I went for a ride Easter Sunday,glorious weather,and a time to do just what I want,go where my nose takes me...I actualy had to stop at an intersection for a few mintutes to decide where to head - north to ride roads I know well,or south to explore new roads.South it was.
I wasn't too sure what my riding mood was going to be,was it going to be a nana day,or would I push the boundries of sensable behaviour? As I hit the gravel on the trig road over to SH22 it's had a work over and is covered in fine loose gravel - at a touch of throttle the DT230 is wheelspining and sideways....uh huh,it's going to be one of those days eh,I'm going to enjoy this.
At the first patch of gravel on the lower 22 heading to Te Uku I come across a mob of new shorn sheep going down the road.I stop by the farmer with his quad and he says ''Just go down the outside'',so I do,but I don't know if he's too pleased with the way I break them up.A bit further and a WWII army Jeep comes the other way - heaps of them! Jeep after Jeep,with the odd army Landrover,International,GMC and Dodge,a Chev Quad,ambulances,a whole army minus guns.I wonder where they are going,it's tempting to follow them...on the way back I found they were on a farm near by,a great Easter for the army buffs.
As I go from Te Uku and head of to Te Mata I see dirt bikes on trailers and utes,and at the turn off to Bridal Veil Falls where I was going to go straight ahead and around the Aotea Harbour coast,I see a couple of fluro arrows.I know what that means,I've been following those signs for years...so ok,I'll follow them too.I pass a couple of trailers with bikes on the gravel,and when I'm behind another they turn down Shea Rd...I've always wondered where Shea Rd goes,so ok,let's have a look.Down in the valley a trail ride is going on,and I spend some time watching what goes on,seeing them gearing up and heading into the trails,coming back after a ride.It'd be nice to join them,but I'm not set up for that,both me and the bike that is,so head back up to the road again.
At Shea Rd there is a ''road closed'' sign stopping you going further south.Yeah well,I know about that,it's just a slip and the bike can get around easy,so keep going south.I'm on a closed road with no possibilty of another car coming the other way....except for a farmer who knows he won't meet another vehicle,so I better play it safe anyway.Next I come across Makomako Rd on my left,another No Exit,but also another road I've never been up.This turns into a farm track,narrow as it follows a stream into the hills,finaly stopping at a gate after 10km.I don't know if it's just a road gate or if it goes onto private property,so turn around and head out.Later on a map I see it goes into dotted lines,and joins up with the dotted lines leading on from Shea Rd.Back on the Kawhia Rd I keep heading south...stopped for a rest checking out a burnt out car I hear a bike coming and am just getting on helmet and gloves as a CRF Honda comes past,no way to catch him,but I set out after him anyway.
Then I'm on the main Kawhia Rd and head to Oparau...these are the roads I'm coming to explore.I've been up and down to Kawhia many times,but the Oparau roads don't go anywhere,so there has never been a reason for me to go on them....we change that today.I think I'll have enough fuel to do a loop back to the main road.The road is sealed for 9km,another nice road the sprotbike riders will miss,tough luck for them.The next section is ready for seal and real thick,no worries for the DT,just an excuse to shred my back tyre some more.The road climbs up into the foothills of Pirongia,and I'm getting worried about my fuel - being a 2 stroke fuel use is very dependant on the throttle hand,I think I've been taking it easy,but a pesamistic calculation sees me not getting back to Oparau,so turn back 15km into the road.
I refuel bike and body at Oparau,a great stop for those who like to travel the lonely road,who don't like the bussle of a cafe or pub,those who don't want to be noticed as they park their bikes outside a cafe and sit at the table in their leathers.No,not for me...at Oparau I can have a plate of chips and a beer outside or inside,just watching life go by.There is a huge map on the wall and I can trace my route and see the roads I want to ride.So I head back up again,as the Oparau Rd climbs to it's top there is a crossroad,right goes down to the Kawhia road,straight ahead to SH39,and left goes onto Pirongia West Rd,and loops up into the National Park and back to Oparau...staying on the gravel appeals to me,so Pirongia West it is.
Wow,what a neat road,it climbs right up into the borders of Pirongia Forest Park,slipping in and out of the forrest onto farm land.The views are absolutly incredible,from up high we look down on Kawhia Harbour,Raglan's Mt Kario to the right,and Mt Pirongia at my back.I have my camera,but it's useless on these big scenes.The road is very narrow and twisty,with big cambers,like a roller coaster as I straighten them out,sometimes a bit of air,sometimes brake slides down the otherside as I go sideways the wrong way into turns,a good bit of fun.The road comes back down to Oparau and I make my way home.There is a lot of traffic on the Kawhia Rd going home,like I passed 3 cars and met one coming the other way,that's pretty unusual as I'm lucky to see one normaly - bloody tourists.Also saw a couple of trail bikes too,and later a couple of adventure bikes at Te Uku.
So that's what I do on a day off,get away from where the people are,explore some new roads at my own pace,some peace and quiet,some rip snortin' action and a cold beer.I've left some roads in Oparau for a later visit - I'll be back!''
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Originally Posted by Motu
. Far more interesting. So what if there's a smidgen of gravel or half the road has disappeared.
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