The Ashhurst boys are back.

[cowboyz]

2401km

Bright and early Sat morning (which feels like 100 years ago) we headed over to Meanies for some breaky and to contemplate the biggest journey the bikes have been on so far. 6am and the girls waved us off and we headed east through the manawatu gorge. Light was just coming in and in was a little chilly but felt good to be out on the bike and thinking about the distance we had to cover. The plan was to make it to Ngtea. Up to Hawkes Bay wa a good run. Got introduced to Hawkes Bay mist for about 10km but once we rode through it we got treated to some fantastic weather. Fuel stop in Napier and we were off round the east cape. I don't think any of us truelt contemplated how far it really was. Lunch in Tologa Bay. The roads turned from highway roads to a constant series of twisties and gorges. Fantanstic. Made good time up to Gisborne and then through to Te Araraoa. Picked up the 3rd card for the 4 points rally which was now not looking good card wise. Never mind. Back on bikes and continued round the cape at a leasuireely pace taking in the scenery. Amazing scenery it is too. We were surposed to have a fuel stop just past Te Araraoa but I didn't realise teh fuel station was not on the main road and missed it so I carried on. Meanie and Mouse went looking for gas and by the time I realised they weren't coming it was too late to turn back so I figured I would just keep going. Fuel started to get real low and found that fuel stations are few and far between round the cape. Finally came across a bowser in a small town. $1.78/litre and near $30 to fill the tank I went for a walk up the beach and listened to the banjos while waiting for the others to catch up. Mouse and Meanie turned up in due course and they had found fuel somewhere along the line. Lunch number 2 (we like lunch) and then we were off to Opotiki. Another fuel stop and then through the main road. Some discussion on quickest way to get to Ngtea but being as I am always right we took the Welcome bay road through to the causeway and then refueled at bottom on Kaimais. Out over the Kaimais and up 27 and we had made it to Ngtea. 9pm and 1000km on the first day.
Stayed at a friend of meanies. I hit the sack pretty quick. Body was feeling ok but quite tired from the day and not getting any sleep on Friday night from the anticipation of the trip ahead.

[cowboyz]

Day 2 Sunday

Up at a more reasonable hour and into some bacon and eggs. Only had to make it up the coast today so weren't worried too much about time.

Headed off up to cop district. Refueled at beginning of motorway and then the entire Southern motorway. This was the lowlight of the trip I think. I was bored as hell as we sat there for 40mins listening to the same drone of the engine sitting on 5500rpm. Spent alot of time thinking about the adventure of the day before and wishing we were heading back round the cape rather than going up this long boring motorway.
Off the motorway and up to Wangaraei for coffee and more fuel. The road from Owera to Wangaraei has to be voted the worst road in New Zealand. Bumpy rough shit and my arse was getting pounded. Bloody sore by the time we stopped and I thought it was just me but the others agreed how rough the road was. Little surprised nothing fell off the meanstreak but we got there ok. Then on heading north and the roads changed. It was really noticeable. Road designers in Northland don't know how to draw a striaght line and the surface is smooth with great camber. Really good pace up to Kaitaia. Meanie will let us know the name of it but found a fantantic gorge filled with 45k corners with great road surface and put some real good pace on over it. Smiles all round. No cars. I could have spent all day on it. Refuel in Kaitaia and up to Houhora. All of a sudden we were there and it felt like we had only just got on the bikes. 2pm and 400km for the day and it felt like nothing. It was hot and so there was only one place to head for. At the pub we got the 4th card. Now my hand truely sucks. Felt good to have the 4 cards ticked off. Thinking about the 4 corners of the north island as he stamped the card and how far we had come. A couple of drinks and we were off to find the kiwibiker crowd. We knew they were up there somewhere but didn't know where. Called into a motorcamp and asked if there were any road bikes booked in there for the night. The response was very northland like. "No we don;t have any road bikes staying here tonight but do you want a beer?"

huh?

ok. Had a chat to a very colorful chap. Pissing ourselves laughing as we headed off. Not sure what this guy was on about to be honest but lets just say someone left the barn door open on that one. Coming up the road and meanies mate was bringing his boat in off the habour so we went down for a chat and to help him out with that. On the ride back to the house we saw a group of bikes on the side of the road. I figured they looked shady enough to be kiwibikers so we turned round and introduced ourselves. I am hopeless with namess. Sorry. Can't remember who it was but on a 10 and a SV1000 (at least I remember ya bikes). Got an invite down to the 90mile motor camp so we got a couple of things sorted and headed down for a couple of drinks and talked shit for a bit. Real nice 10 BTW. You might want to buy shares in a tyre company somewhere. There was some wonder about how I managed to stay under 130k for the 1500km we had done so far. Side point. on the run home (which I will get on to soon) my top speed is now 171. Happy now??
Headed back up the coast to stay in houhora for a few beers and BBQ. It started raining and I was sure it would clear by the morning.......

[cowboyz]

DAY 3

Had to get back to Palmerston North today.

Up at 5am and the rain was steady. I was sure it would stop once we got on the road. It did stop.. in Oakune! Damn long way in the rain that run.

Headed out at 6am down to kaitaia for a refuel. Then off

The rain was steady but not too bad. Slowed us a little as we got used to the bikes in the wet and woke up a bit. Went down to Wangaraei and refueled. Still raining. Kept the stops short and tried to keep moving the best we could. Lots and lots of traffic heading south and met up with a coupld of guys on a BMW and Trimuph. Did the hell mission lane split. It was great and although starting to get quite wet it was great not to be sitting in a cage in the queue. Hit the motorway and the heavens opened up. I don't think I have even seen so much rain. Down to southside and another refuel and a coffee. Getting cold now and the leathers were full of water and really heavy. Might as well keep it going so off down the expressway. I thought it was quite good that the road is now complete so easy riding right down to Ngawhahiadashfjdasjkfhsda (just south of Taupiri) Turned off and went down Prionga road to come in the back of Te Awamutu. Still raining. Still wet. Stopped for lunch at my parents place. Got a change of clothes which was good.
Off down to Te Kuiti for fuel and then on to 8mile. I love the 8 mile road. Even in the wet it was still fun. By the time we got to Tamaranui my shoulders were killing me and I was wet and heavy. The trip may have got the better of me. Stopped for a smoke and had to put up with Meanie going on something about cruisier ... blah blah blah.
Off again I figured we might as well keep the kms clicking over. Still raining. Right down to Taihape for fuel. It had stopped raining finally and the roads were drying out.
Once leaving Taihape the pace got on. We did a bit of a cane up through to vinegar hill. It felt so good to be on familar roads and back in the Manawatu where it was clear and not raining. Striaght through to Ashhurst. I can't discribe the feeling coming down the hill to home. My GPS has not been reset since the start of the 4 points tour.

2 weekends
4 cards
39 hours 9 mins 53 secs on bikes
3438km
too many smiles to count.

Would definitely do it again next year but on a bigger time frame so we don't have to ride in the rain if we dont want to.

Photos coming when I get them sorted.

Thanks to Meanie and Mouse for the great weekend.

[cowboyz]

pics of the ride.

[cowboyz]

and more pics

[cowboyz]

and how bbq should be done

[slimjim]

awesome write up, pic's sweet as, and getting wet priceless

[ManDownUnder]

and how bbq should be done

Love that first pic.... sing along now...

dum dumdumdum You shake my nerves and you rattle my brain...

[Bonez]

Is Mouse still walking funny?

[cowboyz]

he always walks funny

[Scorpygirl]

Cool write up Cowboyz!!! The two you met on the road were DMTND and Duc-Girl. Then you met the rest of the rabble at the camp - CaN and CaN, Qckkid, Qckchck, Grahameboy, SN4PD, GeoffM, Rhino and Scorpygirl.

Hope to meet up again!!

[Meanie]

Well what a week end
The meanstreak ran like clockwork and i even managed to keep her upright while riding it like a sportsbike, only scraped the footpegs a few times this trip
The ride up was nothing short of bloody magic, heaps of twisties round the east cape, dry roads and reasonably good company The motorway was very boring as cowboy pointed out however it did get interesting when the motorbike cop we saw on the other side at the Bombay end came past us doing what i would estimate to be at least 160 kmh with his lights on at the other end of the motorway. the way he was weaving through the traffic i guessed he must have been late for lunch
The ride from Whangarei to Hohoura was brillint especialy the Mungamoks (spelling) just before Kaitaia Great to catch up with the guys on your weekend up the far north, an awesome array of bikes, sounds like we should have been there a day earlier and partied with them.
I even enjoyed the ride home in the rain All the way home in the rain, did i mention it rained on the way home Why is it that all the accidents we saw, about four of them, all involved cars sliding off the road when we bikers go faster maybe just a little, have only two wheels and manage to stay on the road The only casualty of the week end was my camera got wet inside the plastic bag inside my pack so sorry no pics (i guess it must of rained at some stage)
By the way cowboyz i think i mentioned you needed a cruiser cause you kept stopping at every town for a rest
All in all bloody good ride we met some neat people everywhere we went and im keen to do it again, might look at doing a trip down south when we do get a summer

[cowboyz]

By the way cowboyz i think i mentioned you needed a cruiser cause you kept stopping at every town for a rest
All in all bloody good ride we met some neat people everywhere we went and im keen to do it again, might look at doing a trip down south when we do get a summer

Bloody heavy leather is when its wet. I was fine in the dry. That run home was really draining. At least I showed up for work today unlike 2 others????

[Bonez]

Bloody heavy leather is when its wet. I was fine in the dry. That run home was really draining. At least I showed up for work today

To do what? Drink coffee all day

[DMNTD:Me]

Dang boy...after meeting ya I didn't realise you could write no good
Looks like you guys had an awesome time man....next time we'll make sure there's more boubons involved but you'll have to provide your own banjos,sorry:spudguita