Wanganui River road 29.12.07

[tri boy]

Tri-boy, are we heading south?

Sth Isld passes 99% certain.
Capital Coast in April, and anything that can be squeezed in.
Got a Special pair of reading glasses that we will compete for sunshine.

[Lucy]

I keep hearing about how it is going to be sealed as far as Pipiriki (from Raetihi), but no timeline. That bit is the most corrugated as it is the most used I guess.

I would probably prefer they kept it unsealed, as it is so narrow that the higher speeds done by most people could make it rather scary.

Why not, instead of sealing it, they just provide cellphone coverage so we can call for help if it's needed?

Certainly I felt a great sense of achievement, but next time I'll be carrying a tyre panda too, just in case!

[huck farley]

Not sure about above Pipiriki,but the road from there to Wanganui is awesome,scenery wise,we took the mail van option after paddling down from Whakahoro(sp)with the same guy who dropped us off.Mind you was nearly 10 yrs ago.The road to start was a good one for bikes too,lots off twisties,but narrow though.But not a loop type.Still would like to see $$$ spent on paraparas as well,is the cafe/shop still open up the paras?we used to go that way to pick up the wifes kids at holiday time,and meet her ex there,can remember feb 2004 after flooding and most of road missing,took ages to fix,met a few bikes each time we went,and must go through the place.

Shops still there, Fred the propriotor and his lovely wife who is Canadian. Cook you the biggest breakfast for around 12 bucks. They have the shop and land (about 3 acres & vertical) on the market but as far as I know they havent sold it as yet.

[huck farley]

Well done Lucy, welcome to the esteemed halls of the adventure riders! Taking that road on riding a Ginny takes skill and courage, good on you girl.

Huck, I'm with Tri-boy on the sealing, again for selfish reasons, my best memory of that road is fishtailing at 140 clicks on the DR (on a closed., private, section of course) in the rain last winter, gorgeous scenery (yes, I stopped and looked as well) with clouds down to the road and a sense of the wonder that is our land all around.
Best bit of road I've ridden for a while......how long before they seal it?


Tri-boy, are we heading south?

Supposed to be done by the middle of 09 providing we can keep Ken Mear, Tama Iti, and the rest of the hangers on quiet, with a decent back hander.

The locals want it to happen. Will bring a whole new dimension to the river Road. With the likes of farm stays/tours etc. Also if the local iwi got of there arse, and out of the dole ques. Could sell bone carvings and touristy stuff it's a win win for everyone.

And on top of all that, there is the drop dead gorgeous scenery to take snaps off. You won't have to alter the shutter speed as time stands still along the river.

The locals could do a bit to the other side of the bridge to "nowhere" as another string to their bow. The potential of the place is enormous.

Let us hope the local Maori don't sell it of to a large corporate, to develop into another Disneyland, or the likes!!

Would be a great road to take to the Cemetery circuit on Boxing day, if you weren't in to much of a hurry.

[Lucy]

Shops still there, Fred the propriotor and his lovely wife who is Canadian. Cook you the biggest breakfast for around 12 bucks. They have the shop and land (about 3 acres & vertical) on the market but as far as I know they havent sold it as yet.

Do you mean the shop near the Raukawa falls? The last couple of times I've been down there have been big 'private' signs, and they've blocked off the driveway.

And yes, tend to have two minds on the sealing - as a biker I'd prefer it kept gravel, but as a Raetihi resident who is hoping the town is revived somewhat, (and starting a small backpackers ourselves!) we are interested in seeing it sealed.

[tri boy]

The Falls Store died in the arse back in the 80's? when the fuel pumps were pulled out.
Prior to that it was a Happening Spot, with locals fueling up/getting supplies, bikers getting out of dodgey weather, and chowing down on coffee/pies etc.
Travellers fueling up and stretching the legs.
Weekend rides usually involved an 1/2-1hr stop, just mucking around and chatting.
Once the pumps stopped, cars/bikes/tourists just kept on going to Wanga's.
I buggered off to Oz in 85, but still have fond memories of the store.

[ynot slow]

Yep that's the shop,we were talking a few times with her,thought she was from California,she was good to talk to,enjoyed the land,and made damn good coffee,used to be closed Mondays though.

The outback is a tourist mecca not abused yet.The river is brilliant to canoe,the huts and camp areas by huts good,we went down at Queens birthday weekend,was about 30 canoes on it,the guy who hired and dropped/picked us up used to stay at the marae,but got sick of them asking for more and more koha,the japs loved it but he got sick of having the tourists pay through the nose for a night,although he said they never moaned about the cost,he just got sick of the lets rip the japs off syndrome.He then used the lodge across the river,as he said at least they had a flushing bog,not a long drop for 15-25 guests.

We stopped off at the bridge to nowhere,saw it took 30-40mins to the bridge,we all jogged away,after about 10 mins reached a sign with bridge 5 mins and river 30 mins,we were there and back in 40 mins,after taking a few pics,so know have seen both bridges,the other being bridge to somewhere,inland from Whangamomona,identical designs and relics of the idea to farm inland during and after the depression and ww2.

[ynot slow]

Shops still there, Fred the propriotor and his lovely wife who is Canadian. Cook you the biggest breakfast for around 12 bucks. They have the shop and land (about 3 acres & vertical) on the market but as far as I know they havent sold it as yet.

Yep last time there about 2 yrs ago was on the market,if not for isolation,and no fuel sales nothing to stop for,but worth it for the food.Usually the case,the only thing going in those cafes is the food,must be good to get people stopping.