After the Grand Challenge, we went for a wee ride

[Hitcher]

After having ridden nearly 2,000km over the weekend of 12-14 October getting from home to Turangi and completing another Grand Challenge, after catching up on our slumbers we woke on Monday morning and said "Let's go for a ride". So that's what we did.

Before posting a ride report, here are some holiday snaps clicked in exotic locales along the way. Fabulous prizes will be awarded to carefully screened participants who manage to correctly place the location, with bonus credits for anybody who can provide additional local "colour".

The bikes are a 2005 Yamaha FJR1300T and a 2007 Suzuki GSF650SK6 Bandit. The Hot Blonde (TM) is the incomparable Mrs H. Sir Cumference was behind the camera at all times, in the interests of public safety and good order.

[Hitcher]

And a some more, for good measure.

[Grub]

Jeez you guys really had it bad .... hadn't come down enough by Sunday huh?

Pic 1 looks suspiciously like part of the road out to East Cape from Te Araroa. Pic 4 is at the Cape?. "Babe" is Ngawi (but that doesn't gel with the other pics - was that a trick one?). I have met the church but can't remember where or when.

I didn't do very well did I :(

[merv]

Pic 1 Whirinaki Beach, Napier in the background.

[Grub]

Pic 1 Whirinaki Beach, Napier in the background.

Bugger ... !

[Hitcher]

Pic 1 Whirinaki Beach, Napier in the background.

Correct. Just beyond the Red Imported Fire Ant movement control zone, across the road from the home stay.

[merv]

Pic 2: Young Nick at Gisborne. I'm busy trying to watch TV so not really concentrating here.

[merv]

Pic 5: Tokomaru Bay wharf.

[Hitcher]

Pic 2 and Pic 5, correct.

Young Nick, or Nick Young to be precise. Pointing at his eponymous Head in a bronzy inanimate kind of way.

The Tokomaru Bay wharf. Built in 1940 and is the second-longest pier in New Zealand. Victim to terminal concrete cancer, just like its longer brother.

[merv]

Pic 6: Raukokore Historic Church. Going well here, better look at the others a bit harder. Haven't been around that road for 9 years.

[Hitcher]

Pic 6: Correct. This Anglican Church was built about 1894, and is precariously perched on the headland, flanked on three sides by the sea, at Raukokore in Waihau Bay on East Cape. The church is on a bit of a lean thanks to the same storm in 1968 that sank the Wahine.

[nadroj]

Seems like you had to stop at plenty of beaches to do your washing ( and Mrs H's). I bet something was out of bound for few days after the big ride...

[Hitcher]

I bet something was out of bound for few days after the big ride...

What goes on tour, stays on tour.

[Bonez]

You actually had some stops on tour Hitch and had a look around? Same on you. ;) Glad you both enjoyed the jaunt.

[merv]

OK pic 4: Anaura Bay.

Pic 3 doesn't look so familiar to me but is that the road into Anaura Bay? The sweep of the bay just doesn't look like I remember it. Feels more like further South but then I'm taking it the photos are in travel order.

[Hitcher]

Pic 4: Correct. Anaura Bay with Motuoroi Island in the background.

While the photos are in chronological sequence in terms of our wee jaunt, they may not all be in geographical "sequence".

You're going well Merv! Only one more to go...

[vifferman]

I dunno where pic 2 is, but it looks like Gollum impaled on a flag pole.:crazy:

[Blackbird]

The pink tractor isn't at Pukehina Beach, is it? (if they're not in chronological order). Have my doubts, but I know they have a selection of weird stuff doing some launching there.

Nice outing Brett:yes:. A few of us are having a 3 day weekend at the end of November to do Whakatane > East Cape > Gisborne > Waioeka Gorge. Glorious ride.

[Hitcher]

Grub actually got Pic 7 right. The two Babes were snapped at Ngawi.

[Hitcher]

So that only leaves Pic 3! And yes, it is somewhere on the coast of the North Island between Whirinaki and Ohope Beach.

[007XX]

How very awesome Master Hitcher!!! :2thumbsup:

I wouldn't hazard myself in taking a guess on those pics...cos I'd be bound to make a fool of myself! :o
007XY is the specialist on knowing NZ geography.

However, beautiful shots and looks like you guys had an awesome time!:Punk:

[KoroJ]

.....Before posting a ride report, here are some holiday snaps clicked in exotic locales along the way. .....

Is that it?? Are we only getting the Classic Comic version of the epic adventure!!

Bring on the read!!

[k14]

That pink tractor is at ngawi, just before you get to the lighthouse at cape palliser.

[merv]

OK bugger it I'll say pic 3 is further South; Mahia East Coast Road where it is on the hill of the peninsula. So you stayed at Gisborne and then did a loop back to Mahia. I thought it looked to be further South by the sweep of the bay.

[merv]

So if I say Ngawi for the last one too then I get them all so do I get a prize? Would that be a free opportunity to remain on KB and guess such things in the future or do I get a real prize like a signed copy of your photo like White Trash was doing for his caption contest?

[Hitcher]

OK bugger it I'll say pic 3 is further South; Mahia East Coast Road where it is on the hill of the peninsula. So you stayed at Gisborne and then did a loop back to Mahia. I thought it looked to be further South by the sweep of the bay.

Pic 3, correct. Atop the Mahia Peninsula looking north towards Poverty Bay on a stunningly brilliant day.

[merv]

Do I get any "fabulous prize"? The local colour will be people like me, Col and the Kendogs we all have some history with Wairoa and the East Coast. Just imagine if we all went there at the same time.

I said earlier that it was 9 years since I've been around the Cape (crikey) and additionally its 3 years since I've been to Mahia as talked about here http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=3047 and the weather wasn't like you Hitchers got therefore I had to add colour with my hi-class yellow leggings.

[Grub]

He's holding out oon us about "Babe" ... I have suspicious thoughts :yawn:

[merv]

He's holding out oon us about "Babe" ... I have suspicious thoughts :yawn:

How do you mean he said it was Ngawi so you got that one before I got to it?

[Grub]

How do you mean he said it was Ngawi so you got that one before I got to it?

D'oh .... my bad :) I'm glad you got the rest, I was floundering (as you could tell) I was last there in 1988! Tokamaru Bay warf has me stuffed still, I remember the warf being at the south end of the beach by the pub but the pic looks like its at th north end. He didn't flip it on us did he?

*ding!* I was thinking of Tolaga Bay wharf which *is* at the southern end. I feel better now

[merv]

*ding!* I was thinking of Tolaga Bay wharf which *is* at the southern end. I feel better now

Yeah def Tolaga is the one at the South end and has had a zillion spent on it. Tokomaru Bay wharf is at the North just beyond the old freezing works all now derelict.

I'd love to do a trip up there again especially in weather like the Hitcher's photographed.