Miss Millie does lunch at the Chateau

**Mom** · 2nd June 2013, 15:50

The plan was to head to the winterless north this weekend.

Where did I find myself?

Throwing snowballs at Maha at Whakapapa Village

After our weekend plans were turned upside down we decided to head south and visit some family and friends about the place. I had arranged to have Friday off work so we could avoid the weekend traffic. Friday morning was cold, but dry as we headed south. I resemble something a bit like a pass the parcel pressie when winter riding, but I still managed to get cold as we went down the Bombays and into the foggy Waikato Brrrrrrrr. Stopped at Mercer for a feed and to warm up and applied another layer to my ensemble, much warmer after that.

It turns out every share-milker and his friggen herd were also heading south on Friday, so we had to share the road with stinking, shit spewing, cattle trucks. Just into a nice grove on the Ohinewai Road when we caught up with 2 truck and trailer units full of cows

Managed to get past them, but not before getting a liberal spraying of fine cowshit all over Millie and me! Then as we approached Te Poi yet another truck came into view. I was really hoping we were not facing this all the way to Vegas.

Once we were through Morrinsville we left the trucks behind and had an uneventful trip into Rotorua. I hate riding in traffic when I am not overly familiar with the road layouts. Some wanker in a lowered POS decided he needed my place on the road requiring me to take evasive action to avoid becoming his hood ornament. To his credit his passenger gave me a wave out the window by way of apology. Arrived safely at our destination and settled in for the night.

**Mom** · 2nd June 2013, 16:06

Saturday morning dawned dry, but grey and gloomy, and COLD… Being the little hot house flower that I am, I do worry about getting cold, but thanks to my 3 layers of merino, thermal lined jacket and heated grips I was warm as a toasty thing. I love riding in the winter ( no sarcasm) you really do feel the benefit of your gear, you can tell it is really cold, but you are warm. Good Stuff. I thought my pinlock visor was going to let me down though when I first took off though. I was so hot in my gear my breath did try to steam up the visor, but it settled really quickly. We were going to stop for coffee in Taupo, but it was a heaving mass of people. We stopped lake front for a piccy. The mountains looked really great.

Maha suggested we go to Turangi and then come back up the Western Access on the other side of Lake Taupo. When we got to Turangi, I thought it was a good idea to have lunch at the Chateau. So we did. The road through the National Park is really awesome to ride. Lots of nice corners where you can leave the throttle open and simply ride through. It was a bit windy in places and really cold. A little bit of misty rain was about the place but we could see the Chateau in the distance bathed in sunshine.

Had a lovely feed at the Chateau, but when we came out it was raining and really bitter. I was a bit pissed off about that, as plans were to go and make a snow angel in one of the bunkers on the golf course that was still full of snow

My gear is known to be a little less than waterproof at times, and I did not want to risk getting wet in the snow and then riding wetter than I needed to be. Headed down to National Park and decided to head north as the weather really was dark south. We were heading to Mangakino btw, so were really taking a large detour. Went to Taumaranui, as you do, then we back tracked across State Highway 41 towards Turangi so we could take the Western Access route north again. Now that road is a doozy for sure. It climbs and climbs. The weather by this time had turned to persistent rain. It obviously gets really icy up there as there was grit all over the road. Combine the grit with lichen and large amounts of water, it made for an interesting ride.

I really enjoyed the Western Access road too. Again nice sweeping corners. Arrived in Mangakino safe and sound. The sun had come out making the glare off wet roads quite challenging at times, it was getting late in the day by then and sun strike was a real hazard. All good things to keep you concentrating fully at the end of a day in the saddle.

**Mom** · 2nd June 2013, 16:08

Headed home this morning. Mangakino turned on a grey, damp, drizzly morning for us, we did not see any sunshine until Rangairiri. I have to say the ride up the poxy motorway in Auckland would have to rank as one of the most soul destroying rides you can make. Only things of interest were the 2 cars that attempted to change lanes on top of me in the city and the lovely little tunnel in town that for some reason makes Millie drop down a few cogs and zoom through on the pipe

Great weekend end away, just on 1000 kms in total.

http://maps.google.co.nz/maps?saddr=...=1,2,3&t=m&z=8

**Mom** · 2nd June 2013, 16:08

Laugh of the day today. New road safety signs.

Rural Road, slow down for corners

**Maha** · 2nd June 2013, 16:17

Couldn't find a decent coffee in Taupo (and it was a bitter wind blowin' in off the lake) so we took a piss behind the fire station and headed for Turangi, surprisingly mild there by comparison.

The western access and Waipapa roads are some that we'll do again for sure.

**turtleman** · 2nd June 2013, 17:42

Nice write-up, guys - Sounds like you had fun !
Gotta love a lot of those Central NI roads, and the scenery

**Mom** · 2nd June 2013, 17:48

Originally Posted by turtleman

Nice write-up, guys - Sounds like you had fun !
Gotta love a lot of those Central NI roads, and the scenery

I tell you, we live in the most beautiful country for sure. Coming home today through the back roads of the King Country, it takes your breath away at times. We travel at just able to smell the roses/silage/cow shit/new mown grass kinda speeds generally. I saw a HUGE flying fox today and recall thinking "what mental bastard would attempt that?" I am google searching the adventure company to give to a guy I work with. Right up his alley

**turtleman** · 2nd June 2013, 17:56

Originally Posted by Mom

I tell you, we live in the most beautiful country for sure. Coming home today through the back roads of the King Country, it takes your breath away at times. We travel at just able to smell the roses/silage/cow shit/new mown grass kinda speeds generally. I saw a HUGE flying fox today and recall thinking "what mental bastard would attempt that?" I am google searching the adventure company to give to a guy I work with. Right up his alley

Yep, there's not a lot of this country I haven't seen, 80% of it on a bike. And I never tire of going a 2nd or 3rd time for another look

I miss riding in your neck of the woods (I lived up that way for around 5 years) but planning to revisit that area and Northwards later this year.

**Mom** · 2nd June 2013, 18:02

Originally Posted by turtleman

Yep, there's not a lot of this country I haven't seen, 80% of it on a bike. And I never tire of going a 2nd or 3rd time for another look

I miss riding in your neck of the woods (I lived up that way for around 5 years) but planning to revisit that area and Northwards later this year.

Look us up when you venture Norf.

**Maha** · 3rd June 2013, 08:57

Originally Posted by turtleman

Nice write-up, guys - Sounds like you had fun !
Gotta love a lot of those Central NI roads, and the scenery

There were some roads I have not been on for 30 years or more and some...never. No GPS/Map book. Only the once did I think ''where are we going''?...I knew I had gone passed a road we should have taken, but carried on and ended up in the town where we were heading anyway. I wanted to go have a look at Horopito (where Smash Palace was filmed) but when we got to National Park, the weather to the left was dark with a rainbow so turned right and rode towards to lighter stuff. I don't think I have ever been on that bit of SH4 National Park/Taumaranui.

SH41 between T/nui and Kuratau Junction was the worst bit of the trip condition wise, misty rain, the cloud was on the ground and there were places with ice grit on the road which was an arse, but once over the summit and down the other side, the sun was there waiting.

You can see the dark cloud coming in from the right in the pic...

**Rosso** · 3rd June 2013, 10:24

Thanks for posting your trip , I really enjoyed reading it, and copied your map , been around alot of the NI but never to the Chateau on the bike and few other roads you mentioned.
Will file it for when I am able to ride again .

**Mom** · 3rd June 2013, 10:54

Originally Posted by Rosso

Thanks for posting your trip , I really enjoyed reading it, and copied your map , been around alot of the NI but never to the Chateau on the bike and few other roads you mentioned.
Will file it for when I am able to ride again .

The roads down there were fantastic to ride. Honestly, easy, cruisey stuff with a few twisties thrown in for good measure. I had a blast! Even crappy weather at times did not make a difference. I would love to go back when there is a bit more snow around though, just because I have never ridden in snowy conditions. Hope you are able to get back on two wheels soon.

**Smifffy** · 3rd June 2013, 10:55

Originally Posted by Maha

Couldn't find a decent coffee in Taupo (and it was a bitter wind blowin' in off the lake) so we took a piss behind the fire station and headed for Turangi, surprisingly mild there by comparison.

The western access and Waipapa roads are some that we'll do again for sure.

Give us a buzz when you do? Love them roads.

**george formby** · 3rd June 2013, 11:43

Phew! Spotted this thread & immediately remembered the txt I forgot to reply too. My apologies. Looks & reads like a lubbly weekend.
I'm not riding anywhere until my nipples defrost.

**Maha** · 3rd June 2013, 11:53

Originally Posted by george formby

Phew! Spotted this thread & immediately remembered the txt I forgot to reply too. My apologies. Looks & reads like a lubbly weekend.
I'm not riding anywhere until my nipples defrost.

Forced change of direction became apparent on Thursday when it our northland digs had been booked out for a bunch of stock car drivers...I rode the whole way with my summer gloves, Anne had her girly heated grips on

I did have my winter gloves with me but did not need them.