A relatively quiet time before Christmas and the promise of good weather encouraged me to take a quick ride (six days, 2000km) around the North Island south of Auckland. I had just completed a 50,000km service of the bike, so we were ready to go.
I left home on the Kapiti Coast, up through the Wairarapa, to Hawkes Bay, then around East Cape, Bay of Plenty, across to Raglan, around Cape Egmont and back home.
In spite of a positive forecast a couple of days previously, I woke up to light rain and a dismal day. Paekakariki with Kapiti Island.
Over the Remutaka Hill - as I rode northwest in the Wairarapa the clouds cleared and the temperature rose from 15'C to 24'C.
An example of the superb motorcycling roads in the north Wairarapa.
I planned to camp at Waikare River mouth but the forecast rain encouraged me to rent a cabin at Waipatiki Beach just north of Napier.
A good call! I had the beach just about to myself (only two others swimming) and the clouds darkened before the rain arrived.
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