshine at Paihia/Russell