Headed to the Winterless North

[Waihou Thumper]

I left home at 0...my god it was fu...in early...
I got to Kamo at 0800, three hours for the trip north....Not bad going, saw about four cars the entire way. It was even cold enough to put on the heated grips...
Just to see them working!
Met the boys, Nigel, Scottie, Clarkie and Mark. The guys are heading to the SI for three weeks and this was a dummy run...Hence, I was invited!

All I can say is, roads are magic, plenty of metal and shit, they sure are wide.....Thank f..k for that...

We travelled everywhere until we ran out of road, the night was spent at Spirits Bay, but not before meeting a couple of pommy blokes on '86 Teneres, we shared some bullshit and chips before riding off into the distance and Clarkie, mightily stressed about reading the instructions on 'how to pitch a tent'

It seems it was a race, won by the resident Chripractor, I think he was drumming for business..... Hey Nig, where was the lovely receptionist?
Great night, even with a little rain to dampen the dust down....
Next moring, we all got up at ...Oh my god, fu...kin even earlier and had some brekkie. Snarlers and bacon at 0545 is the dogs bollocks!
We were out of there at 0745 and heading to Kaitaia, then hitting some of those magic roads hidden in the depths of the Far North. Peria Rd is a treasure.....
We found our way to the forestry area where all of a sudden the establishement decided that a gate was in order....There was a great deal of skill and doggedness put forth to negotiate the gate and all but one made it through...
The lone Tenere, sitting on 'tother side waited .....and waited, champing at the bit, her pedigree said 'I can do it Dad, I can do it....' Pretend you PeterHansel....

Ha!
I was actually thinking what lay on the other side of 15km riding...? (did you get out guys?)

Well, I hit the highway home and also tackled a few of the favourite roads out of Kawakawa....
Overall, I did nearly 1400Km for the Sat and Sun, my arse is sore, I have some great photos, it was an awesome weekend and the film is being edited as we speak!
Thanks guys, look forward to viewwing some photos and I will post a few here....

[Waihou Thumper]

Haven't had a chance to doctor them, so this is as they were taken...
We really have to get up there guys and explore, an organised ADV would be out of this world!

[Waihou Thumper]

Homeward bound, Ruapekapeka Rd...

The Yamaha Tenere is a perfect beast for adventure touring! This bike, almost 23000km in the first 12 months...Does he like it? Hell Yeah! Nothing ever has gone wrong, not even a loose bolt or nut....


Spirits Bay, Eastern view....It can't be ridden folks, stunning beach all the same...

Looking towards Cape Reinga.....Look at that beach... Tramp all the way to the Cape if you wanna...

Mark has recently got this, traded the xt660 for it....I saw the most impressive wheelstand....20 secs, full luggage and the 950.....Looked like a 747 on take off!
It blasted past me, pipes an' all.......Great skills Mark.... You guys certainly haven't lost the knack from the early MX days!

[GPS MAN]

Great Pics

Looks like all had a Geat time

Next Time.....

[marks]

What do you think of the Ten compared to your SXC?

nice photos

[Waihou Thumper]

What do you think of the Ten compared to your SXC?

nice photos

Thanks for that. Great bike, nice to ride and certainly capable. I have to watch it though, those plastics are getting as rare as Hen's teeth....If it all goes, it becomes Naked....

[marks]

Thanks for that. Great bike, nice to ride and certainly capable. I have to watch it though, those plastics are getting as rare as Hen's teeth....If it all goes, it becomes Naked....

I sat on it when Joe picked it up and it seemed about the perfect size - big enough to be comfortable on the road but small enough to be ok off road.


and yes the plastics need protection otherwise its only a matter of time....

[Waihou Thumper]

Put a little video together....I managed to get some good footage, but as it was dusty, the lens fogged quite a bit....

[Taz]

Nice vid Mark.

[Waihou Thumper]

Nice vid Mark.

Thanks mate....Part 2 is uploading as we speak, will be live on air at approx 2030...

[george formby]

Thanks mate....Part 2 is uploading as we speak, will be live on air at approx 2030...

I've ridden every inch of tarmac up here but probably less than 10% of the gravel. Did you hear any banjos in the Peria valley?
Thanks for the inspirational thread, I'm going to have a dusty summer..

[Waihou Thumper]

I've ridden every inch of tarmac up here but probably less than 10% of the gravel. Did you hear any banjos in the Peria valley?
Thanks for the inspirational thread, I'm going to have a dusty summer..

To tell you the truth mate, I cannot wait to go back there and link it with Pouto point, Dargaville back roads and the Banjo playing far North, oh, and don't forget the forestry too near Kerikeri... Wicked countryside... Campgrounds are awesome as well, DOC really look after them and they even have nice soft bog roll!

[Waihou Thumper]

I've ridden every inch of tarmac up here but probably less than 10% of the gravel. Did you hear any banjos in the Peria valley?
Thanks for the inspirational thread, I'm going to have a dusty summer..

That is funny, with a name like yours aren't we meaning duelling Ukeleles?

[george formby]

That is funny, with a name like yours aren't we meaning duelling Ukeleles?

I had friends who lived up Peria, too many fingers for a Ukelele. Oruaiti is even worse. You can ride from Waitangi ( Mount Bledisloe ) to Kerikeri but need a key to get into the forestry.Their are miles of tracks through Puketi & I have only just started exploring off Old Russell road. Friends used to ride out to Cape Maria van Demen through farm land, it may still be possible to get permission. Sheesh, then their is Waipoua forest, Donnellys crossing etc.
Got to get me them new tires & some time off me thinks.

[Waihou Thumper]

This is part two of the trip....I have more but as you know it takes a lot of time editing and rendering then waiting ages for the frikkin thing to upload etc....
Anyway, take a gander and enjoy!