Having read some inspiring ride reports on KB, I thought F** k it, I’ve got the day off and don’t need to start work til 4pm tomorrow and in a flash an overnighter was born! GoGal needed no convincing, so in an impressively quick time we had found all we needed (we’ve recently moved house, so I was impressed!) and bikes loaded we were off. We also wanted to try out our new tent, - we love camping but hadn’t done so for over a year.
Based in Matiere we decided The Forgotten World Highway was the natural choice – GoGal had been off the bike for months, and it’s a nice quiet and beautiful road, with possible destinations of Opunake, Mokau or maybe New Plymouth.
What a stunner day to ride, and ride we did, thru Ohura, and off to Whangamomona via the beaut Tahora Saddle. I hadn’t had a decent ride for far too long but quickly got in to the rhythm, enjoying 22 degrees of sunshine and nice curvy quiet country roads. Stratford is only 111 km’s from Ohura, but a nice and curvy ride, with 13 km’s of MINT unsealed road which puts some people off. Maybe that’s a good thing! – but it shouldn’t put any level of bike rider off.
GoGal had the Shadow well loaded up, but was riding great, and never far behind the Pan Euro. Before reaching the Tahora Saddle I drifted ahead and gave it a blast as the roads opened up a bit when I noticed some calves spooking in the paddock ahead, then noticed one was on the road side of the fence, so I pulled up and did a “u’ie” to let GoGAl know there was a beast on the road – her louder V twin could really spook it…..
That all worked, and the car coming along also appreciated the heads up and kindly pulled over to allow the natural order to be restored!!
There was a fair bit of shiny tar through here it was so hot, and the cold shandy was well appreciated at the Whangamomona Pub, which is looking well spruced for Republic day on Jan 24. The Publicans are tops, and have a Kwaka 1400 Concours stashed out the back, so are well Biker friendly also.
The rego on the ST was expired by 2 days, so I was keen to hit Stratford before NZ Post closed, and that we did, stopping only to gas up the VT at Toko – not a great move, but we were just being astute as the 750 doesn’t enjoy a huge gas range, but $1.83 a litre…. Oh well.
A quick stop got the ST relicenced and label displayed and I picked up Jude on the outskirts and we cruised in to New Plymouth in brilliant sunshine and ‘rush minute’ traffic. It didn’t take long to find the inner city Motor Camp, and secure a nice spot for $16 each. We got the tent up easily in good time – esp since it was the first time we’ve used it – and WOW – the space!! Almost room for the bikes inside as well.
After a quick shower and spruce up, we wandered in to town for a well deserved Radler followed by an exquisite Indian meal at FLAME, worth the ride alone. (Actually the ride was worth the ride alone!)
We caught up with friends at the festival of lights then trundled back to camp, ZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
Awaking to beautiful sun again, hot showers and all ready to go, but the tent was a bit damp from overnight dew, so we left it up while we shot into town for brekkie on the ST. A coffee lounge did the job, but there seemed to be limited choice of brekkie spots – maybe further out there are more? – any tip New Plymouthians?
Tent packed and on the road, gas at Bellblock and we cruised past the Waitara turnoff at 10.00am, heading back via Piopio, Another fav road, sun shining and bikes we love!
A few km’s before Mokau, I noticed a “belly dumper” truck coming the other way – I noticed it because it looked like a truck local to us, but wasn’t. Then around the corner we found big chunky gravel spilt over both lanes – no signs – and gravel on tarseal isn’t a good look.
We managed to avoid it, and quickly came to roadworks and a stop/go sign on ‘stop’. Apparently the truck had dumped his load in the roadworks and the under carriage hadn’t closed, so dangerous gravel was spread all along the highway, with graders flying down the road to sort it out.
By Piopio we were both feeling our lack of riding fitness, and enjoyed a break and cold drink after refuelling. Only about 80 k’s to home, which were easily and pleasurably dispatched, to arrive safe and sound in brilliant summer weather and TOTALLY RECHARGED!!
Mission accomplished. It was only a 24 hour getaway, felt like 3 days and did the trick!
Reply With Quote
I'm not a gynaecologist but I can took a look for ya
Rugby - A Hooligans Game played by Gentlemen. 
Originally Posted by Highlander
It's nice to see photos to go with it. 
Bookmarks