Northland Loop

[slofox]

Given that herself has decided she doesn't want to go anywhere with me these holidays, I have decided to leave the cage behind and loop through Norfland - starting tomorrow, Sunday. I got three nights before heading back to The Tron, ready to start work on Friday. Will go anti-clockwise - ish. Up to Kerikeri tomorrow, thence via Waimate North Road to Kohukohu on Monday, down through the forest Tuesday to Dragaville (lived there once) and then back home Wednesday. Maybe. This could vary at the drop of a hat.
Keep eyes peeled for silly old fool on beat up red SV. Steer clear, he's insane and is a menace to all other road users.

[trailblazer]

have a great trip have fun and keep safe.

[slofox]

have a great trip have fun and keep safe.

Thanks, Trailblazer...

[Warr]

Been up that way recently and my gem of advise would be to keep away from the Hikurangi - Tutukaka coast road.....
Pea-metal heaven if u'r into sliding down the road on u'r bum

[proseuche]

You HAVE to do the twin bridges road - flag the way to kerikeri. Did 1000kms all over Northland, just got back. Twin bridges and the west coast forest road = something special.

[slofox]

Been up that way recently and my gem of advise would be to keep away from the Hikurangi - Tutukaka coast road.....
Pea-metal heaven if u'r into sliding down the road on u'r bum

I heard about that Warr...but advice gratefully received - will avoid - wrong time of year anyway - too many two wrists...

You HAVE to do the twin bridges road - flag the way to kerikeri. Did 1000kms all over Northland, just got back. Twin bridges and the west coast forest road = something special.

Yeah - I know that road - might go Whangarei - Kerikeri via that one. Agree - noice road. I also like that Waimate North road...Te Ahu Ahu Road...

[george formby]

Oy tink you rode past my shop about 9am. Hope yu had fun. Twin bridges is #1 at the mo. Gravel on the forest road, Oakura road is busy, Mangamukas is busy too. On boxing day I still saw less than 10 cars between Maungataupere & Kaikohe. 5 bikes though....

[slofox]

Mission accomplished. 1000km in three days. This was one day less than planned but had to make a dash home since my newest grandchild, the first grand daughter, born the day I left, ended up in ICU two days after her birth and her mother, my daughter, was distraught - as you would be. However, the news is not so bad - little one was having a few breathing problems but the staff think it is a minor glitch only. So here's hoping all will be well today.

I need a more "compliant" seat on that bloody bike - me bum bones are still complaining...I had to take the HTFU pills a couple of times. Funnily enough, returning under some pressure yesterday seemed to mask the symptoms a little.

Other than the family drama, the ride was pretty good, although day two's run from Kerikeri via Kaitaia and Mangamuka to Kohukohu, was marred by pissing rain and howling westerlies...first bloody rain in three months up there and of course it rained on me. Arrived pretty damp - the left boot has decided to leak a little somewhere and the Spool gloves proved to be totally hopeless at keeping water out. They also displayed a pretty savage stink when I took them off. Good excuse to wash them...

Road from Whangarei via Maungatapere and Twin Bridges to Kaikohe was excellent as was the Waipoua Forest road. Very different from when I lived up there - all sealed now. Pity it was full of camper vans yesterday. The Mangamuka section would have been good in the dry but with the first rain in months on it, it was a little slippery. Quite a lot of "road eczema" and some ball busting bumpy bits here and there as well.

I tried to video a couple of section using the ATC2K mounted on the helmet. Twin Bridges bit didn't work because the batteries were flat. The Waipoua stretch I did get but I would have to say the ATC2K is actually pretty bloody useless - crappy vid quality - specially after a bug flew into the lens - and mounted on the helmet, the wind noise is extreme. Don't buy one.

Enjoyed going through the new toll road tunnels...The Two Brothers sound effects were notable ......couldn't resist wrapping it on a little through there...

Nice ride - can recommend. But probably better out of peak tourist season, 'specially the Eastern side.

[wynw]

Good to hear you enjpyed some of our roads and got home safely!! State of the road works in places leaves something to be desired tho.

[slofox]

Thanks wynw. To be honest I thought the roads not much worse than those I ride round these parts...apart from the bump that had me airborne and tank slapping briefly...

[one fast tl1ooo]

Sound's like you had a good trip..

[trailblazer]

good to hear you had a good trip. Hope the lil one gets better soon.

[slofox]

good to hear you had a good trip. Hope the lil one gets better soon.

She's fine now thanks trailblazer...

[slofox]

Right - a (mercifully) brief vid clip from the ride through Waipoua Forest. Clearly showing the limitations of the ATC2K, especially whenever I move my head...I did my best to make the video watchable rather than blast through the twisties...
The camera soundtrack was just wind noise, so I substituted a track that was the right length for the clip...

[retro asian]

Hope the grandchild gets well soon. Just back myself yesterday from a 3 day Northland tour with my missus on the back.
Sorry to hear you had the rain and bad weather , we had only clear skies and hardly any traffic that wasn't easily overtaken

Been up that way recently and my gem of advise would be to keep away from the Hikurangi - Tutukaka coast road.....
Pea-metal heaven if u'r into sliding down the road on u'r bum

I did the Tutukaka coast road, what an aweseome twisty+scenic route!! I didn't really notice any bad road conditions / gravel... only problem was a bit of 4 wheel traffic here and there.

Waipoua forest and twin bridges are must-rides, also the Mangamuka Gorge (talk about perfect camber...felt like I was riding on black waves of ashphalt).

We also rode up to Cape Reinga, there's a few kms of gravel on the way up...but very rideable gravel.
And briefly taking on sand of 90 mile beach was a challenge, the rear was fishtailing side to side most of the time.

These are the routes we did.