Mom's weekend of firsts

[Mom]

What a glorious weekend this has been so far, in fact this is the first time in I dont remember how long I have been out and about on my bike and not got wet. Given that we were promised a fine weekend we decided at the last minute to take a trip up to Kaitaia.

There was a bit of method in the madness of hitting the roads on a long holiday weekend with plods promise of Zero Tolerance taken into account. I am too afraid of dying to speed, as we all know speed kills so I was safe on that score I also need to get bike fit again, I have not done alot of riding this year after injuring my foot at Xmas time. There are a few roads up Norf that I have always wanted to ride, so motel booked on Friday night, we set out Saturday morning.

The route decided on was via Dargahole, Waipoua Forest, Rawene Ferry, over the Mangamukas to Kaitaia. We stopped in Dragsville for a snack, after an uneventful trip Very straight tme roads into Dargaville eh The firsts start here and what firsts they were. I have only ever ridden pillion through Waipoua Forest, so this was my first time through some of the finest windiest bits of tarmac I have ever ridden through. The BB was handling the corners like a dream, the grin I had at the end of the road was HUGE, it started with a closed lip smile that just got wider and wider as we went along. There are some really tight corners in there, but I managed to get through cleanly and without scaring the shit out of myself. I LOVE it when everything hangs together when you are out riding. I have heard it referred to as being in the zone...

From there to the look out over Omapere, one of the nicest views in NZ I reckon. It was a bit hazy on Saturday but you get the picture. We stopped in Opononi for sammies and a drink and then headed out to Rawene to catch the ferry.

Pic 1. Overlooking the Hokianga Harbour above Omapere
Pic 2. Riverside in Dargaville
Pic 3. Looking back to rawene from the car ferry.

[Mom]

Yes indeed another first for me at Rawene, a low speed, highside off my bike when the front washed out in some fine metal as I attempted an off camber, left hand turn at low speed. Fark, you go down fast when the front gives way First I really knew about it was when my foot got jambed between my bike and the road and my helmet banging down hard on the road

It actually stunned me for a moment, a big thank you to the lady in the campervan I fell in front of, and my lovely man. They picked the bike up and made sure I was ok. I am fine, bit of a sore shoulder and foot, need a new helmet My poor BB however was a bit broken. Luckily nothing too serious, or fatal. I dont really need a right rear view mirror and as it forms part of the front brake fluid container I am very lucky it broke just before compromising the brake fluid chamber, and I have a left mirror. Bit of a scuff to the lever and my rear brake lever is bent in and now rests against the engine cover. Does not look to bad so elect to leave it where it is. On to the ferry and away.

Man, if you want to enjoy some of the BEST corners in NZ, you absolutely MUST ride the Mangamukas! Perfectly cambered, left/right/left twisties that were made for motor bikes I am sure. So sure in fact I managed to go into one series just a fraco hotter than I should, went for some anchors, fronts were fine but there was air under where I normally had rear brakes OK, so the lever has moved quite a lot really No harm done, I always leave a little something in reserve : There were road works in the middle which calmed things down Heading into Kaitaia we got overtaken by 4 bikes, that were ridden by some KB friends from the Maha-whatu. Mental buggers

Shopped for the required supplies and found a bottle of Megs Roar Simply had to try it to see if it was also Moms Roar I will leave someone else to comment on that

Parked up the bikes and saw this really cool sticker on a car outside our unit. Apparently there is a University of MOM *HI FIVE*

[Edbear]

Fabulous! So glad someone got out and enjoyed the sun! Any more pics? We had lunch with family we hadn't seen for ages down at the Chelsea Sugar Factory yesterday. Was great, too. But today I've been on bedrest, ("Yes,dear..." ) as I have overdone it a bit...

When I'm well enough to ride again, we're planning a trip up North, so I've got something to look forward to.

Wotcha plans for tomorrow?

[DIN PELENDA]

You know how dog's look like they owner's, just as your bike's on second photo suit you and Mark -seeexyyyy- look like they having fun, . Nice one

[Edbear]

I posted before reading the next bit! Hope you're not feeling too sore and that your dearly beloved is tenderly attending to your needs!

Probably more embarrassing than anything else by the sounds of it, though..

[NZsarge]

Bummer about the get off, lucky the damage to you was limited and bikes can be fixed/replaced. Mangamuk's is all you here about when the Ashhurst mob come back from the 4 points rally which it happens there up around there nowish.. (on the 4 points rally)

[Mom]

I have decided that upstairs motel units are preferable to downstairs ones. How many friggen times do the people above us need to flush the poxy bog from 6am onwards?

Sadly our timing today was interrupted as the motel was not doing breakfasts, the plan was some sightseeing and then have fush and chups at Monganui for lunchish. No, one really crap motel coffee and hit the road for fush and chup breakfast instead Problem was, the famous place looked closed, well it was early really, so we pootled a bit further up the road and found a cafe. Some bloody car driver attempted to stop Maha from turning to a park (well that is what it looked like back where I was riding ) I even saw the passenger door open and distinctly heard HAHA! HAHA!

Parked up next to my lovely man and he is looking around for the KB members that called him MAHA!

It appears that there are few places you can travel in this world without meeting someone you know. Hi to the Quicks I did not see who was in the back of the car behind the driver, but HI to him too

So brekky had, terrible stuff when you are on a "have to fit your new bike pants before Nov 5th diet" I may have to double the crosstrainer everyday for the next week ( it was yummy and ) we headed for Kawakawa. Needed to use the famous toilets. Maha managed to find himself in the ladies taking pics though a few minutes later this old lady came up to me and said she had just been in the gents taking pics It was of Maha taking a leak, though she did not see anything apparently

Headed back north, as we did not want to do more SH1


Hit Kaikohe and took the Twin Bridges road from there. Anyone not done that bit of road needs to. It turns conservative people like me into

Honestly yummy


Pic 1. Maunganui
Pic 2. The Stone Store Kerikeri
Pic 3. The famous toilets at Kawakawa
Pic 4. The steam train @ Kawakawa - first time I have ever seen it operating
Pic 5. On the Brdge on Twin Bridges Road - it is a 3 way bridge spanning 2 waterways

[DIN PELENDA]

I'm just jealous guy, where was my invitation to join you for ride ?

[Maha]

Bummer about the get off, lucky the damage to you was limited and bikes can be fixed/replaced. Mangamuk's is all you here about when the Ashhurst mob come back from the 4 points rally which it happens there up around there nowish.. (on the 4 points rally)

Had a quick word with Barry/Monie/Meanie and Yod at the Kaitaia Caltex.
Must remember, Al's Daytona is Gold not yellow....

[NZsarge]

Had a quick word with Barry/Monie/Meanie and Yod at the Kaitaia Caltex.
Must remember, Al's Daytona is Gold not yellow....

Nah don't worry mate, it's more buttercup than gold...

[Maha]

The photo of the world famous (in Norflin) Kawakawa Toilets? yeah I took that, a lady said ''ha himmmmm'' this is the females toilets''!.....
Hey! they both look the same, both full over broken glass....

[Maha]

Nah don't worry mate, it's more buttercup than gold...

Heaps of bikes up that way yesterday John, couple of Goldwings turned up at the motel, they are from the Manawatu, Brian Hobson was one of them, he knows Meanie and the other dude was the organiser.
It was about 4:30pm when we got to Kaitaia, the Girlawatu peeps were just heading to the Cape after starting out from TGA earlier in the day.
I think those dudes on the G/Wings had already been up the cape and back. They left the motel this morning at 6am to head to either extreme east or west?

[NZsarge]

Heaps of bikes up that way yesterday

Been a heap of bikes out in general, all over the show.

I think those dudes on the G/Wings had already been up the cape and back. They left the motel this morning at 6am to head to either extreme east or west?

Sounds like a couple of 4 pointers eh..
Haven't heard back from Cowboyz yet but he was keen on heading to Te kuiti tomorrow to meet up with the other dodgy lot on their way back down, haven't made up my mind if i'll go as well yet.

[Maha]

Pic 1...On a good day, Dargawood has got it all over Kaeo....
Pic 2...Never get sick of this veiw down to Omapere....
Pic 3/4...Mangonui was beautiful this morning....

[Maha]

After the ferry we went past a place called Kohukohu, it was packed with a game of rugby on one side and a game of league on the other. Any sporting fixture in NZ would have been pleased with the turnout, it all happens in Kohukohu!

The Mangamuka's was a first for me. I have heard a lot about the bit of SHI so it was great to finally get there. And, all the stories are ture. bit of patchy road work stuff here and there but other than that....primo!
Twin Bridges never fails, its in good nick at the moment.