Help Paul get Routed

[Paul in NZ]

OK...

Labour weekend we are off to Raglan for the Guzzi fest.

Vickis back is still pretty well shagged so long days in the saddle (oi, I heard that) are out. We thought about a 2 day trip via New Plymouth area and getting to NP from here is no sweat. I reckon around the mountain to the east should be the go depending upon the weather.

North of NP for me is virgin territory. ( I seriously doubt that)

I'm thinking a compromise between fast roads and a bit of exploring is the go. (nope, don't want to do the Lost Highway thing thanks)

How does north on SHW3 to Awakino... then turn off and follow the coastal road up north.

Any comments on the condition of the road etc?? I don't mind gravel but the bike will be fully laden and it's a pig to ride on poor roads for any length of time. (high first gear, rear sets, clip ons, luggage = Yuck!)

Cheers

[k14]

Just stay on SH3 the whole way up. It has some very nice twisties, awakino george and mt messenger being some of them, aswell as some fairly boring cruisy sections.

I don't know what the coastal road is but I think it could be gravel. Don't quote me on that though.

[Motu]

If you don't want to do SH43 you certainly won't like the road from Awakino to Marakopa and beyond,there is a lot of seal,but maybe 50/50, a fantastic road,I love it.You could go in at Waitomo and go to Kawhia,that's all seal,lots and lots and lots of corners,stuck in 3rd forever.Turn left at Otorohanga and go on SH31,you come onto the Raglan road at Whatawhata,that's a good road too.

These are the sights you won't see - get a hair cut and get a real bike.

[Paul in NZ]

Thanks Guys

It's not so much as I don't like those roads but all day 2 up on an old bike fitted with 3 hair dryers and 40lbs of essential cosmetics is not my idea of fun...

Just kidding dear...

Vickis back has a finite tolerence to riding so it's a matter of finding the balance between smooth fast riding and interesting countryside.

I like the idea of sh3 and turning in at Otorohanga as it gives us options to bail out due to back problems or bad weather.

Seriously though, the Guzzi is more fun than a night with Pamela Anderson's good looking twin sister in a baby oil factory on the open road but it's not my choice of bike on dirt roads. Generally old Guzzis are good in the loose stuff but an overloaded LeMans with a C/R gear box and rear sets is not. The average speed drops and I don't want to spend my whole life getting there.

There's beer to be drunk.

Paul N

[JohnBoy]

i work for the company that maintains SH3 from New Plym to Ham.
pretty cool in some places, nice and twisty with many patches of long striaghts.
plus no cops between tongapourtu (cant spell it, sorry) and Pio Pio so its open game! road is fully sealed but will have a few nasty patches, but it will seam like an air port runway compared to SH43 (AKA Goat Track 43).
if you come up this way turn off at Otorohanga on SH31/39 follow the signs north to Whatawhata and turn left from there and completly divert Htown.
happy motoring dude

[Paul in NZ]

Bloody hell!

We did it!! We could not manage a stop over in NP so it was Kapiti to Raglan through the Paraparas non stop. The Guzzi Rally was party time again and we managed a few back road thrashs too. Today was Raglan (11:45) to Kapiti (18:00) via back roads and nice lunch.

I'm sorry to report, some SERIOUS drinking and general bad behaviour. Generally letting the side down etc. (Guess who?) and I'm not sure but I think I've bought another bike (oops - more later) and promised to sire some children as well. Oh, if some gay looking chick with a machete and an ugly girlfriend with ZERO sense of humour turns up asking for me, ya never heard of me OK!

Fantastic spring riding weather on the way up (a few spots here and there but really nice (REALLY) through the Paraparas ( a first for me) and got a bit too hot at National park.

Raglan kicks arse (never been there before). What a cool place and an excellent party town. There was a very good reggae band on and the surf was amazin'

It HOSED down all the way home but the gear kept most of it out!! I had a pretty serious hang over and was a bit worried about loosing breakfast at one stage. Fortunately due to CRAP road fixing (oh there was a lot of that) and the torrential rain. Big slippy shinny repair patch in the middle of a corner, big slide followed by a monsta 'twitch' at 120, woke up real fast and loosing lunch was a LOW priority.... The pillion in a million didn't even flinch but trust me (I could see it coming) I filled my dacks.... Shit! I'm too old for this crap....

Poor old Guzzi has ruptured something as oil is pissing out (again). Oh well, can't be too serious and it still runs like a bandit and were riding it like we stole it despite enough clobber to outfit a 10 week world exploration..... Tough old bikes those things! I reckon it would have been happy to turn round and do it again tonight if only the rider was not one of the walking dead!

Oh! Next year is the south island. Otamatata... Wanna come?

Paul N

PS Vickis back held up BRILLIANTLY !! Jeeze we are thrilled! It was a bloody long ride on an uncomfortable old munter like the Mk2....

[Dodgyiti]

Good on you Paul
What we endure only makes us stronger.
Sorry we could not make the rally and meet up.
Today [ monday] is my only free day, well, the afternoon really.
Maybe next year, if I have some annuals left by then

[Ms Piggy]

Sounds like it was a great ride - aren't thoese Paraparas amazing and Raglan is such a groovey litle town mon.

Btw - it's actually (ahem): Otematata

[Hooks]

:

Btw - it's actually (ahem): Otematata

Isn't that, that thing from the LION KING ....???? ....

[Paul in NZ]

Isn't that, that thing from the LION KING ....???? ....

I think it will be from the 'Lie in' kings next year.. "Well we wus doing 250 on the Guzzi when I realised I was still in first gear so .... " Amazin how fast beer makes you go....

[Motu]

Any Stornello's? just trying to find my lost birds.

[Paul in NZ]

Didn't see any Stornellos

Did see a lot of beer getting drunk and fun being had!

Paul N

[Motu]

Talking to one of my Waiheke Island friends at a trial today,sounds like a few of them made it - come across any?

[Paul in NZ]

Talking to one of my Waiheke Island friends at a trial today,sounds like a few of them made it - come across any?

Jeepers? Um? I talked to lot's of people, some of em could have been them? It was lotsa fun and I may have had one too many lemonades at one stage or other (ah hem)

Paul N