sh 37

[pritch]

Tried a new road the other day. I was headed to Auckland and wanted to check it out to see if it was suiable for an upcoming Ulysses ride. Demonwolf had cause to travel this road also so away we went.

Rather grandly titled State Highway 37 this little gem can be accessed by turning westward 8K south of Otorohanga on to the road to Waitomo caves. It winds west until it connects with the road to Marakopa, Waikawau, etc (metal), where it turns north until it joins the road to Kawhia (SH31).

The road constists of some 70 plus kilometres of twists and turns with barely a straight worthy of the name. The only downside is the occasional loose metal on the road.
It isn't as if there's *that* much gravel, and after all it is only on the corners...

It seems that people in the Waikato have a deep aversion to roadside warnings. Or maybe they are harbouring a pathological resentment because the Chiefs can't win a game. Whatever, ride so that you can handle surprise gravel deposits. Both Demonwolf and I had moments of excitment due to unexpected patches of loose metal.

One day soon I will check the road from Raglan to Kawhia as it joins the southern end of SH22 with SH 37. Currently the southern portion of that road remains unsealed, but when it all links together, what a ride!

SH37 reminded me of the story where the teacher asked the class for a sentence with the word "urinate" in it.
Little Johnny stood and said,
"Teacher if you had bigger tits you'd be a ten. As it is yer an eight."

Likewise with SH 37; if it was cleaned up it'd be a ten, as it is, it's an eight.

[Marmoot]

I've done that the other way around.

From Hamilton, head to Kawhia. Right before Kawhia (at a locality named Te Anga), turn left (with a full gas tank) and do that SH37 to Waitomo Cave.

It is quite tight, and the scenery is quite beautiful.

The road is rather narrow, and there are a few bits that are worth mentioning as they can catch you unaware (including one 35kph left-hander decreasing radius with a gravel/grass runoff area)

Good choice for a relaxing moment.

[DemonWolf]

Very nice twisty road... Got picked up from Waitara Caltex, headed towards Otorohanga. The leadup to Mt Messenger was nice, a good easy pace set by Pritch008.. Outside Wai-iti two bikers informed us that we should watch our speed.. and some nice cagers giving us plenty of warning that there was HP Patrol.. even a nice elderly lady flashing her lights for us... I had a good ol chuckle over that.. unfortunately someone had the undivided attention of the HP Officer The road was good and clean (only slightly patchy and moist), coming up to Mt Messenger we easily caught up-to and passed a few cagers on the tight twisties The awakino gorge had the first lot of road works and the clay\muck was blastered all over my newly polished cans though for this the ride was good, overcast and the low cloud in the high ranges but not a drop of raing to be seen.

Turning onto State Highway 37, a route I've always considered tootling up.. but just never actually did it.. well here was the chance. Pritch008 got the pace going nicely again, and after passing the Waitomo 'resort'(?) and a fair few dozen buses we get onto the good ol twisties, nice scenery (even for the low flying clouds) we come up to the first series of 'newish' reseals with lots of stone chips, Pritch008 takes a lefthand tyre track while I cleverly decide the middle is much more fun with a corner seriously coming before us, thinking to myself that if the front tyre slides out on my I'm gonna be pissed! I slot into a groove and play follow the leader. As Pritch008 already mentioned no signage what-so-ever and except for the major patches of reseal there was quite abit of loose gravel mid-corner which was interesting as 65% + of these corners you couldn't see the apex until you were virtually on it. But keeping a good line, riding to within our abilities and taking more care as we figured that the next corner going to have gravel on it.. our journey motored towards Kawhai.

All én all, this is a great piece of road, though unless you are an experienced rider I wouldn't recommend taking this track solo, having another rider as backup is a good idea (especially as cellphone coverage isn't too hot), and if someone got into trouble then you have someone for help. (IMO..)

Once in Kawhai we had a bite to eat, then Pritch008 departed and continued his journey... Once I had completed my business I took the normal route back to Otorohanga.. which I've done many a time in a cage.. and its a brilliant road on the bike! I loved it.. got into the groove, only had one 'moment' on a corner having to take a different line because of cow shite on the apex... a fast ride into Otorohanga where I fueled up.. a few riders came in.. a rider asked if I was going south.. and mentioned fuzz having a field day.

The trip back into Taranaki was again brilliant, dry conditions and superb roads.. only incident of the day, was seeíng some flowers (actually seen quite a few bunches of wild flowers and thought after seeíng the third lot I have to pick some for my girl).. well saw these flowers, got onto the anchors right smart.. turning slowly to do a U-turn (haha overshot a driveway by 2 meters) put the good ol leg out.. and what do ya know it friggen fails on me and over I go.. saving the bike with the failed leg, I somehow flip my free leg over, steady and pick the bike up (nice heavy TL!)... glancing around quickly to see if anyone saw my shame!! I quickly park up the bike.. rape the flowers! and stuff ém into my backpack.. check the bike out (while a couple cagers pass me before the Awakino gorge) and am satisfied I haven't done any major damage to anything (Praise-be to the biker gods!) jump on the might stead and tentatively take off.. paying attention to the engine sound.. after being satisfied nothing is amiss.. I'm taking off to catch the cagers and gain some self-esteem back after my blunder! The gorge and Mt Messenger got eaten up, cut up some cagers.. making myself feel better..

Get home.. recheck the bike.. One stone-dent in the right Can, tar on the foot break lever, two stone stratches on the right front indicator and Front break lever.. and I'm very thankful and relieved to no-end that nothing at all was broken.

Once piece of advice for all that haven't already learnt when taking a longish trip.... Be careful and stretch as much as possible.. this can help to avoid silly mistakes like mine... Legs, hands etc that cramp or become not fully functional from long (sometimes uncomfortable rides) can kick you in the ass and be the cause of injuries and accidents!

Other than that, I fully enjoyed my trip with Pritch008, a very good lead rider and handling slight mishaps like a pro...!