Come in Ngawi, your time is up!

[merv]

MD are you meaning around to White Rock from Cape Palliser? If so I wouldn't recommend it on a road bike.

Check out pics on the old Pukemanu thread here http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=2336

You'd struggle to get a road bike up the gravel scree http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/at...2&d=1080246286 without knobbly tyres.

[MD]

MD are you meaning around to White Rock from Cape Palliser? If so I wouldn't recommend it on a road bike.

Is that what's beyond Ngawi Merv? I would just like to see what's around the bend ..and the next bend... I tried to google-earth it but it's out of the hi-res picture section. Which just intrigues me more to go see what's there.

[merv]

OK when you said all the way I had thought you were talking about riding right around, but you could ride the road bike to Cape Palliser OK it is a gravel road of about 6km and ordinary cars go that far and I think Hitcher mentioned earlier in this thread they are building a new bridge so at one place you have to ford a small gravel based stream and there are two other concrete bottomed fords. I'll see what pics I can find. You can get fit climbing the steps to the lighthouse.

If you go back to my post #14 the first 3 pics there are between Ngawi and Cape Palliser - you see stacks of seals they sleep right by the road. That last pic on that post is way beyond the gate at the Cape and that's when a trail bike comes in handy or as I was that time driving my Landcruiser taking the whole family plus a Japanese exchange student to have a look.

Here's a pic looking down from the lighthouse you can just make out my blue vehicle in the gravel carpark and the gate to the rough stuff is just to the left of that. The gravel road approaches to the right are about what the road is like to the Cape. Besides the fords there is one little narrow piece with rough concrete holding it together above a drop to the sea.

OK I've added a pic looking up to the lighthouse, some more of the seals and a view back towards Ngawi from the front of my vehicle. All worth a look I reckon and that smiley faced bach is still there too that I showed you on the other post.

[merv]

As for the poor baches above the cliffs on the way to Ngawi they aren't looking any safer!! Its difficult to fight nature.

[MD]

Well I drove the family to Ngawi in the car on Fathers Day.
Enjoyable day but to be honest there is not much to do when you get there is there?
I meant to post something about Akitio back in In January when I stumbled onto Akitio beach while running in the Beemer. Beautiful spot and a great swimming beach.
I did a search on KB and Akitio has had a bit of mention with the Coast to Coast event. It is a fair hike for Welly riders and not a half day effort. Those with piss poor sportsbike tank ranges would be advised to top up in Dannevirke or Paihiatua before venturing into the wilds of the far South-East coast. Otherwise they may run out on the return to civilisation.
Another tip is don't take the direct road from Pongoroa to the beach - that becomes rough gravel and I turned back after 10 minutes at what appeared to be still miles from the coast. Go further up from Pongoroa to Waione and turn right on to a top notch curvy well sealed race track all the way to the beach.
The day I stumbled onto the beach and took this picture was a scorcher and a dip in the surf never felt better. That's my clothes discarded all over the bike and hanging in the nearby tree to air.

[merv]

Well I drove the family to Ngawi in the car on Fathers Day.
Enjoyable day but to be honest there is not much to do when you get there is there?

You go to the Cape this time though? There's the seals to see on the way, the steps to climb to the lighthouse (depends how old the family is) and depending on your car you could venture a bit past the gate. All good exploring for the first time.

Back in 2001 I took our Japanese exchange student around there on a wet day and she loved the rugged country escape - see the smile on her face. Because the river was up near the rock wall I didn't go past there that time even in the 4x4. Here's a few pics - nice views eh.

[merv]

I presume you all saw the Sherriff Of Ngawi story on TV last night. I reckon he did well but of course his use of the shotgun was against the law.

p.s. While I've been talking with VXRider on his thread I've found this photo which shows very well the track up the hill at the White Rock end of the Cape Palliser to White Rock track. On my Pukemanu thread I showed people riding up it while I was looking down. This photo shows more clearly the extremes of the terrain with the hillside forever succumbing to the ocean hence the track needing to go up and over. Not really F800s riding terrain eh MD?

On this trip me and my Bro' rode from my home to Ocean Beach first, then lunch at lake Ferry and then rode to White Rock and back and then home, which on the dirt bikes is a reasonably quick trip and fun to do both ways around the Cape.

Does anyone know for sure if this track is open again free access or is the Dutchman still causing trouble?

[jeff]

Hi MD

We were thinking of going up to Akitio from the Hutt Valley on a Saturday afternoon and coming back on the Sunday.

Is there somewhere to put our tent up, have something to eat etc?

We would settle for a dunny and a tap if that's all that's going.

Chrissie and Jeff

[merv]

There is a camping ground at Akitio Beach.