Jatz's travels

[Gremlin]

What is it with fricking furry animals & bikes? Is it not sufficient to have dunlop stickers on your bikes anymore? Ok a lil girls bike with a basket & spokey dokes is allowed one but aren't we all getting a bit old for comfort toys?

It's so he can blame the other personalities on someone else

[_Shrek_]

I'm starting to wonder if you actually have a job, want to move the tag

ps nice pic's

[GSers]

Home for the night.... Pukehinau rd

Sent from my ZTE R83

Nice Spot in there even have some facilities plus the river.

GSers

[JATZ]

Put your big boy undies on FFS!!!

I would but George has them on

It's so he can blame the other personalities on someone else

I'm starting to wonder if you actually have a job, want to move the tag

ps nice pic's

I have a very understanding employer and no dependants/commitments except George
Yip I'd be keen, but probably can't get away for a while, But we'll see I was sortof knocking around down that wayish last weekend too. On 4 wheels though

Nice Spot in there even have some facilities plus the river.

GSers

Yip "facilities" are a bonus

[JATZ]

Right... where was I ??

After a hell night we packed up and headed back to the main rd, I was tempted to have a crack at the 42nd but after the rain the night before figured it was probably best to give it a miss
Never mind, I'm sure we could find something else to occupy the time. We got to Raurimu and for some reason I decided to stop and see what I could see, and just as I pulled my helmet off a train came trundling along, what a stroke of luck



I must say I was somewhat disappointed with the whole deal, no flashing neon signs or fanfare, in fact there was very little there. My mind was a sponge, just waiting to soak up any information on this railway masterpiece, but sadly I came away empty
Nevermind though..... I saw.....

RAURIMU REX !! instead



Bonus.
Anyway, George wanted to have a crack at navigating, so I let him have at it



... we headed north a bit more and swung a left at Owhango and went up Hikumutu rd



That was nice which deposited us in the back of Taumaranui. which is as good a place as any to stop for breakfast
After a not to shabby pie sitting while sheltering from the showers we headed off down H/way 43. I'd been past a couple of interesting things up a side road, on the Coast to Coast ride, but hadn't stopped to take a pic. I intended to set this right with myself. We hung a left up Otunui sth rd, which lead to Otunui nth rd. Then onto Ararimu east rd



Then Opotiki rd where I found what I was looking for



I thought it was a pretty cool entrance way and it's nice to see recycling in action. But wait .... it gets better



It was really starting to come down now so we didn't hang about. There's some nice views of the mountains from up there when it's fine.
We jumped back on the main rd for a bit and continued north, turning off onto Tikitiki rd, just for a change of pace That was another nice diversion. So nice I didn't stop for pics
Then we just cruised up through TeKuiti and Otorohanga, just chilling out and looking around. After Otorohanga we hung another left and cruised up Honokiwi rd



Cool .....and wet



And down Kaimango rd.... another left, then a right and we were on TeRauamoa rd. I chatted to a guy at the intersection of Pirongia West rd and decided to I had enough gas to carry on, so carry on we did



? I need more descriptive words ?



These little buggers didn't want to get off the road for me.



By this stage I was starting to look for somewhere to set up camp. I couldn't have done another night in the little tent so I was looking for somewhere to string up the tarp. Nothing really jumped out at me and I ended up at the Oparau road house.
I asked if they had a couple of trees on a flat piece of ground I could use, "Hang on" said the owner, " I may have something beterer"
I got the DeLux suite, just out the back of the shop.



I thought the compressors would've kept me awake, or the cats, or the chookens, but it was all good
The day was done... with a feed I didn't have to cook myself and a couple of bourbons Cool place, owned by a couple of really nice people.

[JATZ]

Did I mention the room rate ?? It was pretty cheap, so cheap, I felt obliged to have a big brekky. Its good to start the day with something decent anyway....sometimes George had to have a play on some of the stuff out the back of the shop



Me and George had had a discussion about where to go next and we decided to head out to the coast and have a look at Ruapuke. I'd never been there so that helped with the decision making.
The rain had turned to the occasional shower as we headed up the Raglan rd and found the turnoff to Ruapuke.
We eventually found the beach



And then wobbled north some more, stopping to check out Te Toto gorge



It was kind of spooky standing on the viewing platform, with thoughts of "what if" swirling round in your head. Nice spot though
We carried on through Raglan, not stopping as it didn't hold any interest for me. Then we hung another left up Ohautira rd, another left shortly onto Ruakiwi rd. We got to the intersection of TeRakau rd and went left again. Getting onto the TeAkau coast rd we turned right. I'd done this on the last trip north and wanted to see something new and exciting so hooked a right at the next intersection, onto Waimai vly rd and followed that through to Dixon rd.





According to my atlas there's a waterfall there somewhere. I was mildly excited about this, as everybody likes waterfalls, just look how popular Niagra and Iguacu falls are Sadly all I found was some mad cows who's road skills were lacking
Nevermind... I found this online



I'm sure thats exactly what it looked like
We headed back onto the seal for a bit at Naike before heading back west onto Matakitaki rd



Along Brian and Ponganui rd's and headed towards Onewhero. I poked the front wheel down Klondyke rd, as thats another name I'd seen on the advridingnz website, but figured I'd best make tracks to the big smoke instead
A quick stop just south of Tuakau to boil the billy and mentally prepare myself for the motorway



Then it was just follow the purple line, which seemed to take us all over the place, finally depositing us somewhere close to the motorway. I took over navigation again at this point and got us where we needed to be, missing most of the rush hour traffic, which was a bonus

[unstuck]

More good stuff.
Shame you missed out Klondyke rd though, That is a brilliant bit of road. And you would have still made it back to Tuakau.

[Eddieb]

Info on most of those roads can be found here: http://www.adventureridingnz.co.nz/g...island-tracks/

[Aslan]

Loving your thread. - Looks to me like you've 'got life by the throat!' - onya!

[JATZ]

Loving your thread. - Looks to me like you've 'got life by the throat!' - onya!

Cheers Aslan. I thought about giving you a call to see if you wanted to go for a ride when I was in your neck of the woods.

[_Shrek_]

Loving your thread. - Looks to me like you've 'got life by the throat!' - onya!

you still down this way?

[JATZ]

Well after getting settled in Auckland, drying gear/doing washing/seeing mum I had to do some maintenance. I knew it was getting worn and I'd ordered a new one at the local bike shop, but hadn't got there before leaving Just as well cycletreads had one on the shelf



The one on the left is the old one... I'm not sure why, but I go through 2 fronts to 1 rear
Other than that it was all good, everything as it should be
After noodling about for a couple of days in Aucktown, which included caching up with 10bikekid sadly it was pissing down or we would've gone to Muriwai for a blat on the dunes. While I was in a "meet random strangers" frame of mind I called in on Mom and Maha on the way back to my digs. Hi Guys . Besides being nice people they also have impeccable taste in crackers
Time to hit the road again We'd had enough of Auckland.
We decided to stick to the main road for the trip back south, I've never ridden down H/way 1, just bits here and there. We bypassed Hamilton down 1B as I didn't want to catch anything as it'd involve a lot of explaining when I got home. Stopped briefly in Tokoroa and caught a bit of 6/60 who were playing in a park there
The plan to ride h/way 1 came unstuck here..... We shot of down 35 to Whakamaru. Naturally a wee bite was in order



Then down the western side of lake Taupo, stopping at Waihi village for a look see



An older gentleman came out of a campervan and asked if I'd like a cuppa, seeing as how I was traveling by myself. He obviously didn't see George sunning himself on my jacket. He gave me a brief rundown on the history of the village and showed me a cool app on his phone for finding campsites, this one >> http://www.campermate.co.nz/ , which I downloaded on the spot. I had to chuckle when he asked if I was one of Gareth Morgans mates Different income bracket was my reply.
Anyway, onwards down the Dessert rd. Only saw 1 which is a bit unusual



A quick stop at Waiouru for a pic and sammie



And down to Taihape for some go juice. We went left here to have a look at the Taihape/Napier rd as thats another I haven't been on. It's alright ....





By this stage both Me and George were getting a bit fidgety and sick of seal so we turned right part way along and headed off down Matawhi rd





There was a nice river



We wobbled around on some more little gravel roads for the rest of the afternoon



I think that last one may have been Matawhero or Pukeokahu rd.
The Old fullah at Waihi village had recommended I have a look at Mokai gorge. He was a civil engineer in these parts and designed a lot of the bridges, so knew the area pretty well.
We made our way to the Gorge... It was well worth it





Quite impressive , the pics don't do it justice. There's a bungy jumping thingy going on there too, if your into that sort of thing. We carried on to the end of the road, just to see what was there. There was a paddock with some Fallow dear with pretty impressive antlers, although they bolted for the other end of the earth when I stopped to get a pic. Also there is the Colenso memorial there too. I didn't find it
Back to the Bungy centre to set up camp across the road in the Makino campsite.



Notice the moar biggerer tent.... I posted the other one home.... If someone wants a Kathmandu Mono tent, only used once, lemme know , I'll cut you a sharp deal

Tea was Butter chicken, thanks to the Kaweka food co and half a tin of peaches .... just incase you were wondering.

[Waihou Thumper]

​Nice work James Tent? PM me....

[JATZ]

After a supremely comfortable nights sleep, where I wriggled round, stood up, did handstands and generally enjoyed the space I finished the peaches, packed up and got ready to hit the road again.
George wanted to ride today, but I pointed out he didn't have a licence so wasn't insured



We headed out to Mangaweka so I could check in and let someone know I wasn't dead... Then made our way up Ruahine rd, that was cool, although you wouldn't want to cut too many corners.... never know what'll be on the road



We turned off at TeParapara and made our way to Pohangina east rd. On the way I stopped to check out the map and saw a little loop up Tunipo rd...



and back down Umutoi rd then, we carried on through the Pohangina gorge when I spotted the sign for Takapari rd. I'd heard about this one before too, so figured it'd be rude not to have a look
I offloaded the panniers at the boundary and stashed them in a bush, It was quite a cool ride up there



and along the top...



I only saw 2 other people, walking (but I suspect they were canoodling before I came along ), on the way to the hut



I turned around here and made my way back down, the place was getting to busy anyway, passing a few others heading up as I was on my way down.
Picked up the gear at the boundary



and headed back to the road. I saw this leedle fellah at one of the gates, dunno why but I kindof thought he was cool, just cruising around on his own, doing his own thing...



After that I just ambled around



Up, down and around..... and ended up in Ashhurst for a late lunch



With a full belly and a nice afternoon ahead, we decided to have a look up North range rd. I'd been to the southern end a couple of times, but thought I'd better have a look at all of it.
We headed off towards Woodville, through the gorge, and even the nanna doing 70km/h didn't upset me Located Hall Block rd and made our way up to the windfarm



and kept going





#cool track

We got to the other end and I txted the boy to find out where he lived, I knew it was Wellington somewhere entered the address in the GPS which said I was 2:45 away. I reckon I can do better than that
The GPS said go right at the bottom of the Paihiatua track I swear it's got dementia.
I went left and got to the boys place in Karori well before the 2:45
Nice Pizzas at the local pub.... The Pickle Jar



I like pizza

[Moi]

The Pohangina Valley is a nice place to explore - friends used to have a diary farm half way up the valley and partner's cousin lives up there now... easily fill in a couple of days wandering up and down the side roads and bits...

I am enjoying reading about your and George's travels.

Cheers.