I did Mt Marchant again - this time with my Bro tho no chooks in sight.

[merv]

It wasn't so much chook chasing, but sheep and cow chasing today as me and my Bro' did a lap from the mighty Porirua to Mt Marchant in the Wairarapa and back for a nice little 370km jaunt on the dirt bikes. I last went around there in April with Mrs merv, but my Bro' hadn't been there so it was his turn and he borrowed Mrs merv's bike.

We went over to Masterton, gassed up and then headed out on the Castlepoint Road then peeled off onto highway 52 but then went straight ahead to Bideford instead of taking 52 up to Alfredton. The reason for that is there is a nice bit of gravel between Bideford and 52 to the North.

We stopped at Bideford Hall for a quick swig of our drinks and that is where my photos start. Then it was off on the gravel to head towards Alfredton.

Anyone's rellies on that war heroes list? None of mine.

[merv]

They are nice gravel roads in the 'rapa and as I've said many times I'll be disappointed when they are all sealed over.

From Alfredton we ducked over to Eketahuna for lunch and then back to head North along 52 before turning off to Haunui. We didn't go up to Pongaroa so didn't see the Ashhurst crew. The gravel soon ends and you're onto a what really is a farm track - all public road though. Its interesting it says not suitable for trucks with trailers, but I'd hate to see a large truck going around there all the same especially if the mud got wet. For those that know this is Puketoi Road.

The old buildings don't look any happier.

[merv]

I like this track and the weather was perfect. There were many loose sheep and cows, not caught on camera because I need a helmet cam like Transalper has to catch them in action - but then I don't know if I could be bothered with that - stick to the still shots eh!

Great country - scenic like MD's Lake Wairarapa shots, just different scenery.

You climb to about 530m asl almost as high as the summit of the Rimutaka Road.

[merv]

No he's not having one, he's looking at the view - isn't it awesome? if you're into green countryside that is!

The old homestead looks nice - that's a Landcorp farm - so Michael Cullen has sprung for the cost of paint.

[merv]

Hitcher a V-Strom would love this track. A road bike would have been OK on it today but not so good on a wet day. Puketoi Road joins Pori Road and you end up back down on 52.

We then cruised back to Alfredton and then branched off down 52 to go to Mauriceville and back to Masterton. A nice easy ride.

[merv]

One last pic as we stopped in Greytown at the White Swan for a coke or raspberry & lemonade.

The off back to Porirua in time for dinner.

[merv]

OK to show you again where all this is I'll add the GPS track for this ride from Masterton. The red line off to the side is when we went over to Eketahuna and back for lunch as there are no other places to eat around there unless you go up to Pongaroa. The grey line across the centre on Google Earth I presume is the Masterton District/Tararua District bounday as that would be about where it is going by the signs we passed.

[Zukin]

Hi Merv

Great pictures

Is this what I call Pori Road?
The road down to Tiraumea used to have a locked gate on, I presume it is now open
Can you send me the GPS waypoints/track by email to me?

Cheers Scott

[merv]

Zukin, part of what we did is Pori Road which keeps heading North to join the Pongaroa-Pahiatua Rd. I know Pori Road has been used by rally cars in the past, I doubt Puketoi Road has as its no more than a farm track. It'd be a great ride on the F650. I first picked this loop up out of Andy Cockcroft's 4wd North Island 91 Back Country Adventures book - its route number 86 in there.

You want a Google Earth .kml file or .gdb for the Garmin? I notice interestingly enough when I blow the Google earth pic up just how far off the route my GPS track shows - as in quite a few metres.

[James Deuce]

Did Mt Marchant on a GSX600F.

As you say perfectly negotiable on a road bike.

Lovely photos.

[merv]

Did Mt Marchant on a GSX600F.

As you say perfectly negotiable on a road bike.

Lovely photos.

Yep, but just don't try it in the winter on slippery as eel road tyres on that mud.

Are you managing to get some time off yet or are you still stuck at work?

[James Deuce]

At work. Dropped in the shit too. Still on call.

[merv]

At work. Dropped in the shit too. Still on call.

Bugger mate - feel for you. Here we are trying to decide what we'll do next with so much free time on our hands.

As for Mt Marchant I enjoy those sorts of rides - road mixed in with gravel and dirt - always have, though I don't mind pure road either.

Checked my GPS track, the actual bit we did around Puketoi Rd and Pori Rd was only 28.3km long, but with all the photo stops and the fact it is so tight, took us 1hr 7mins for an average pseed of only 25km/hr - you can have a lot of fun even at that speed.

[clint640]

Roads with grass up the middle - my favourite kind!

Good stuff Merv!

Cheers
Clint