Hawkes Bay Gravel Ride - 12/08/07

[Zukin]

Hi all

Sorry for the late notice, but I am thinking of going for a quick ride tomorrow.

Meet at BP Greenmeadows at 10.00am

The trip will be South towards the Ranges (SH50) through Gwavas and Makaroro and North Block Road (depending on how far we can go up North Block Road will depend on how high the rivers are)
It will be an easy trip, but with lots of gravel

If you wish to join me then post here or I will see you tomorrow am
If the weather is bad check here before you leave

Cheers Scott

[Zukin]

Well I headed off at 10am, with me, myself and I

I was heading for the ranges to investigate some new gravel roads that I had not yet traversed over.

As I left I travelled down SH50, and through the small rural settlement of Maraekakaho (the settlement that was devastated in the recent floods here in Hawkes Bay), they seem to have the tidy up well underway

As I got closer to the ranges the rain showers come and went and it would be a while before more persistant rain would come.

The roads were slippery underfoot, and at times it felt as though the front wheel was going to slide out underneath me , so more power was needed on those sections of road where the clay base had started to come through.
Otherwise the small section of gravel in Gwavas was fast and open

Then I joined back onto SH50 for a few kms, before turning left at Tikokino and heading over the small section of gravel road, known as Holden Road, I hate the name but the road was good, it was wet but very fast
Then it was into North Block Road, where the real road starts
It is fast and smooth to start with and as it gets higher it gets narrower, there is a lot of real sharp rocks in patches where they have recently repaired washouts, otherwise it is good.

With all the recent rain, I had to exercise caution on the steep section of the track, as I was solo and didn’t really feel like picking the BMW up
Then I came to the river, I had to pick my way along a track that really wasn’t there, here I found out first hand that a tankbag is a PAIN IN THE ARSE! when trying to stand on the pegs.
I got stuck in the soft sand once or twice, and nearly threw it over on its side a few times, but luck was on my side for a change and managed to get along it unscathed
I made along the river bed but I didn’t want to cross the rising river. That can wait until summer

Then I headed back to SH50, through some good tarseal roads, until I found lookout road, now this road is great. You ride along a ridge with views over Central Hawkes Bay and towards Dannevirke, I wouldn’t want to be here when it’s really windy though, there was enough debris to avoid as it was!!

Then it was a short ride through Onga Onga (if you have never been to Onga Onga then I suggest you do, it is like you have stepped back in time) and onto Waipawa, just as the heavens opened!!
I decided that was enough riding in the rain and took the main road home

It was a good day

Pictures
1 Parked on the side of the road, all clean before the gravel
2 Gwavas Forest
3 Holden Road, fast and smooth
4 North Block Road
5 Almost in the ranges on North Block Road
6 North Block Road gets narrower the higher you get

[Zukin]

1 Up the creekbed
2 Stop for a breather
3 Made it
4 Lookout Road (great road)
5 Stop for the view
6 Onga Onga

Hope you enjoy

[NordieBoy]

Looks like fun was had by all of you

That's one of the good things about solo riding.
Stopping for pics without worrying about anyone else.

[merv]

Looks good Scott. You and Aslan could have done being together this weekend both doing solo rides. I'm still trying to shake my bloody lurg, think I'm finally making headway but I haven't ridden for a few weeks now. I'll be back.

[windboy]

Thanks for sharing those pics Scott, going solo can be great, good job you stuck with it dispite of the weather, it seems like it paid back nicely...

I agree on what you said about the tank bag, it also makes the bike more top heavy...

later,

[young1]

Scott any chance of putting a map up so we can see where you went? It is all a mystery to me at the moment

Mike

[Aslan]

big ups to you Scott - that river bed looks challenging - you obviously had a good ride - well done - Cheers S

[Zukin]

Scott any chance of putting a map up so we can see where you went? It is all a mystery to me at the moment

Mike

Here ya go

[Zukin]

big ups to you Scott - that river bed looks challenging - you obviously had a good ride - well done - Cheers S

Hi Aslan

The river bed probably looks worse in the photos than it actually was, in summer you could drive your car along there, but after the recent rain there wasnt really a track, the only track was by a tractor getting to the other side

Still it was a good way to "test" the bike out

I didnt actually like the feel of the tyres on the really wet clay tracks (nor did I want to stop to take photos)

It was a good day, it sounds like you did likewise

Cheers

[Zukin]

I agree on what you said about the tank bag, it also makes the bike more top heavy...

later,

I found the tank bag to be restricting me when I wanted to lean over the front wheel It just got in the way!!

I need bigger foot pegs too

[young1]

Here ya go

Thanks, that makes it much clearer!

[tri boy]

Nice to see a bit of green on those HB ranges.
Looks like a good ride.