Waitangi Day 2008: Wellington/HB North Range Rd ride pics here

**bart** · 7th February 2008, 19:03

I pulled out at Pongo, but went the long way home.

North to Waione, then up the hill to Waihi Falls.

Up the Towai and over Conoor. One of my favorite roads.

**bart** · 7th February 2008, 19:15

Had a quick look in the north end of the Makairo track. Didn't go too far, as it's not the ride to do solo.

A bit overgrowen, but not too bad the further in you go.

Got home with about half a mm of nobbly left, and only a sniff of petrol. Awesome day.

**Zukin** · 7th February 2008, 19:54

Ok here are my photos

In the mirror
It was interesting to see the old windmills and the new ones
Looking over Palmy on one side and then Pahiatua on the other
How big are they? This big

North Range Road
Frodo coming around the corner

**Kendog** · 7th February 2008, 20:33

Damn that turbine looks amazing. I would consider getting the gixxer dirty to get up there and see that.

**Zukin** · 7th February 2008, 20:33

Watch out! Here comes Merv
Bart on the DRZ
Pahiatua
We even enjoyed some good tarseal roads
Bart on the seal
Pongaroa for lunch

**merv** · 7th February 2008, 20:37

Originally Posted by Kendog

Damn that turbine looks amazing. I would consider getting the gixxer dirty to get up there and see that.

Mate the Meridian wind farm on the North side of the gorge has the same size big turbines and you can ride there and park under one by riding on a sealed road all the way. Just go to Ashhurst and turn off to go over the Saddle Road.

Otherwise, sure just ride your GSXR up the gravel road to these ones but at this time of the year the gravel is so dry even our dirt tyres felt like slippery eels on that surface.

Seeing you're interested here's a pic of our Toyota parked by the base of the one at the visitor area off the Saddle Rd - big eh!

Then one of Mrs in front of some more.

**Zukin** · 7th February 2008, 20:40

Waiting to regroup
Speed section

The normal view of the road, nice gravel too
Merv is just about to run the camera man over

A great road up to Pori Road
Here comes Frodo

**Zukin** · 7th February 2008, 20:48

Merv on a mission
On the top of Pori road, the range you can see in the background is the one with the windmills that we rode over earlier

Smoko break on Pori Road
Merv was rather sheepish in this photo

and Frodo in the dust

Overall a damn good day
Finally managed to meet Mr and Mrs Hitcher in Pongaroa of all places.
I was riding for just over 12 hours and loved every minute of it

Good riding with you again Merv and Bart, and it was very nice to meet you Frodo, now you know what to expect on the KB adventure rides
They are damn good, just dont tell too many sports bike riders otherwise they will upgrade to "dirty bikes" and our quiet country gravel roads will never be the same again

**merv** · 7th February 2008, 21:14

Ah the sheep

.

Geez the guy sheperding them along was the grumpiest looking farmer I've ever seen.

**skelstar** · 7th February 2008, 21:23

WHeres your GPS track merv. Thats what I'm waiting for.

**merv** · 7th February 2008, 21:35

Originally Posted by skelstar

WHeres your GPS track merv. Thats what I'm waiting for.

Mate, Mrs is waiting for me in bed, but seeing its you I've taken the time to download it off my Garmin so here's the plot put on Google Earth map.

The green colours are a bit hard to look at.

**skelstar** · 7th February 2008, 22:02

Is she still waiting since last night? Yeah that screenshot was what I was after. Hey they put Wellington betweem Greytown and Carterton. Thats a bit 'off'...

**Kendog** · 7th February 2008, 22:10

Originally Posted by skelstar

Is she still waiting since last night? Yeah that screenshot was what I was after. Hey they put Wellington betweem Greytown and Carterton. Thats a bit 'off'...

At least it's not between Upper and Lower Hutt

**merv** · 8th February 2008, 17:46

Originally Posted by Kendog

At least it's not between Upper and Lower Hutt

Yeah wonder why - I had no control over that, just loaded my track on Google Earth and voila (or is that viola or violins playing or something like I saw on another thread?) there was Wellington marked in two places, but sure you wouldn't want it squeezed in up the "Hood".