New Year tootle up norf

[yungatart]

Over New Year the Mstrs/YT/hXc fambly are heading norf. This is our last road trip as a fambly before hXc heads off to Europe next year.
Our trip as currently planned is about 300ks per day.
We have beds in Tauranga, Auckland on the way up, but are looking for accomodation for a night or two up Kaitaia way somewhere around the 2/3 January, and in Aucks on 3/4.
We can be a little flexible on the dates.
Please pm one of us if you can help.
Ta....

[Toaster]

Over New Year the Mstrs/YT/hXc fambly are heading norf. This is our last road trip as a fambly before hXc heads off to Europe next year.
Our trip as currently planned is about 300ks per day.
We have beds in Tauranga, Auckland on the way up, but are looking for accomodation for a night or two up Kaitaia way somewhere around the 2/3 January, and in Aucks on 3/4.
We can be a little flexible on the dates.
Please pm one of us if you can help.
Ta....

Hey Janet - so great to bump into you all at the Cambridge BP today - such a nice surprise and reminds me that it is indeed a small country we live in!

Great to put faces to the names - just a shame our group didn't have a huge amount of time to hang around and chat longer over a coffee or beer. Our trip took us over 650km mark by the time I got home.

I hope you all got home safe!

[MSTRS:Me]

I like the surprise of meeting 'names' in person like yesterday...
And yes, we got home safe, thanks.
The Xmas jinx is broken!!

[Maha]

Hey Janet - so great to bump into you

Bump??...Jeez Cam take it easy on the Tart mate, she bumps back!.....

I like the surprise of meeting 'names' in person like yesterday...
And yes, we got home safe, thanks.
The Xmas jinx is broken!!

Waiting for the tour report and pics John, any idea on overall Km's?

[yungatart]

Left Napier on 28th and headed for Tauranga. I have to take "small bites" , can't manage these long distances that some of you guys clock up in a day.We called into the track at Taupo but were not willing to pay $30 to get in the gate, so carried on the back way through Reperoa, and stopped for lunch at some roadside cafe at Waimangu. Met a guy from Chch by the name of Mike. He was on a Kawasaki GTR and often rides an old Kawa triple round his patch
Then it was off to Dmntd's via Pyes Pa Rd. This road is in awesome condition, it is just a pity I can't ride well enough to do it justice, eh Chris? We spent a very pleasant afternoon/evening with Chris, Annette and Gordon. Annnette produced a fantastic meal for us, which we washed down with a bevvy or two.
After a comfortable night, Annette escorted us northwards (There was a nose to tail involving 4 or 5 cars and traffic was backed up for miles, so I had my first attempt at lanesplitting, but was not game to take on the truck!!) and took us on a detour to a fabulous lookout. What a view, photo opportunities for Africa! Leaving Annette we continued on to Waihi for lunch, where we enjoyed the company of a couple of BAB's from Rotorua on a NIghttrain. Through the gorge to Paeroa, fabulous road, but, WTF is this 80 k crap??
A fuel stop at Bombay saw us chatting with Boomer and ArcherWC (ain't KB great?), then on to Warkworth. I managed the motorway ok, but can't say I really like being surrounded by traffic, however apart from one tosser in a Nissan 300ZX coupe (more on this later!!) the traffic was really well behaved.
Arrived at Maha man and Mom's eventually. We were greeted with a cold beer and lots of laughter at my pathetic attempt to tackle the Stop sign and hill start leading on to their street. I did keep the bike upright tho!
The 30th saw us treated to a tiki tour of the beaches and lookouts in their patch. Anne and I had had rather a late night, so we were pillioning, instead of riding. Glorious sights and beautiful beaches were beheld after a spot of lunch and some free entertainment at the Bridge House.
Remember that Nissan Coupe? When we pulled in to the Bridge House there was one parked there, identical it was too. Methinks I will keep an eye out for that pratt, who obliged by turning up in just a few minutes, complete with his lovely wife, who looked for all the world like she had been feasting on lemons (anally ingested!)
I proceeded to congrratulate the "lovely" couple on their driving skills, to be treated in turn to a display of verbal and visual responses including "if I had tailgated you, I would have run you over". The guy backs out of the parking plkace, engages a forward gear and as he starts to move off gives us the 'universal salute of contempt' and some choice language. He was ever so brave! By this time, other customers are looking and wondering, especially two older couples (Mid 70's). These old guys joined in, telling the odd couple to piss off, get a life etc. Lots of laughter ensued! The SOAPS (stressed out Auckland pricks) u turned at the end of the street and treated us to a drive by sign (did I mention how brave he was?) Then he did another u turn, prompted by the lemon ingesting cow, and came back to the same park, where they insisted I apologise, which was greeted by all the old couples with hoots of derision and ignored by us..it is rather difficult to apologise when one is doubled over with laughter....at this point, I realised their number plate was one letter different to the offender's plate of the day before The elderly couples left, but not before thanking us for the entertainment. Glad to have obliged, we took off for some sightseeing!

[Maha]

Sign at the Bridgehouse now reads.....'Cars park here at your own peril'...

[MSTRS:Me]

31st saw us keeping the picnic table/seats warm all day in preparation for Noel's do. Rider in Black called in at one point. Off to Noel's in the cage, had a great evening and a short sleep before it was time for brekkie and then off on another tour (specifically Paremoremo - what fun when the gate came down and us still on the inside), then back to the Maha's just in time to enjoy the company of Jrandom, Sticky and G-Boy. hXc got to sample Betty's delights and being the bike slut that he is, then threw a leg over the Sprint. He paid with a cheesecake (recipe available upon receipt of $100). At last, an early night (12ish) saw us raring to go on the 2nd to parts North. Sixpackback ensured we didn't cause any more trouble, at least until he left us at Matakohe, where we had lunch at a primitive cafe (no toilets) and saved ourselves $45 by not looking at old wood and saws. Certain that we could hear the sound of banjoes, we continued on our way, nearly creaming ourselves at the 'Twisties 26km' sign approaching the Waipoua forest. What a treat! And what is it with Subaru drivers - does the centreline not exist for this breed? Tane Mahuta is all they say it is - quite a spiritual experience really. Then over the hill (don't forget that lefthander eh DMNTD?) to view the Hokianga spread before us, and on to Puketona where we stayed with Klingon and her family. Are there more stars, satellites and meteorites in Northland? The 3rd saw YT back on the pillion for the upper loop, through Kerikeri, lunch at Mangonui, out to Ahipara then another treat in the form of the Mangamuku road (DO IT - DO IT - DO IT) and back to Puketona (Being a bit saddle sore, we opted to give the Rawene ferry diversion a miss - maybe next time) via Okaihau for our last night in northern parts.
Wanting to be home on Saturday, and with a brief escort by QKCHK from Orewa to Silverdale (only knew it was her when she went past and saw the plate) we decided not to stop in Auckland (sorry Busa's) but get to Hamilton (remember that 350ish Ks per day?). Had asked for beds, but wasn't needed as my brother was back from his holiday so stayed there. He is out at Tamahere and damn that is a busy airport, but all good and Saturday saw us on the final leg. Met up with Toaster and the cruiser boys at Cambridge and after a brief chat, we followed their tracks in a bit of insubstantial drizzle which we left behind at Tokeroa. Last fuel stop and a late lunch at Wairakei and an hour and a half later the bikes were safety tucked up in the gargre.
About 1900kms, $450 petrol over 3 bikes, hot and sunny every day except Saturday's damp air, friends old and new, new sights, new roads, no breakdowns and no whoopsies.
Awesome trip.

[Mom]

Anne and I had had rather a late night...

Yeah! What is it with you and staying up until just before Tui call anyway?

Bestest fun I have had in ages, never going to forget that old guy giving that tosser the fingers and telling him to piss off and get a life

As far as your failed hill start goes, I could hear the bikes, one idling away and thought I best walk down to see what the problem was (actually thought you had fallen off to be honest) Delighted to find you were simply cast there and still upright. If it makes you feel any better about it, Maduck stayed over last night, and complained bitterly about that stop sign. This from a female that lives up the steepest driveway I have ever seen, one that requires a 90 degree left turn right at the top to boot!

[MSTRS:Me]

Now the photos....
1. Missed the Quail on the fence, but got the Tui at Chris and Annette's
2. Not much room left!
3. The Mount from Annette's lookout
4. The scene of the 'crime'
5. Looking back from the hills above Leigh
6. hXc getting to know Betty

[Unit:Me]

Looks like you guys ended up having an awesome trip, and Im glad to hear you got to do both the Waipoua Forest and the Maungamukas, a couple of the best motorcycling strips in the country. Its fantastic to see KB friendships come together like this, for all the sites faults, this is its greatest success.
Ahh, photos.
Photos One and two, at our place, Tauranga (yes the bikes have carpet in the garage)
Photo Three, the look out showing Mt Maunganui
Photo Four, the bridgehouse, Warkworth
After that Im not sure

[MSTRS:Me]

1. hXc enjoying his cheesecake
2. Saving $45
3. Church - NZ style
4. Mangonui Heads
5. Bikers don't have to obey the rules. Do we?
6. YT's best asset on display at Ahipara

[chanceyy]

awesome write up guys .. fab trip .. glad this yr was uneventful for you Janet

great pics btw

[MSTRS:Me]

And my worst...moobies. Yuck!

[Mom]

Nice pics John! The weather was just so yummy while you were up this way, we got a decent bout of rain yesterday, but gamely sat outside under the umbrella attempting to stay dry...LOL

Madduck looked really funny wearing her riding gear while drinking coffee on our deck, attempting to stay dry.

Can you please ensure you send more of that beaut weather this way for our camping holiday, I fear you may have used all our good days up...LOL

[yungatart]

Will do our best with the weather. Must say, it is another stunning day in the bay today!