Jatz's travels

[puddytat]

He has good taste in Music too...

[JATZ]

Sent from my ZTE R83

[Waihou Thumper]

https://youtu.be/tDoMoRRQgSQ




Sent from my ZTE R83

They sailed on Christmas day? Or are you just sort of planting a seed mate
You in the Norf?

[JATZ]

They sailed on Christmas day? Or are you just sort of planting a seed mate
You in the Norf?

Yeah.... They sailed on Xmas day. Was a good crossing, not heaving with people. I've been knocking round since then, currently I'm in Ngawi. Catch up with the boy in Wellington tomorrow before heading home in the avo

[JayDNZ]

https://youtu.be/tDoMoRRQgSQ




Sent from my ZTE R83

I hear its quite expensive to take a car on the ferry, a friend travelling today is paying $300 each way.... Presumably its cheaper to take a bike?

[Tazz]

Ports never sleep eh. All the freight still goes so no point in not taking passengers

If you have time and feel like a yarn rock on in on your way back through bud. Otherwise Merry Christmas and all that jazz!

[JATZ]

I hear its quite expensive to take a car on the ferry, a friend travelling today is paying $300 each way.... Presumably its cheaper to take a bike?

I did something completely out of character and booked the ferry about 10 days out from Xmas so I got a reasonable fare heading north, about $130, the southern crossing nearly gave me a coronary @ $140ish a lot of the other sailings were booked out.

If you have time and feel like a yarn rock on in on your way back through bud. Otherwise Merry Christmas and all that jazz!

Sorry fellah... All I wanted to do after getting off the boat was hang a right at the roundabout and regain the will to live and get home to a looooooooong hot shower

If I get the laptop back tomorrow I'll be able to sift through some pics and maybe, just maybe, post some up

[JATZ]

He has good taste in Music too...

I've got their discography here somewhere, some coool tunes and some which are just weird

[JATZ]

Right, I have a small bucket of coffee, some mellow tunes playing, and not much else to do, so I thought I'd chuck up some pics of my day at the races, in Wanganui, as well as some other stuff

I've wanted to get to Wanganui to have a look at this Cemetery circuit for a wee while now, and decided this was the year to do it, just because I'd been super organized and even booked a spot on the ferry for Xmas day
Xmas eve had me chucking some stuff in the panniers and looking at the bike in preparation, just as well it didn't need anything done Clean oil in the sump, brakes...check, lights... check, tyres... check, air in the tyres...check Good to go.
After a late Brekky I waved bye to the G.W. and headed over to Picton in glorious sunshine, surprised at how much traffic was on the road, we had a pretty good run round the Q.C. drive and got to the ferry in good time It was another smooth sailing



with not a lot of people on board so I snagged a window seat and settled in. George was enjoying the break away from the house too and I had a couple of naps



Then we headed up the coast towards Wanganui. Still a mint day



listening to some tunes...



I used the campermate app to sort out some digs for the night when we got there. The place wasn't to bad,



although power points were a scarce commodity due to all the other tablets/phones being charged up by the other residents I found one though after a bit of detective work and went of to set up camp and heat up some tea, Beef stroganoff with mashed spuds and couscous, incase you were wondering
All evening I could hear the neighbour having a domestic which put a bit of a dampener on things though. I was tempted to poke my nose over the fence, Wilson styles and try and explain that "F**k you Bitch ! Get your fat F**ckin arse home !! Now!! Bitch... (multiple times)followed by items being thrown, and lots more swearing, probably wasn't the best method of resolving the situation. But I stayed out of it and nodded off anyway.
The morning arrived and I could hear the bikes doing warm up laps not to far away, which sent me into a bit of a panic as I figured racing must be starting soonish. So I quickly skulled breakfast, broke camp and scuttled off into town. After asking a fellow biker where the races were I found my way to some covered parking and secure gear storage, I hope the local touch team uses my donation wisely It turns out I got there a couple of hours + before the racing started nevermind... I beat the crowds, had a wander round the course/pits, got a t-shirt and found a shady spot to watch some of the racing.
I'll just stick some pics here of the bikes







I really wanted to see these things going round the course





The classic sidecars were my personal favorite



This local duo were pretty loose



Looked like bloody good fun though. 1 or 2 of the motards got a bit loose coming through here



Anyway... about mid afternoon I was getting a bit sick of being baked by the relentless sun : so wandered off to the river to find a bit of shade and eat my icecream



We took a vote and decided we'd seen enough racing and needed to get a bit airflow moving round the body, So back to the bike, get the gear and saddle up I'd found a (cheap) spot to camp the night, once again using the app, so I had a nice purple line to follow on the GPS . We made our way back through Bulls and bypassed Palmerston North on some back roads. The traffic was pretty good and didn't hold us up much. Through the gorge ...





And onto the bustling metropolis of Dannevirke where it was time for a late lunch.

[JATZ]

All satisfied now, we made our way out of town and hung a left onto Miller st then Webber rd. I remember seeing the name Waitahora rd somewhere so hung a right when we got there. There was some nice views along the way



and got to another couple of names I remembered from somewhere, Coonoor and Towai rd's



Be rude not to go and have a look I thought, George didn't object, so we carried on along Towai rd. More views of rural N.Z.





Just cruising along.....



We got to the intersection of Towai and Waihi vlly rd's and I could see on the map there was a waterfall just up the road. This I have to see cause I love a good waterfall, and I had time to kill. Before long we arrived at the carpark, I loaded up George for the walk down to see it, intending to go all the way to the bottom



We didn't go to far as one of my boots was making some funny noises I'd had to glue the sole back on before we left home and wasn't sure if the Ados was up to the task. Nevermind though, I saw what I needed to see from the top



I contemplated staying there, there was water and toilets and tables even, but there was also still a bit of daylight left. so we carried on. Back the way we'd come and onto Manuhara rd then Pahiatua/Pongaroa rd.
I like old buildings too I wonder why they're not used anymore, and whats inside, and why are they just left to deteriorate



I found my way to the nights campsite without any trouble at all, thanks to the little devil box on the handle bars, and set up camp, at the Pongaroa Domain. Water on tap but no shower or toilet unless you get the key from the pub or shop in town: I set up camp to the sound of sheep baaaing, magpies warbling and dogs barking across the other side of the valley, all very rural



I decided to head into town and pick up the key from the pub, maybe grab a steak and a couple of cool frosty ales while I was there and spend the evening maybe chatting to some locals. Sadly when I got there the pub was shut with no sign of life anywhere. So I wandered down to the shop, it was shut too and wouldn't open for a couple of days. I resigned myself to boiling another bag of stuff and having it with some couscous Nevermind, it was a nice setting, listening to the rural sounds and watching the sheep on the rugby field. Y'know they really are quite busy little critters when you just watch them quietly, some of them settling down for the night, others playing and some just hanging out amusing themselves. I nodded of to the sound of moreporks moreporking in the big macrocarpas, sheep coughing and baaaing and some woman giving her man a hard time in a house down the road Must be the season for it.
Next morning I had a lie in and packed up slowly. I had an idea where I wanted to be that night but nothing was set in stone.
I grabbed George and wandered up past the derelict (?) scout hall to the entrance to the Centennial Gardens I'd spotted the night before.



It was very overgrown and a bit sad to see it in such a state. I imagine it would have been the pride of the town at one time.
Anyhow... Back on the bike and time to head south. I had to get a pic of the playground entertainment though, it made me smile to think of them starting the little ones riding quads in kindy, getting them ready for a life on the farm



For the record, H/way 52 is a reeal nice way to start the day and this seemed appropriate





Another old farm building that made me stop for a pic



Before long I swung the bars left and headed off up Huia rd then along Waihoki vlly rd. This little tyke lept up in front of me at one stage and ran along the road long enough for me to get a couple of pics





I like seeing them things in the wild. It's a nice spot up there



Before long we were back on the main rd and heading back south. We got to Alfredton where I went left again, along Castlehill rd and onto Tinui rd, before long I came to Springhill rd, the sign didn't say "no exit" so in my book its fair game for heading up, see where you end up The GPS said it joined up with Coopers rd which was sort off vaguely in the direction I could be heading and if it wasn't then I'd deal with it later
It was a nice little road and I saw this



The picture doesn't really do it justice the colors were much more vivid in real life, and this



I got to a couple of farmhouses right next to the road, rode past/through a workshop/yard area, accross a little bridge, through a wee ford and came to some yards and a gaggle of horses It didn't look like a public road I went to one house to ask about access, there was nobody there so I went to the second house (nice gardens ) Honestly, it was like a scene from the Quiet Earth. Keys in the ignition of the Hilux, doors and windows wide open, boots next to the door and a quad just over there, just nobody around, kindoff spookey. I cleared out then. I ran across a young fellah down the road who confirmed my suspicions though, it doesnt join up with anything
Nevermind I'll find something else to do... I came to a little pub/cafe at Tinui so thought I'd stop for lunch/breakfast, something without couscous would be good
This fit the bill nicely



After that and spending too long chatting to a local about bikes/farming/hunting/the district it was time to make a move. I've never been to Castlepoint and I figured it must be a nice/popular spot judging by the stream of traffic heading that way.
It was alright...



I hung around just long enough to look around, chat to an old couple and smell the sea air before making my way back towards Masterton, to pick up some more food and a doohicky to charge the phone from the bike.

[JATZ]

Right... re-stocked, re-fueld, re-freshed (I had an ice cream ) we buggered off down the road through Carterton, bypassed Martinborough and shot off out towards lake Ferry



I could feel the knobbs getting burned off the tyres on this stretch It was still a beautiful day though the colors seemed so strong



We reached the coast before long, and what a sight it was, what a cracker day



and stopped at Ngawi for a leg stretch/photo stop



Before carrying on further round the coast past Cape Palliser. I had planned to camp further up the coast but the wind was getting up when we started heading back up towards White Rock. The bash plate got a good workout along this stretch, with one hit hard enough to do this



With another smaller crack on the other side.
I turned around here, figuring I could find somewhere more sheltered to pitch the tent



Back the way we'd come...



I stopped back down the coast a bit for another photo stop



and to check out the wildlife



I counted 32 of the furry little buggers while I was standing in one spot, and that doesn't include the ones who were hiding in crevasses and behind rocks, IMHO that's a plague but that may just be the fisherman in me talking
Anyway... We headed back through Ngawi and I kept my eyes peeled for somewhere to camp, there was quite a few options, but most were occupied by other people. I eventually managed to score a bit of prime beachside real estate



with the nearest neighbors about 100m away
It turned into one of "those" evenings, the wind dying away to nothing, the sun slowly slinking off to warm somebody else, the hills behind me seeming to glow. It truly was a special evening to end a cool day



Not a bad view from the bedroom either can even see the South Isl.



And for tea... Apricot chicken with couscous, and on the side.... couscous I don't think I'll be chowing down on that again for a while
Once upon a time, many many years ago I spent 8 days hunting in the N.W. Nelson national park, where 2 min noodles were a side dish for most meals. To this day I won't eat them unless there's nothing else. Hope couscous doesn't end up the same as it's so easy to carry/prepare, but I digress....

I woke up the next morning and when I peered out the door I could see a cray boat working his pots just off the coast. It just seemed "right"



I slowly packed up, just wanting to hang out for a while, but knowing I had business to take care of in Wellington and a ferry to catch It was a vey subdued ride back along the coast, just cruising along : Into Martinborough for a coffee then over the 'Takas singing along to Bob Marley..... badly



Through Wellytown and up to Karori to catch up with the boy and g/friend for a bit, he seems well He suggested a side trip out to Makara wind farm, just take the second left after leaving his place and follow your nose. We did and the ride was worth it
Y'know... I think I've been here before



But I came in from the other end that time. We made our way back to Wellington and the ferry, but not without a little side trip up a couple of steep twisty little roads (The Rigi and down Garden rd) To this day I have no idea why the devil box told me to go up there, Maybe it was just to keep me from thinking I had it sussed ? I have no idea
Got to the ferry with plenty of time to spare, and where some chic said my bike was pretty flash for a "farm bike" I was speechless, it's never been called a "farm bike" before. Shortly we were back on the boat for another crossing. You know it's calm when you can see the upwellings of the current and the only white caps are from the tide



The ride back through Q.C. drive was just a series of rolling road blocks but I had some tunes playing again



and still got home before dark


Where to next ?? after I get some new rubber, chain and sprockets. Seeing as how Santa didn't come through for me

[The Baron]

Wow. That was a great read. Thanks for taking the time to share.

Ride safe.

[Waihou Thumper]

Good stuff mate...
I am gonna kill off a few Mototokens in the next few days!
Also going to suggest a few more to include for the North Islanders!
As for the trip south? Not this time I am afraid.

[Padmei]

Great report James.
You have made my unsure mind up for me. I'm gonna book a sailing for Monday to ride to Auckland for my bros 65th birthday.
Shit I hope the bike makes it.

[Moi]

Great read, great photos... a bit of everything - architecture, landscapes, culture, agriculture, machines, food, drink, dietary advice...

Thanks, really enjoy reading of and seeing yours and George's adventures.