We had intended to go round East Cape this weekend but the weather looked distinctly iffy so there was a late change of plan. Dave (Blackbird) from Auckland rode down on Friday night to join Geoff (Blackbird) and John (Hayabusa) in Tokoroa. We set off at 1030 on Saturday morning, travelling down Lake Taupo’s Western Access road and stopping at the lookout half way up the Tokaanu saddle for Dave to see Taupo as he’d only arrived from the UK in 2004 and hadn’t ventured in that direction. Then it was up Ruapehu for lunch in perfect conditions. We elected not to go to the Top O’ the Bruce as there was fresh chip everywhere, so we headed south for Wanganui. Saw a Suzuki and a Ducati Monster filling up at the National park gas station which we found out later was Lynda Blair and partner. Would love to have met you – maybe next time!
The Paraparas were attacked with enthusiasm until Dave and I had a couple of monster 2 wheel slides due to molten tar on corners, after which we were rather more circumspect (ummm… rather de-tuned actually). Man, it was hot in that valley!John didn’t seem to have the same problem and pressed hard deliberately so that he could rush into the pub at the bottom of the Paraparas and be sitting outside with a drink by the time we arrived!
It was a bit scary meeting up with a local who had just driven into the pub who appeared to be already under the influence. Would have hated to meet him on the road. In retrospect, we should have maybe done something about it.
A very quick, but uneventful trip round south Taranaki saw us arrive in New Plymouth at about 1730. We headed for the Belt Road Holiday Park and a whole load of surprises unfolded here! The owners are Kevin and Teresa Bowe who also own a Blackbird. Here is an unashamed plug for their park (www.beltroad.co.nz). You are made extremely welcome and the place is beautifully kept. Also, the views over the port and Tasman Sea are stunning. What’s more, it’s only a 5 minute walk to the game fishing club where great food and cold ale could be had at very fair prices. We were also entertained watching an elderly guy on a mobility scooter heading down the slippery boat ramp to let his pooch on a lead have a splash about whilst cars, trailers and boats were charging about all round him! A recipe for disaster if ever there was one, but the gods were on his side. We also met a friend of Kevin’s who is doing the Southern Cross ride in May and between us; we may have pressured Kevin into doing it too.We also met an English guy at the camping ground who was touring NZ on a rented bike for the second successive year and owned a Blackbird in the UK, as well as 4 other bikes! Another interesting person we met at the camp was an ex-Zimbabwean farmer (also a biker) who had been stripped of 3500 acres by Robert Mugabwe and was regaining his life in NZ.
We left New Plymouth this morning and headed north (the road surface over Mt Messenger was badly broken up over the summit) and on to Mokau for a late breakfast. It was here that we met a whole load of Aussies who had containered their bikes over, were touring the country for 5 weeks and having an absolute ball. It’s typical of bikers everywhere that friendships were immediately established and lots of good-natured banter followed. From there, we headed at a goodly clip through the Awakino Gorge and up to Otorohanga where we said goodbye to Dave who headed for Auckland via the back roads. John and I carried on to Kihikihi and then took to the back roads, arriving in Tokoroa early afternoon.
A total of 750 km was covered for the Tokoroa round trip, fantastic riding partners, saw stunning scenery and met a whole load of really neat people. Yep, I know why we ride bikes!
Geoff
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SENSEI PERFORMANCE TUNING 
Originally Posted by Blackbird
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