5 Day East Cape/Coro trip Jan 2nd-6th

[Paladin]

Looks like I may have sorted a makeshift camera mount for the handlebars, so there may be some video as well as pics! Not ideal location but worth a go for the hell of it! Knowing my luck the whole thing will probably blow off in the wind and trash the camera!

[bart]

Be bags of time to chill out on the Cape that way! Tent, beach fire, bottle of whiskey....aaaahhhh.

Even the mention of whiskey makes my head hurt today. Half a bottle of black label last night, and I'm a wee bit under the weather.

Have fun Dave. I was hoping to tag along for a day or 2, but it's just not going to work out. Must get up that way myself one day.

[marks]

Even the mention of whiskey makes my head hurt today. Half a bottle of black label last night, and I'm a wee bit under the weather.

Have fun Dave. I was hoping to tag along for a day or 2, but it's just not going to work out. Must get up that way myself one day.

you slack shite - come down this way for a day - we'll find some trails to work that hangover off

[bart]

you slack shite - come down this way for a day - we'll find some trails to work that hangover off

Cnut....Thursday

[Paladin]

Cnut....Thursday

At least the weather will be better by then! Bloody Severe Weather Warning for the next 3 days - 130kph winds! .... and rain... yuk!

I have a feeling the 5 day trip is going to be shortened somewhat to a Gentle Annie & Hawkes Bay/Lower East Cape tour on Tuesday & Wednesday!

[junkmanjoe]

oh stay home mate, save ya money for south island...

[Kendog]

Yeah, it's gonna be shit house tomorrow in the lower North Island.

[Mrs Cowboyz]

what cowboyz said about East Coast versus Coro Loop Dave - do take your time stopping at the many small interesting locations en route eg Lottin Point, Tikitiki, TeKaha, East Cape Lighthouse etc - this alone could be worthy of 2 - 4 days IMO - friends of mine knock it off in a day which I feel is to miss the magic of the East Coast - safe riding either way and enjoy your new T/A - cheers and beers Aslan

ooh dont forget Te Araroa...has the biggest and oldest Pohutukawa tree!


I hope the weather is as good for you as it was for us....had a ball! Mister cowboyz and I went to rotorua then round the east cape then back through waioeka gorge (mint road!!) towards rotorua again and back home over three days and two nights...loved it!!

Have fun!!

[BMWST?]

bloody winduy out there today.I think some of the strongest gusts i have experienced,the pd was moving in the lane...

[Paladin]

So.... Benjah eventually found his electrical problem on his Cagiva Navigator; blown master fuse; so between that & the gales/severe weather warning, that was that for the 5 day Coro/East Cape trip!


We will be heading out for a ride anyway leaving noon Monday from the Shell servo corner Jackson Street/old Hutt Road in Petone probably up the Whanganui River road (with a possible overnite camp there) and then looping back around east & south over Tuesday (and possibly Wednesday too). Considering possibility of heading over the Gentle Annie and then doing the "Wellington Old Coach Road" heading south from Napier/Hastings and keeping on the back roads through to Masterton. So it's gonna be a 2-3 day ride and not 5 and not the East Cape or the Coromandel LOL! But it's still an adventure!

Benjah is joining me, but any other interested parties are very welcome too!

[junkmanjoe]

dave got away ok on monday, was a bit windy for our traveler friend, they went to wanganui, and up the wanganui river road, stayed at pipiriki .
today got word they went up to turoa ski feild, on to taihape, across the annie, and as far as i know there in hastings tonight..

so he got away on a smaller adventure..

JMJ

[Paladin]

So we finally got away just after noon on Monday with a plan to head northwest to Wanganui, up the Whanganui River valley, across to Taihape, over the Gentle Annie to Hastings, back south on Route52 to Masterton.

1. Had to leave Welly via the Akatarawas ; better than SH1 - considered side trip up Odlins for 1 nano second LOL!
2. After fighting the wind all the way to Wanganui, we headed up the Whanganui River valley; gorgeous road and some gravel too!
3. & 4. Camped on a grassy area by the river at Pipiriki & settled down for some red wine and butter chicken!
5. Ben went boating on half a Maori canoe!

That was day 1.

[Paladin]

day 2:

After a run through the rest of the gravel from pipiriki, it was brekky in Raetihi, then out to Ohakune and Tongariro looming in the distance. We decided on a side trip up to the Turoa Ski Area; awesome views up there! then it was a bit of short highway work to Taihape, fuel up and onto the start of the Gentle Annie as we headed towards Napier.

[Paladin]

Some nice scenery out on the Annie & a shot of Benjah riding what's left of the Annie's gravel!!

[Paladin]

Day3:

After a night camped out near Cape Kidnappers, we headed south on SH2 until Waipukurau where we turned off onto Route 52, which I think is also known as the "Old Wellington Coach Road". The plan was to head all the way down this road to Masterton. Passed that place with NZ's longest place name! Had a little side trip up the gravel to Waihi Falls from Waione. Got to Alfredton & Benjah had a fuel warning light on(!) so we didn't make the turn to stay on Route 52 and headed into Ekatahuna for gas, latte & a toasted sammy! And there we met Chris on his trusty steed, the KTM 690 on his mammoth tour southwards. He had just finished a days ride with Bart and by mad coincidence we were all in Ekatahuna fuelling up at the same time! All three of us then blatted down to Masterton on SH2 to JMJ's!

A little under 1100kms by the time I got home!

It may not have been 5 days OR the East Cape, but it was a fun 3 days nonetheless and a good test of the new bike! I was most impressed with the T/A; comfortable and very happy on the seal AND gravel!!! It eats up the miles (and corners LOL!) on the seal and is very stable on the gravel especially when standing up on the pegs as it gives good leg position and you feel well planted over the front wheel!