The Hawke's Bay beckons...
10,000km service? Check.
New tyres? Conti Road Attacks, check.
Mrs H on a long weekend? Check.
Only one thing for it: throw some stuff in the panniers and hit the road.
Interestingly for the Hitcher household, not famous in Ngaio for early starts, we were up and away before 8:30am on a Saturday morning. First gas at Caltex Rimutaka and the day wasn't looking that flash – gusty winds and overcast. I nerdled over the Takas, what with new tyres and all, but by the time we reached Featherston it was amazingly fine and, brace yourselves gentle readers, dead calm!
Our first food and beverage stop was the Mainstreet Cafe in Greytown. We basked in the sun as we dined. Returning to our bikes, I cast aside my winter gloves and extra jacket collar and donned my slightly graunched Dririder Drimesh gloves.
The wind returned, as it often does, at Mt Bruce and buffeted us until second gas at Dannevirke.
But by the Highway 50 turnoff we were back into perfect spring/summer riding conditions.
We arrived in Napier at about 1:30pm, and boy was it warm! After a cold beer and a hot coffee we checked into our usual hostelry at Ahuriri, parked up Mrs H's trusty blue Marauder and took off for a bit of late afternoon two-up touring.
We set off up the coast, through the Red Imported Fire Ant movement control area to the top of the beach at Whirinaki, then back down the coast again to Bay View township. We took the back road through to Puketapu and back out to “civilisation” again at Taradale. I love that back road. One of the bast sets of twisties and ups and downs on offer anywhere. From there we headed off down SH2 to Hastings and on to Havelock North.
We ascended Te Mata peak in idyllic weather to watch the late afternoon sun detail the stunning Hawke's Bay countryside and to give Jim2 a call.
Mrs H then decided it would be nice to go for a spin out to Waimarama beach – a place neither of us had previously visited. And we were not disappointed. Another great road in the Hawke's Bay tradition of great motorcycle roads. By this stage I had fallen desperately in love with my new Road Attacks, which had transformed the FJR1300 from being a great handling motorcycle to being an extension of my will. We were as one.
In the words of the prophet St John:
I don't know what you want from me
Or what you think a love ought to be
I want something that's open and strong
As the country this road's moving on
From the mountain to the valley
From the ocean to the alley
From the highway to the river
One emotion to deliver
One heart, one way, one love
To share but not to chain
That's freedom
It's a song of the heart
A race in the wind
A light in the dark
That's freedom
I don't know why it takes so long
To remember
What the world's doin' wrong
Never wanted to shove my plan or another
Who can't understand
All I want is a fast lane
To where the road across this plain
Won't take you
I want something you understand
To make us stand proud
As nothing else can
It's a measure of trust
When love is alive
It's tender and tough
That's freedom
It's all love is about
The opening up and letting out
Let freedom ring.
Isn't it amazing what a set of German tyres can do to one's soul...
After the requisite photo opportunity, we retraced our steps, but turning off on the back road to Haumoana in time to watch the sun's golden orb descend majestically behind the snow-capped Ruahines.
We dined on mince and slices of quince which we ate with a Speights Bar runcible spoon. Then hand in hand, on the edge of the sand... What a fantastic day.
Sunday. And we're up early again and on the road to Taupo. First gas and coffee at the Bay View BP at 8:30am. Amazing.
Light traffic and light winds for most of the way up SH5. By Rangitaiki the wind became very blustery and cold but the views south to the mountains beyond the big puddle were just magnificent.
Brunch, coffee and second gas at Taupo, now famous as the town that mugged Clint Brown.
The run south around the lake to Turangi was uneventful, albeit impaired by a couple of 85kmh meanderthals. But the traffic cleared from Rangipo, so one had no option but to give the FJR a bit of curry through the twisties and up onto the Desert Road.
Coffee and third gas at Taihape. Plus a most excellent Exchange Cafe chocolate brownie.
The forecast to the south wasn't overly inspiring, so Mrs H put in a plea not to go home via the Highway of Hell (particularly in a strong westerly) that the Himatangi straights can be.
We stopped for a few minutes just north of Hunterville to pay a state highway surcharge. $120 for 116kmh. “If I had managed to get a lock on you too, madam, you too would be dog tucker.” Thank you, officer.
We took the Halcombe-Feilding road, and then cross-countried back through Opiki and Shannon. The wind was quite blustery and the weather dark and brooding to the south. We stopped in Shannon to take off tinted eyewear and put on heavier gloves, as the day was fast cooling.
Fourth and final gas at Otaki, followed by a procession back to home. 1,050km on the new Contis and the bikes running really well.
Tomorrow I return to my other life as a bureaucrat. Sigh.
Pic 1: Hawke's Bay from Te Mata Peak
Pic 2: Mrs H at Waimarama Beach
Pic 3 & 4: Alpine grandeur at the Desert Road summit.
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Originally Posted by MSTRS
. You and Mangell6 may have been in close proximity on the way home as he rode from Kapiti to the Okoroire Pub in the Waikato and home yesterday as a wee training run for the Grand Challenge.
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