What a mission! Getting lost

[Armi]

Today was a nice day, a nice day to ride. Went along to see where the Albany Expressway goes if you follow it north. Got to Silverdale and thought that wasn't enough, I'll keep going and take that road that cuts across from SH1 to SH16. I ended up missing the road without realising and thought Kaipara Flats Road sounds interesting. And interesting it was.

Learnt about the dangers of road works where they just chuck gravel all over the place. Almost lost my front wheel twice. Then the road turned into gravel... Thought it wouldn't last for long. 4kms later, it was getting dark and I turned back.

Was a slow trip, the FXR headlight is like a candle, high beam is worse than regular and I didn't know where all the gravely patches were.

Made it to the main road and pootled home. Gonna make sure I know what's going on before I turn down any random streets again.

This was the trip:
http://g.co/maps/wrfu9

Also some indian dude in a minivan was trying to race me on the way home

[JustNick]

It sounded like a great adventure

[hellokitty]

was that Kaipara Flats Road? I went along there once, many years ago, and the road just stopped... had a rather large part missing and a stream running through it, which I drove the car through and continued on, I have never been that way again.... would have hated that on a motorbike!

[unstuck]

You were so close to SH16 too before you turned around. Lots of great adventures start from taking a wrong turn. Next time you will know to turn off at warkworth.

[rickstv]

Just another tip when riding into uncharted territory. there usually is no cell phone coverage, so take a mate along just in case the worst happens. I find sharing a ride is much better anyway.
The best ride for you would have been Old North Rd, To Helensville up State Hway 16 to Woodcocks Rd across to Warkworth and back again.
Rick.

[unstuck]

Lucky you didnt stumble onto kaipara hills rd, that would of been a real adventure for you.

[MSTRS:Me]

Hmmm...easily done.
I left Whangaparoa Rd intending to cut through to Coatesville to Kumeu, thence to Henderson.
Imagine my surprise when I reached Kaukapakapa!
I'd gone straight at the lights at the end of Whangaparoa Rd ...

[Tigadee]

LOL! I had the same experience on the way back from N Plymouth from a conference (had taken the family along) and decided to cut across from SH3 to SH43 through Okau/Waitaanga/Ohura, since on the map it seemed a proper road. Hey, it WAS on the map, so it must be some kinda proper road, right? Wrong! A quarter of the way, road turned to gravel for 50% of the length and then finally back to tar road just before Ohura. Saw maybe only four cars/pick-up and a bike the whole way!

Beautiful scenery though, real rugged and proper '100% pure NZ' with waterfalls, rolling green hills, mist-covered mountains, handsome cows right next to the road, etc. My kids and I loved it, but my wife (and me sometimes) sweated wondering when we were ever gonna see tarred road! And some of the slopes right next to the road! Enough to make you wonder "If we slipped down there, no one will ever know or find us!"

Still, what an adventure/rush and thank God we got to SH43 and then AKL safely.

[Armi]

You were so close to SH16 too before you turned around. Lots of great adventures start from taking a wrong turn. Next time you will know to turn off at warkworth.

Wasn't so keen to continue cause I reached a sign saying winding roads, next 4km, and look out for logging trucks. I wasn't expecting a logging truck to be coming through but I figured the road would just be getting worse.

And the cows... They appeared to have never seen a motorbike before.

[Pseudonym]

Some of the best rides I have ever been on where the result of “I wonder where this goes?”
Good on you for exploring.

[baffa]

Took a mate through old north road last night on his new bike.

Poor guy is trying to get used to riding a bike again, and a rather powerful one at that, and I'm sailing ahead through the twisties.

I almost wish I lived in Helensville, so I could use that road every day.

[slofox]

I've discovered many a good road (and some bad ones too!) whilst being totally lost on the bike.

There is a maze of roads that run between SH1 and SH3 - kinda South Waikato, may be found by heading East from Otorohanga. On one of my first excursions through there I spent about an hour blundering up goat tracks that came to dead ends. It was pissing with rain and a few of the roads were unsealed, narrow and with very high camber - usually with boulder sized gravel all over them although one was just clay - very slick when wet.

I did eventually get home but i was wondering there at one stage...