Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 15 of 19

Thread: East Cape ride report

  1. #1
    Join Date
    11th February 2008 - 18:37
    Bike
    Black Thunder
    Location
    Eastern Bay of Plenty
    Posts
    1,018

    East Cape ride report

    On Monday I had to go to Gisborne, so rather late in the morning, decided to go via the East Cape. I had been wanting to go round for quite a while and thought, why not?

    What an awesome ride up to Lottin Point! But the rest? Forget!!! It started to rain at Hicks Bay. And the wind got up as well. Then, the road condition rapidly deteriorated on the eastern side right down to Gisborne. The flooding has caused a lot of slips that are still being cleaned up and there is a LOT of road subsidence. I quickly learned that if I saw a sign saying something to the effect of 'bumpy road ahead', SLOW DOWN! Some places the road suddenly dipped or jumped up by as much as half a foot!!

    I finally crawled into Gisborne soaking wet (I hadn't anticipated the rain as it was wall to wall blue at home), and freezing cold at about 5.30pm in the dark with no accommodation organised! LOL Got that sorted, and got dried out kind of...

    Tuesday morning I left foggy, wet Gisborne to head home to Whakatane via the Gorge. While it didn't rain, the road was wet until half-way through the Gorge and I didn't enjoy that. Oh, and I had to come to a fast stop to avoid a whole bunch of Turkeys crossing the road, taking up both lanes... Some subsidence on that road and slips as well. Other than that, when the road dried, it was an epic ride home

    Needless to say, I'll check the weather forecast next time! Oh, and wait till summer I think.......
    A dream without a plan is just a wish!

    Make it happen....

    ....DREAM+PLAN+ACTION=GOAL/TARGET

  2. #2
    Join Date
    29th October 2005 - 16:12
    Bike
    Had a 2007 Suzuki C50T Boulevard
    Location
    Orewa
    Posts
    5,852
    I can relate to that, I've been on rides like that a few times... Glad you got home safe!
    You don't get to be an old dog without learning a few tricks.
    Shorai Powersports batteries are very trick!

  3. #3
    Join Date
    21st September 2007 - 21:39
    Bike
    kawasaki Ninja 650R
    Location
    Whakatane, New Zealand, N
    Posts
    533
    have to say anytime i have been out on a ride lately the roads round here just don't dry and i never really noticed it that much in a car. Glad you got home safely.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    20th April 2007 - 22:06
    Bike
    Concours 14, S10
    Location
    Palmy
    Posts
    3,490
    Hope your experience doesn't put you off. I love the ride around the Cape and the Waioeka is awesome too!

  5. #5
    Join Date
    20th January 2009 - 18:47
    Bike
    2004 VTR1000 & KXF250 trailer trash
    Location
    Lower Hutt
    Posts
    376
    Yeah - that coast road is fantastic on a good day and the Waioeka Rd is something else - there's a great swimming hole at the Opotiki end after the scout hall. My Grandfather was the foreman of the MOW gang that laid the original Waioeka Gorge Rd. Would have been a hard slog back in those days that's for sure. I wish I had some of the original photo's here with me to post.
    Learn basic maintenance as motorcycle boots are not comfortable for walking in

  6. #6
    Join Date
    11th February 2008 - 18:37
    Bike
    Black Thunder
    Location
    Eastern Bay of Plenty
    Posts
    1,018
    Nah, it won't put me off! I've still to clean my bike though..... Grrrr!

    I'd like to go round the East Cape again, but will wait for more summer-ish weather I think. Oh, and make a note to not go so soon after any flooding they have around there. I think that'd help!

    The Waioeka Gorge is awesome too.... shame I've only ever ridden it in the rain! Twice now...
    A dream without a plan is just a wish!

    Make it happen....

    ....DREAM+PLAN+ACTION=GOAL/TARGET

  7. #7
    Join Date
    2nd November 2009 - 20:46
    Bike
    pocket bikes, lots of them
    Location
    Edgecumbe
    Posts
    117
    Good to hear you caned the coast Mavis it's a cool ride late summer, specially the Waioeka gorge thats awesum when the tar is dry, haven't done it on a bike for years but even cool in the tin top (the V8 one he he). catch up soon, Mike

  8. #8
    Join Date
    11th February 2008 - 18:37
    Bike
    Black Thunder
    Location
    Eastern Bay of Plenty
    Posts
    1,018
    Quote Originally Posted by 888mike View Post
    Good to hear you caned the coast Mavis it's a cool ride late summer, specially the Waioeka gorge thats awesum when the tar is dry, haven't done it on a bike for years but even cool in the tin top (the V8 one he he). catch up soon, Mike
    Thanks Mike... I hope things are ok with you guys. Drop in some time when you aren't too busy

    Yeah, the gorge is great aye.. and I enjoyed the ride up to Hicks Bay. It was just when I got soaked round the Eastern side,... it wasn't so flash after that.
    A dream without a plan is just a wish!

    Make it happen....

    ....DREAM+PLAN+ACTION=GOAL/TARGET

  9. #9
    Join Date
    9th May 2007 - 16:10
    Bike
    . .
    Location
    Here
    Posts
    4,513
    Years ago we went around the cape shortly after cyclone Bola had come thru. It was an adventure as the road was a mess.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    15th September 2004 - 22:33
    Bike
    Hornet 900
    Location
    Capital town
    Posts
    3,471
    I can imagine in the conditions you experienced, that ride would be pretty ordinary at best.
    But like others have said, that exact trip can be magic on a good day.

  11. #11
    Join Date
    8th January 2005 - 15:05
    Bike
    Triumph Speed Triple
    Location
    New Plymouth
    Posts
    10,254
    Blog Entries
    1
    On a nice day the East Cape road is a magic ride, but my last experience was similar to yours. The weather was variable but mostly OK from Whakatane to Gisborne. Shortly after leaving Gisborne it started to pour and the Waioeka Gorge was seemingly full of roadworks. I'd had all the fun I could handle long before I got back to Whakatane...

    Still, it's on my "to do" list again, although next time I'd like to stop overnight somewhere like TeAraroa?

  12. #12
    Join Date
    11th February 2008 - 18:37
    Bike
    Black Thunder
    Location
    Eastern Bay of Plenty
    Posts
    1,018
    Quote Originally Posted by pritch View Post

    Still, it's on my "to do" list again, although next time I'd like to stop overnight somewhere like TeAraroa?
    Yeah, it's on my to-do list again as well... Only next time, I'll check the weather! I rode from Whakatane to Opotiki (Stopped for fuel) and then rode all the way to Te Puia Springs before stopping for a comfort stop.

    I was gutted when the chick I asked 'how far to Gisborne' said to me 'an hour and 20'... I was already drowned and was well over the road conditions! I quickly got back on the bike and headed for Gisborne, but was following a logging truck in the pouring rain. My only option was to back right off, because passing would've been suicidal, what with all the spray and wash.

    I made it into Gisborne with my fuel light coming on. I think I'd go all the way round next time... but will leave earlier and I'd stop at places of interest.
    A dream without a plan is just a wish!

    Make it happen....

    ....DREAM+PLAN+ACTION=GOAL/TARGET

  13. #13
    Join Date
    11th February 2008 - 18:37
    Bike
    Black Thunder
    Location
    Eastern Bay of Plenty
    Posts
    1,018
    Quote Originally Posted by pritch View Post
    On a nice day the East Cape road is a magic ride, but my last experience was similar to yours. The weather was variable but mostly OK from Whakatane to Gisborne. Shortly after leaving Gisborne it started to pour and the Waioeka Gorge was seemingly full of roadworks. I'd had all the fun I could handle long before I got back to Whakatane...

    Still, it's on my "to do" list again, although next time I'd like to stop overnight somewhere like TeAraroa?
    Pritch, there's a good pub to overnight at in Tolaga Bay Inn. If you ask at the Cafe, they'll direct you too the off-street parking. I don't know about Te Araroa.
    A dream without a plan is just a wish!

    Make it happen....

    ....DREAM+PLAN+ACTION=GOAL/TARGET

  14. #14
    Join Date
    7th November 2009 - 19:22
    Bike
    2010 Suzuki Gladius
    Location
    Paengaroa, New Zealand, N
    Posts
    41
    Blog Entries
    1

    Unhappy November and roads still very loose

    Quote Originally Posted by BiK3RChiK View Post
    Yeah, it's on my to-do list again as well... Only next time, I'll check the weather! I rode from Whakatane to Opotiki (Stopped for fuel) and then rode all the way to Te Puia Springs before stopping for a comfort stop.

    I was gutted when the chick I asked 'how far to Gisborne' said to me 'an hour and 20'... I was already drowned and was well over the road conditions! I quickly got back on the bike and headed for Gisborne, but was following a logging truck in the pouring rain. My only option was to back right off, because passing would've been suicidal, what with all the spray and wash.

    I made it into Gisborne with my fuel light coming on. I think I'd go all the way round next time... but will leave earlier and I'd stop at places of interest.
    Hubby and I decided to go for a cruise early november the roads are still very messy with a major diversion over loose gravel that I did not enjoy at all

  15. #15
    Join Date
    11th February 2008 - 18:37
    Bike
    Black Thunder
    Location
    Eastern Bay of Plenty
    Posts
    1,018
    Quote Originally Posted by pearlygirl View Post
    Hubby and I decided to go for a cruise early november the roads are still very messy with a major diversion over loose gravel that I did not enjoy at all
    Yes, the Maraenui Bluff is going to be permanently closed and the bypass round the back of the Bluff through the forestry road is going to be the permanent route from here-on in, or so the local paper said last week. I think I´ll wait till they sort that out before meandering round the Cape again.

    Thanks for the update Pearlygirl. Sorry you didn´t enjoy it that much...
    A dream without a plan is just a wish!

    Make it happen....

    ....DREAM+PLAN+ACTION=GOAL/TARGET

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •