For you suckers that were at work today we did our Wairarapa Adventure

[merv]

As per the threads I put up in the meetings and adventure forums five of us went on a nice little adventure ride in the Wairarapa today.

The crew were:

merv - Honda XR250L
merv's Bro - on Mrs merv's Suzuki DR650SE
Re-cycled - Suzuki DR650SE
marks - on son's Yamaha DT230
Frodo - Aprilia Pegaso

We met at my house and then cruised over the 'takas and that's where the photos start at the top of the hill.

Then it was over to Martinborough where we gassed up ready for the ride on the gravel to the coast. The boy on the Daytona 675 didn't look like he wanted to come with us. We headed out of Martinborough on our way to Hinakura.

[merv]

We stopped for a break at Hinakura. Then it was on to the Pahaoa Road and that lovely ride down the gorge.

[merv]

We took another break on the gorge road, mainly to get a few more photos.

[merv]

Then we didn't take another break until we got to the Glendhu-Pahaoa intersection.

[merv]

So off to Pahaoa stopping on the grass at the end near the sea to have a bit to drink and eat. Don't you just love the white rocks? I presume its the same kind of rock as at White Rock.

Watch all that shit on the ground boys!

Then we headed back and this time got a couple of pics at the little ford. The locals were hooning in an old Skyline this time and had just done big donuts on the grass before coming along behind us.

[merv]

I'm sure the guy driving the car was the local that was on the old YZ motorcrosser in this photo from last year http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=39096&d=1155449062 .

So it was back to Hinakura, then turning down the road towards Ngakonui so we took the interesting route that eventually meets Admiral Road on the way to Gladstone.

[tri boy]

Heehe, looks like the Adv boys got the best day for riding today, while the sportbike boys grafted away the blue sky.:bleh:
We are the chosen ones.:msn-wink:
Waikato was magic on the coast.

[merv]

Ah the joys of gravel road riding, plus the odd gate to deal with.

[Bonez]

Good effort. Looks like ideal CX territory.

[merv]

Heehe, looks like the Adv boys got the best day for riding today, while the sportbike boys grafted away the blue sky.:bleh:
We are the chosen ones.:msn-wink:
Waikato was magic on the coast.

You got any pics? Not of rusty rims this time.

My pics continue. Still on our way to Gladstone.

[tri boy]

Put a few up on the Adv thread:msn-wink:[/url]

[merv]

Good effort. Looks like ideal CX territory.

Yep nice easy gravel that suits us old fellahs.

Eventually we made it to Gladstone Pub for some nice hot food and a drink.

[merv]

Put a few up on the Adv thread:msn-wink:[/url]

OK, I'll have a look.

Once we'd eaten the team split up a bit, Frodo wanted to get back to pick up stuff from TSS so he went the main road way from Carterton and the rest of us went back to Martinbrough via the Bell tea corner. We gassed up again at Martinborough and then Re-cycled left us to go and catch up with hsi old mate Bill Biber.

That left three of us to cruise back over the 'takas and then marks peeled off and left us so he could go home via Akatarawa Road. Me and my Bro' then just cruised home together.

Thanks for your company guys that wasn't a bad day at all. A nice easy little ride - 275km from my house and back again.

[merv]

Here's a GPS track of the ride (with it starting from Pauatahanui) to Pahaoa and back just in case you're interested.

[MD]

You lot are an insult to modern man and science. Years, decades, centuries spent building sealed roads and all you can do is wander onto gravel!
Infidels.
Yeah, I was at work.

[merv]

Thanks MD ... and we wear all the latest up-to-date gear too like my Warehouse PVC leggings.

Like you've all found lately with it being sealed to Ngawi as an example we've got to do this before all the nice gravel is gone with that damn blacktop slowly but surely creeping towards the coast.

[Gibbo13p]

:Punk: I'm x army and I used to do that as work when I was a 10 Tpt sect commander...lol bet there's someone on here that still does too...... :rockon:

[merv]

:Punk: I'm x army and I used to do that as work when I was a 10 Tpt sect commander...lol bet there's someone on here that still does too...... :rockon:

I think I missed something in the translation here - what did you used to do? Gravel road ride or build roads or what?

[Re-cycled]

Thanks Merv. Enjoyed the ride, and also your pics. And Frodos too, of course.

[merv]

Thanks Merv. Enjoyed the ride, and also your pics. And Frodos too, of course.

Hey good to see you getting your post count up.

When do reckon we should do the next one of these gravel rides or shall we do a sealed roads only ride next?

[Gibbo13p]

I think I missed something in the translation here - what did you used to do? Gravel road ride or build roads or what?

Ride banjo country roads...not make them, although I have helped make them in waiouru too....

[limbimtimwim]

I did these roads on Saturday.

It felt like the DR-Z SM was made for those roads. The Hinakura road got a bit bumpy and nice and twisty. I could see way down the downhill side of that road and around all those bends. Then the fine gravel out to the coast was great fun, nice and smooth. And the lagoon thingy with the white rocks, very cool.

Then back to the Hinakura intersection and then up the hills and onto the ridgeline on that chunkier stuff, my street tyres coped really well, I was pleased. I really got my confidence up on how hard I could use the front brake on gravel. Which was quite hard, to my surprise. Might have got a bit silly if it was wet though ;) Then when the tarmac started again, what a racetrack!!!!! Good visuals around quite a few corners too so one could keep the throttle open.

But the highlight of my day was the view from up on the ridge line though on the Ngakonui road. Stunning.