Coming to New Zealand for a 6 week tour (Jan-Feb 2011)

**Highlander** · 14th February 2011, 07:02

Enjoying reading your updates sounds like you are having a good look and enjoying what you see.

If you have any interest in street circuit racing Paeroa is the place to be the 3rd Sunday each February.

Do you have a half worked plan for "doing" the north Island?

Top marks to those taking you as a guest in their homes and taking time to show you around. Good effort guys

**BMWST?** · 15th February 2011, 11:30

Hey Joe sorry i missed you but glad that Kenny took you under his wing...anoter accent for you to get used to!!!

**olegeezer** · 15th February 2011, 20:13

Originally Posted by Highlander

Enjoying reading your updates sounds like you are having a good look and enjoying what you see.

If you have any interest in street circuit racing Paeroa is the place to be the 3rd Sunday each February.

Do you have a half worked plan for "doing" the north Island?

Top marks to those taking you as a guest in their homes and taking time to show you around. Good effort guys

Yes, they are to be commended! Very good folks you are.

and a quick update
Thursday, February 10. I was planning on another hike to a different bay but needed to book another night in my room. I was too late and they had rented it , so I headed for Picton to catch the ferry back to the north island the next day.

Friday, February 11. I caught the 10am Interislander ferrry for Wellington. About 30 motorcycles showed up, most were going to a Triumph rally in Whanganui. I got a good tip on a festival in Napier with a car show, concerts, art deco stuff? for Feb 20 but a motorcycle race in the town of Paeroa is on the same day. I think I will focus on the race.
A good Kiwibiker,(Hawkeye) Kenny offered to meet me at the ferry and he was there when I got off. He finished his work day while I took a cable car to the top of the hill in downtown Wellington. Nice ride and then we rode to his place where he met his 11 year old daughter and computer wiz. We freshened up and took the bikes back in town and they showed me a few sights (Mount Victoria) which has a great view of the city, harbor and airport. The airport is built on land that was raised during an earthquake and was previously underwater. We rode up a real nice hill in Paekakariki which had a stunning view of Pukerua Bay and Kapiti Island in the distance. Wouldn't you know the helmet cam battery died before we got there. We had pizza for dinner and went back to Kennys' place.

Saturday, February 12 . I slept in until 7am and Kenny cooked breakfast. We rode back into Wellington with Chloe riding pillion on Kenny's Katana 750. We went looking for a spare battery for the Hero cam but it was not to be found but I did find out where one was at further north. So we took off riding around Wellington (Mirimar Loop, Kiaro to Makara and took in the Te Papa museum in town. A very nice museum that needs plenty of time to enjoy it all. We were standing in a park with windsurfers all around when I noticed a plaque mounted up on a pedestal. I read the plaque which was in memory of US Marines who camped there during World War II and later fought and died on the South Pacific Islands. I told Kenny and Chloe that my dad and brother were both US Marines and my day had served in the South Pacific, my brother in Vietnam. This plaque was on Pauatahanui Inlet. (for all you current and former Marines). I know there will always be a soft spot in my heart for the Marines. Kenny Johnston (a Geordie from Newcastle) and Chloe have been great hosts and I hope he will come the US someday so I can return his hospitality.

Sunday, February 13. Hawkeye took good care of me but you have to be careful not to wear out your welcome. Kenny and Chloe led me out of Whitby and I rode to Palmerston North and found a shop open that had a battery for my helmet cam. Sweet, I grabbed the battery and headed for Whanganui where I checked in to a BBH hostel and it was good. I had a three bunk room and one roommate from Tennessee who was glad to see someone from his neck of the woods. He was hiking, (yes, no wheels) and enjoying it. After I ate dinner that I cooked in their kitchen, I walked across the street to look at the Whanganui rivier. There was a group of young boys jumping off a concrete wall into the river. I ran and got the Hero cam and took some video of the them, diving, flipping and having fun in the water. They must have ranged in age from 10 to 16 years and they made me want to be that age again. One of them asked me if I was a millionaire and I told him, "I was just a poor coal miner traveling on a motorcycle", which is, for the most part, true. I know they were having a good time with my accent........
Whanganui looked like a nice and interesting town but I had a ride on the "Forgotten Highway" on my mind.

**Quasi** · 15th February 2011, 20:26

WooHoo Jose - you done it

. I am so envious but will be on the forgotten highway myself soon

do you want to meet up in Paeroa. I will leave here late morning on friday, heading towrds Tokoroa. Text me if you are around.

keep up the blogs - they are entertaining and amusing

**olegeezer** · 16th February 2011, 09:30

Yes Carla, I do plan to go to the race. I have to go so I can get some of those molded earplugs that Hawkeye recommended!! I am just going to ride a little on the way there? Not sure where? May go to Napier today. Hope to see ya there!

The Forgotten Highways was an easy ride on Shaftys' Orient Expresso. The gravel, (12.2km to be prezact) was good gravel but the road people were resurfacing some of 43 between the natural gravel and Taumarunui, so watch out for that part.
I think I even saw a few sport bikes on the road. The Whangamomona Hotel was booked when I had lunch there. I really wanted to spend the night , such is life. I bought the tee shirt and rode on to Turangi and then did the dreaded march to see the volcanoes (19.45 km as I counted all my steps). God was I tired when I got back to the bus but it was worth all the pain. My right knee felt like it had a bearing down in it by the time I finished. It was a tad crowded but I didn't care. One lady fell and broke her arm and finished her walk in a sling.

**Quasi** · 16th February 2011, 09:51

oke doke - think we will be going via Napier/Taupo.

**olegeezer** · 16th February 2011, 19:10

Monday, February 14. I rode toward Strattford and got on the Forgotten Highway. It was a nice day and a great ride. I stopped at the Whangamomona? hotel for lunch and asked for a room. They were booked so I had to settle for the tee shirt so I could tell the world I had been there. The ride to Taumarunui was good and there are 12.2 km of gravel, good gravel and not a big deal for the Orient Express (ST1300). When I got to Taumarunui I stopped at the shop where I picked up the bike and made arrangements to drop it off before I leave the country. I rode to Turangi and found a room. As soon as I checked in the operator asked if I wanted to hike up to the volcanoes. I said yes and it was booked.

Tuesday, February 15. I got up at 6am had breakfast and got ready for the bus ride. The hike was called the Tongariro Alpine Crossing and measured at 19.4 km. I kinda figured it would be a tough one for myself anyway. It was worth the effort. We (not sure how many, but many) had to climb about 800 meters to get to the easiest summit. The die hard hikers had to climb to the top of a tall volcanic pile of barren rubble for the best view (if the clouds lifted). I knew I would do good to finish the easy track. The views were great and we hiked thru a couple of volcanoes, the dry ones anyway. One crater was a deep burgundy color, still smoldering in places and you could smell the sulfur compounds as they rose up over the top. Below the big red crater was a couple of emerald green pools that no one cared to get into. Descending the red crater was steep and the footing was not good. I saw two women sliding down on their bottoms to avoid the risk of falling. One woman fell and broke her arm and finished the track in an arm sling. I was exhausted by the time I got back to the pickup area for the bus. My right knee had me whining and felt like a bearing was going down. ......But I'm glad I made the trip. It seems like every time I take a long ride I manage to get myself into some kind of self-imposed physical torture.

Wednesday, February 16. I left Turangi headed for Taupo on the lake and then decided to ride to Napier on the east cost. The ride down was beautiful and it seems there are no bad roads to ride here in Kiwiland. Napier seemed like a nice enough place but it was busy and there were a lot of people coming in for a festival this weekend. I wanted to get more out in the country to spend the night so I took in a few lookout sites and made my way north toward Gisborne along the coast. I had a blinking fuel gauge so I stopped before leaving town to fill up. I put the Orient Express up on the center stand to check the oil. The oil was OK and I just started looking at the front tire for wear issues. I then moved to the back of the bike to look at the rear. Now I don't do this as a habit, it's really not a routine with me every time I fill up. So I start rotating the wheel and find a nice shiny rivet sticking out of the middle of the tire. A little spit on the rivet and sure enough, it was leaking, slowly. I must have just picked it up!! Holy Mother of Honda, now is that some good luck or not?? (finding it before it found me) I was directed to (another stroke of luck) a Honda shop less than a kilometer away. They were not cheap but they were fast and had it off the bike and TWO patches in about an hour. I got the lecture about not using the slimy worm plugs (the kind I use on my bike at home) and I nodded my head in agreement (ashamed to mention my own sins). The tire already had one plug in it before I managed the rivet. The motorcycle gods were looking after me today and I was feeling very good.
After the delay, I decided it was too late to proceed north and found a nice campground beside the beach. I broke out the tent for only the fourth time. It was damp and musty smelling from some old Milford Sound rain.

**olegeezer** · 16th February 2011, 21:17

Originally Posted by BMWST?

Hey Joe sorry i missed you but glad that Kenny took you under his wing...anoter accent for you to get used to!!!

No problem , thanks for greeting me on my way south, that was maybe my wettest day. Hawkeye took good care of me and I do like his accent much better than my own.

Highlander, I have no real plan for the nord island, other than see the race at Paeora and see some beaches. I have about 2 week to go so if you have suggestions that would be great.

**Highlander** · 17th February 2011, 07:37

You appear to be having a good look around.

From Napier, I'd go to Gisborne, and a walk on the beach. The dilemma then is Highway 2 through the Waioeka Gorge or 35 around the East cape - Both if at all possible.

The macadamia nut farm at Whanarua bay on the East cape road do a tasty Macadamia nut and Manuka Honey ice cream that is worth stopping for on your way past.

About 15 km from Whakatane is Awakeri Hot Springs a nice spot to stop pitch your tent for the night, and soak in their hot pools into the evening. We take the family camping there at least once a year.

When you get up around the Coromandel, take a stop at Hot Water Beach (near Whitianga) if you get there about an hour either side of low tide, there is HOT water bubbling up through the sand, scratch yourself a hole where it mixes with cold from the sea and you can have yourself a bath. All sign posted, easy enough to find.

Paeroa on Sunday will be awesome. Shame I'll be at work.

**olegeezer** · 17th February 2011, 07:57

Good on ya Highlander! Ima takin notes..........
Rain here in Napier after the sun came up so I delay leaving to wash me clothes.
My legs are still sore from the "hike to hell".

**BMWST?** · 17th February 2011, 08:01

Originally Posted by olegeezer

Good on ya Highlander! Ima takin notes..........
Rain here in Napier after the sun came up so I delay leaving to wash me clothes.
My legs are still sore from the "hike to hell".

sounds like a couple of hot water soaks is just the ticket then

**olegeezer** · 18th February 2011, 17:05

Originally Posted by BMWST?

sounds like a couple of hot water soaks is just the ticket then

I think it may be what I need and some soaking in the ocean too!!

Highlander toured me around Tauranga today and left in Tokoroa to meet Carla and her group for a meeting and date with a race on Sunday. Nice ride we had on a beautiful day. The main problem with riding with you guys is that I find myself lusting for your bikes. Hawkeye has me wanting to ride a Triumph Tiger and now Highlander has me thinking maybe a sporty beemer like his??? And Carlas' Monster looked like fun too.

**olegeezer** · 18th February 2011, 17:11

Here they are, I understand I must type something in here.........

**Hawkeye** · 18th February 2011, 17:24

Sounds like your having fun Joe. Great that you got to do the Highway. I told you that gravel wouldn't be an issue on the ST !! And I'm sure that Carla and the gang will look after you up at the races.
Just make sure you hunt out 'Plugz 4 Lugz' when you get to the races.
The're sure to be there and you won't regret it.