Two nights away, Rangitikei and Hawke's Bay

[Howie]

I then traveled along the Beach between Aramoana, and Blackhead Beaches where I stopped for a lunch break. The sand was amazingly firm to ride on.

Pic 1-6 From Aramoana to Blackhead. (A1603-A1608)

[Howie]

From Blackhead Beach I headed south via Blackhead, and Hunter roads, and headed into Porangahau. When I hit Hunter road was about when the wind went from being non exsistent, or a gentle breeze to yep the gale force winds are here, so I had a break in Porangahau, and decided to give up on some of the other coastal loops I wanted to do. Instead I sat on route 52 with a quick stop at the worlds longest place name, and decided to have a go at Birch road east, which wasn’t such a smart idea, as it winds along a ridge through a pine forest, and the wind gusts were getting quite high when out of the trees, and when in the trees watch out for the fallen branch’s, and pine cones from the older shelter belt trees. I still managed to get a few Pictures though.

Pic 1&2: view of coast North and south from Hunter road (A1609-A1610)

Pic 3: Porangahau sheltering from the wind. (A1611)

Pic 4: The worlds longest place Name (A1613)

Pic 5&6: Birch road East (A1616-1617)

[Howie]

After going through Birch road east I stopped for a Coffee, and a bite to eat at the store/café in Pongaroa, where it was still blowing like a bastard. So I gave up on anymore diversions from route 52 and headed for Masterton with a call in to see JunkmanJoe, and another cup of coffee, before heading home. From about Hunter road to half way between Pongaroa and Masterton the wind was really strong, and when going head on into it a big gust would knock about 10km of speed off the bike. I was Quite surprised with how well the bike coped with strong cross winds even with the high front guard catching them and blowing the front around a bit, it always seemed to hold it’s line fairly well.
I am now thinking of maybe doing a weekend trip up to the Taihape area at some stage and spending a full day just exploring back roads, and doing the same in the Hawkes Bay.
It was a great little break away from home and I got to travel over some roads and see some places that I had never seen before.

[marks]

Great stuff Howie - some great photos there

Sorry I didn't join you on the Friday - your photos make me want to load up the bike and go....
Its a great loop - I would be keen to do another weekend loop like we did for Bart's RRRRR ride but do the coastal bits like you did - maybe Feb sometime?

interesting that my klr seems quite sensitive to high winds - maybe its me?

cheers


Mark

[bart]

I'd be keen on another RRRR. Now we've found a few interesting tracks to add, this could be a real nice weekend loop. Has a little bit of everything, but still big bike friendly.

Right, nice day, I'm getting the bike out and heading up Takapari.

[Howie]

Great stuff Howie - some great photos there

Sorry I didn't join you on the Friday - your photos make me want to load up the bike and go....
Its a great loop - I would be keen to do another weekend loop like we did for Bart's RRRRR ride but do the coastal bits like you did - maybe Feb sometime?

interesting that my klr seems quite sensitive to high winds - maybe its me?

Yeah it was good to get away for a couple of days, hey you would have been a day early on Friday, it was Saturday I headed up.

Some of the secnery up that way is amazing, so I took quite a few photos.

Your KLR probably handles a bit differently to mine in the wind as it would have more Fairing area at the front. and isn't the beak on the front fixed on the 08+ models? where as the front Guard on the earlier model is mounted to the triple clamp.

I'd be keen on another RRRR. Now we've found a few interesting tracks to add, this could be a real nice weekend loop. Has a little bit of everything, but still big bike friendly.

I agree that all of what I/we covered is easilly big bike friendly, and the trip down the hawkes Bay/ wairarapa coast is interesting to do if you haven't been there before.

A weekend trip up that way sometime in Feb would be good, I might even be tempted into coming along.

[Aslan]

looks like you had a great time Howie (& Bart for those sections you were on) - thanks for taking the time to post the report - cheers S

[Howie]

looks like you had a great time Howie (& Bart for those sections you were on) - thanks for taking the time to post the report - cheers S

Thanks Aslan. I'm at the stage where for me, I want to get out and explore the more remote places of our country that I haven't been to before, I really enjoyed the scenery in the hills behind Taihape. Covering a couple of areas of inland Hawkes bay that I hadn't been to before, and was impressed with the small east coast beaches on the way Home.

[drbandit]

The unmaintained section was actually reasonably easy to ride apart from the odd hidden rut in the grass, and the very odd damp patch of clay, which was really slippery, don’t think I’d want to try riding through here if it was raining. After about 4km of the grass track, and about 3 or 4 gates, I came to a halt at a locked gate. So I turned around and headed back. I might make some inquires into how to obtain access to the rest of this road, as according to the 4wd book it used to be open all the way through, and I couldn’t see an alternative track that looked obvious.

Pic1 –5: views on unmaintained section of Ridge Rd Sth ( A1538- A1539- A1541-1542-1547)

Pic6: the locked gate (A1546)

Went out and checked this part of Ridge Rd Sth on monday. Got right through and didnt see that locked gate?? Maybe you missed a turn? Have put up route and a few pictures here.
http://www.everytrail.com/view_trip.php?trip_id=919179

The rutted bit was very bumpy to say the least.. too many beasts etc over it and now dried out. The slip bypass a challenge when by yourself!!

[Howie]

Thanks for the update.

I did contact the local council sometime afterwards, and got told yep it has a locked gate, can't remember the reason they gave though.


I didn't think it would be that easy to take a wrong turn on that track as it seemed fairly easy to follow. You never know though I haven't got around to buying a GPS yet.

Think I might have to have another look up that way soon.

[pete376403]

Your KLR probably handles a bit differently to mine in the wind as it would have more Fairing area at the front. and isn't the beak on the front fixed on the 08+ models? where as the front Guard on the earlier model is mounted to the triple clamp..

Nope, the '08 + front guard attaches under the triples just as in the past. The guard design is different, tho. It now has an angled down pointy bit at the front tip where the old desigh was wider and flatter. Possibly the more aerodynamic fairing on the 08+ penetrates the air better, as well.
Good fairing design is about a lot more than just looking "cool"
(anyway, no-one will ever suggest an 08+ looks "cool")