East Cape ride report

[BiK3RChiK]

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.......

[Edbear]

I can relate to that, I've been on rides like that a few times... Glad you got home safe!

[trailblazer]

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.

[banditrider]

Hope your experience doesn't put you off. I love the ride around the Cape and the Waioeka is awesome too!

[nothingflash]

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.

[BiK3RChiK]

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...

[888mike]

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

[BiK3RChiK]

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.

[Taz]

Years ago we went around the cape shortly after cyclone Bola had come thru. It was an adventure as the road was a mess.

[Kendog]

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.

[pritch]

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?

[BiK3RChiK]

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.

[BiK3RChiK]

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.

[pearlygirl]

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

[BiK3RChiK]

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...