Forgotten Highway Loop

[Movistar]

Did the loop from New Plymouth to Taumarunui (via Whangamomona) through Mokau and back this morning.

Just though I'd post up a road report for anyone doing this over the next few days.

Left at 7.30am this morning and despite the fog, couple of patches of ice on the road (yeeehaah!) and sub zero temperature in some places, wasn't a bad pootle...

There's a couple patches of road works just north of the Strathmore Saddle, it's newly laid unswept seal (like marbles) but doesn't go for long...

The rest of the road through to Taumarunui is in pretty good nick actually...

Taumaranui through to 8 Mile junction there's a patchy bit just by Kopaki Road (turn off to Bennydale for those that go that way)...

And a little bit through the Awakino Gorge and Tongaporutu...

Would have been back by lunch time if the power hadn't of been off in Taumarunui when I got there.

There's not a lot to do there at the best of times, so when you have to wait an hour and a half for petrol 'cause the fuel lights been flashing for the last 25km's...it gets a little tedious, especially when no one can make you a cup of coffee or get you something hot to eat so you can thaw out after travelling the last 150km's through fog and freezing morning air!

Anyway, thank god for LPG, at least one cafe was on to it and had this as a back up!

[Nasty]

One of the most stunning rides I have ever done

[Boob Johnson]

When God was making roads for motorcyclist he cut his teeth elsewhere & ended with the master stroke that is the "Whanga Loop"

[martybabe]

ooh you little fibber, I was out that way and I never saw hide nor hair of ya. .

Acshully I came up through Mt Damper,walked the falls, stoped at that cafe on the hill, then through wongamongapiddllydo and on to Stradford, clockwise if you will. What a totally awesome day.

Best of all I shared the road with: 5 runaway horses, 2 runaway dogs, a stunned/poisoned possum sat on the centre line,A flock of sheep several hundred strong, an eagle thing that wasn't about to relinquish his feed of entrails for anybody and a herd of the biggest beefies I ever did see one of whom decided to snot all over me. Oh and two monster dogs that rounded up a giant man cow that I spooked!

I have had an absolute ball today, on and around the forgotten highway, give it a go people before the weather turns shite, just be prepared to meet anything and everything around the next bend, including random roadworks and highly polished tar just where you don't wan't it.

Sorry I missed you Paul, glad you had a good day, catch ya soon.

[Boob Johnson]

just be prepared to meet anything and everything around the next bend.

Ain't THAT the bloody truth!! Had a farmer pull out in front of me on his massive tractor a few days ago! The sod stopped & looked for oncoming before making his move, giving way to the car & two bikes ahead of me then decided he didn't need to look anymore & pulled out on me!!! Luckily (for me) I always slow RIGHT down for such a passing just in case they have a brain fart (as this clown did) & can't hear my 86,000dB exhaust


Fark I almost stopped to give him a piece of my mind, jeez I was cross!!! If I hadn't slowed & swerved he would have collected me for sure


So yeah watch those farmers people!

[jrandom]

an eagle thing that wasn't about to relinquish his feed of entrails for anybody

S'a hawk, not an eagle. And I've still got hawk blood smeared over the front of my left boot after meeting one under unfortunate circumstances on SH22 on Tuesday morning.

And they're a protected species and all. Probably because they haven't learned to leave the possum carcass alone and get out of the fucking way when they hear a Two Brothers can bellowing at them from up the road.

Shame.

[martybabe]

S'a hawk, not an eagle. .

Fantastic Birds whatever they're called but man they're slow to launch and directionally challenged. Open field and freedom or hard bike, boot, helmet.

Fly away from the noise tweety you magnificent flying dumbut! Simple choice innit. As for their cousins the pookek, pukako,( eagley things) pffft, what the fark are they thinking ?

[Naki Rat]

Fantastic Birds whatever they're called but man they're slow to launch and directionally challenged......

Probably expected if you have your talons tangled in your breakfast and then discover its too heavy to successfully get airborne

[GSXR Trace]

oh, so jealous! those roads have been in pretty good condition all summer, but good to know they still are, thanks for the report!

[Movistar]

ooh you little fibber, I was out that way and I never saw hide nor hair of ya. .

Sorry I missed you Paul, glad you had a good day, catch ya soon.

Yes, but what time did you leave???

And yes, we will have to catch up soon.

Did follow a two-up pair on a Hayabusa that I caught up with through Awakino Gorge.
Decided to stay on their tail as he/she was obviously an experienced rider judging by the lines being taken and the road etiquette being conducted. Also the pillion was well versed in the practice of being a passenger...said motorcycle turned off at 3A towards Inglemud - to whoever you were, nice riding!