Takapari Road, Manawatu and over Pahiatua Track to Wairapa - Sat 2 July anyone?

**Aslan** · 30th June 2011, 22:03

Originally Posted by 86GSXR

Hiya. Could be keen on this if you don't mind another DR tagging along

86GSXR you're most welcome - look forward to meeting you Saturday at Mobil Ashhurst 10am

NB Others reading this thread and leaving from Wellington on Sat AM - we're leaving from the last Servo with the McDonalds at the Northern end of Paramata - 7.30am

**BMWST?** · 30th June 2011, 23:10

Originally Posted by Aslan

86GSXR you're most welcome - look forward to meeting you Saturday at Mobil Ashhurst 10am

NB Others reading this thread and leaving from Wellington on Sat AM - we're leaving from the last Servo with the McDonalds at the Northern end of Paramata - 7.30am

shell mana?

**Aslan** · 1st July 2011, 08:03

Originally Posted by BMWST?

shell mana?

thanks BMWST - for the aviodance of doubt, the last servo on the left leaving Mana - with one with the McDonalds attached

Looking forward to it - cheers Aslan aka Stephen O

**oneofsix** · 1st July 2011, 08:17

Originally Posted by Aslan

thanks BMWST - for the aviodance of doubt, the last servo on the left leaving Mana - with one with the McDonalds attached

Looking forward to it - cheers Aslan aka Stephen O

yeap that's the Shell at Goat Point, Mana. Next servo on left on SH1, heading north out of Wellington, is the BP at Paraparaumu and there isn't any Macas attached to that one.

**Box'a'bits** · 1st July 2011, 21:57

Originally Posted by BMWST?

shell mana?

So, are you coming?

See you all at 7.30ish

.
Don't worry if I don't talk to you much first up - I don't do mornings...I'll need the coffee to kick in.

Steve

**BMWST?** · 2nd July 2011, 11:25

Originally Posted by BMWRSNUT

So, are you coming?

See you all at 7.30ish

.
Don't worry if I don't talk to you much first up - I don't do mornings...I'll need the coffee to kick in.

Steve

will make the effort!is it all sealed or gravel(ie strret tyre frindly)Hellishly early for a sunday!

**andy mac** · 2nd July 2011, 12:51

You'll be able to sleep in tomorrow, as they were going today.

**andy mac** · 2nd July 2011, 12:57

You'll be able to sleep in tomorrow, as they were going today.

**BMWST?** · 2nd July 2011, 13:09

Originally Posted by andy mac

You'll be able to sleep in tomorrow, as they were going today.

**86GSXR** · 2nd July 2011, 17:57

Great ride, LOVED that road, definitely on the revisit list. Nice to meet you all. A few pics below

**Howie** · 2nd July 2011, 19:24

Originally Posted by 86GSXR

Great ride, LOVED that road, definitely on the revisit list. Nice to meet you all. A few pics below

Glad you enjoyed the trip, Just got home, did Wharite peak, and North range road as well. Time to thaw out now.

**Box'a'bits** · 2nd July 2011, 20:05

Originally Posted by Howie

Glad you enjoyed the trip, Just got home, did Wharite peak, and North range road as well. Time to thaw out now.

What was Wharite peak like Howie? Good job you didn't wait the 10 mins until we went to the end of the road & back - it was more like 3/4 of an hr or more. Knarly, but good fun. We did North Range Rd on the way back as well, home after dark.

Seven of us started from Mana (Stephen, Neville, Bruce, Howie, Ian, ?), picked up Mark S at Shannon. Robin & 86GSX at Ashhurst. Graham Flyger also rode up but didn't accompany us.

Looks like the Manawatu almost had a frost. It was cold. And the weather didn't cooperate & clagged in. Aslan took us for a bit of a magical mystery tour of the upper Pohangina Valley, but it was a bloody good gravel road, so who the hell cares.

Lost Robin at the bottom of Takapari Rd. He deicided not to go up with us, given he was running a road oriented front tyre.

Takapari Rd was clouded in, which meant we got wet on the way, & didn't get the views, but hey, its an excellent ride. There was snow clumps nr the summit. We all stopped at the A-Frame for a warm up & pictures. Did anyone get a pictuire of the snowman on the way back?

The group split into two, 4 going back, but Ian, Stephen, Mark & I decided to get to the end of the road. The road deteriorated markedly after the A-Frame Hut, with large erosion washouts & some sections with large rock loose. We stopped when the road did - there was tracks going into a bog. I wasn't successful in getting Mark S to 'test the water' for us.

Coming back was even more fraught than going. Is that clutch I smell?

Back down, someone needed a tow to the gas station, & then the fab four headed off to Ballance for a coffee & lunch. Attacked North Range Rd, the Lower Class Road attracted the riff raff, & we proved it isn't a dead end. Also fairly sure the 'temporary' 20km warning sign has been there a while - its growing moss. One dab in the middle of a huge mud puddle on the way thru, when the front washed out. Fortunately that was sufficient.

Home by dark, bloody cold.

**Howie** · 2nd July 2011, 20:19

Originally Posted by BMWRSNUT

What was Wharite peak like Howie? Good job you didn't wait the 10 mins until we went to the end of the road & back - it was more like 3/4 of an hr or more. Knarly, but good fun. We did North Range Rd on the way back as well, home after dark.

sounds like I might have to do a trip past the Hut on a nice summers day when you might get the views as well.

The road up Wharite peak was about the best I have seen it out of the three times I've been up there. we were just clear of the cloud level at the road end, and there was a cool breeze blowing. You could see Ashurst, but not as far as P/north.

North Range road was fun a bit wet in places, but it would have to be the least windy trip I've done through there.

**ianxreed** · 3rd July 2011, 10:01

Totally excellent day out guys, best for a long time. I think today I'll mainly be reaching for the water blaster!!!

**marks** · 3rd July 2011, 17:39

Thank you Aslan for organizing an excellent day out.

And thank you BMWRSNUT for telling me to get my shit together when I was about to turn around and head back down when I was getting very cold and wet (didn't wear enough layers...)

Awesome lumpy track past the hut

quite a challenge for the bigger bikes - it was fooking steep in places....

Ian on his 1200GS

Steve on his airhead