Cape Reinga on a spur of the moment twofiddy!
This Saturday past, I had the inkling to ride somewhere...further than normal for me! I completely forgot about the toy runand at 8.30am I was already on my way up to Kumeu from Takanini. I did the nice ride out from SH16 and made good time out to Wellsford. Lovely weather, sunny and a grea t pleasure from feeling the wind rush by and leaning smoothly into corners. No worries 'cept for the three emergency braking sessions I had to pull out
Coming up over curves, 4WDs were all too negligent and pulled out in front of me and fortunately resulted in just a scare to me and a few scratches on my tank from the magnetic tank bag going forward by my own body! Their response? A sheepish grin or wave
I guess I need to slow it down, but boy, it's fun to ride at a quickish pace (I pulled my head in when my sight distances didn't match up to my safety zone margin!)
All too soon, SH14 beckoned from Dargaville and I pootled into Whangarei. Did a quick fuel up, checked the little ol'Hornet over and off again! Good ol' SH1 came and went and I had fun just enjoying the countryside deliver it's bounty of kiwi goodness. Eventually Moerewa came and went and then onto the twisties of Kaitaia. Fortune and the riding gods smiled down on me as I leaned to and fro through the beautific altar of motorbiking - sweeping curves, short s-bends, rising and lowering of cambers, hairpins and decreasing radius were all putting a wider and wider grin on my face
Through each township I had managed to "beat" the xmas parades that were organised - no such luck at Kaitaia and no loss, I had other aims in mind... to view that beautiful deep blue of the ocean and sea juxtaposed at the northern tip of our fair, bountiful land!
Stocked up on fuel, a V drink in me and one stashed into the tank bag (alongside my first aid kit, water bottle, LED headlight lamp, spare thermal clothes and other accoutrements of touring) I blasted off to the Cape!
It was a smooth and quick ride, motorbiking heaven and nirvana was reached when I reached Waitiki Landing in what seemed no time - I must confess, I didn't trouble myself to read my clocks and only rode in that splinter of time where you sight ahead as far to get your reference points and maintaining that smooth riding rhythm you get into...
Gravel reached, dust clouds ahead of other travellers wending their way to the sights and sounds of NZ's northern tip. I maintained a nice steady 60kph and only had one hairy momentwhen they saw a mad motorbiker making his way up!
Goal in sight, the little ol'Hornet growled it's victory as we pulled up to the stop. I did a little reconnaissance and found it had not changed since last I pulled up here in a cage...so I rode my bike down to the lighthouse, to the amazement and perplexed looks on the other tourists there! Jealousy I wagered as they saw me putter on past! Not for me to walk back up those inclines - I was doing it in style!
Took the opportunity to snap some shots, parked and moved the bike around a bit (it was the star of the show, it had gotten me there easy peasy, lemon squeezy!) After helping some others take their mandatory shots for family albums, I pootled back .. and relished the return trip! Very much the same, until I got back out of Kaitaia and my bike starts making funny sounds, ahh - the old chain has started to protest and needs to be replaced! Good enough to make the trip back to Auckland however - during the return, I came across a tanker that had fallen into a ditch, a crane was preparing to lift it out so I parked the bike and chewed the fat with the other spectators as they pulled up. No going back or past this delay! With that done, the return back to Auckland sped on by, the setting sun making a superb backdrop to the fun I received in carving up the black lane ahead...a quick dinner bite in Orewa saw me with the energy and rest to make it back to Takanini. Arrival time back 10pm. Little did I realise what postings laid in wait for me to peruse
Took a while to post this up, the readings of the carnage done to our community was sobering and to think I was having this fun while others had their weekend dissolve for them
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Originally Posted by xerxesdaphat
The worst part is when the 4WD's and buses fly by you on the opposite side and whips up a dust storm delight (not!)
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