Hamilton to Cape Reinga and back in 2 days.

[Eddieb]

NZKTM, 5150 (Jake), and I decided a trip North was in order and due to a number of restrictions it was to be an overnighter.

I wanted to ride 90 Mile Beach again, Jake wanted to try out his new to him DR650 and to do a 'proper' adventure ride and Mark just wanted an excuse to ride. Mark also had a good idea of where some good roads were.

So, We did Hamilton to Cape Reinga and back, via the very, very, scenic route. Just over 1300km's in 2 days for me and probably a few more for Mark.

The end result? I got to ride 90 mile beach again, Jake got to clock his biggest day in the saddle ever plus a number of other 1st's, and Mark delivered on the good roads in a seriously BIG way. If you are ever thinking of heading north and want some ideas, hit NZKTM up.

On the way we passed through Glinks Gully, Bayleys beach, tons of wicked fast gravel roads, the Rawene car ferry, 90 mile beach, East Beach and more.

Pics and lies to follow.

[dino3310]

[Eddieb]

Some Pics

The road ahead
Mark on East Beach
Fixing the Tenere
Mark on 90 Mile Beach
Jake on 90 Mile beach

[dino3310]

nice mate....
whats up with Marks bike in pic 3 (bad habit from the KTM, stopping for a service )

[Waihou Thumper]

As Eddie said we covered some good distances, most of it metal roads. I sent the boys a GPS track of what I had planned based on some rides in the past up there.
About twice a year we head on up to ride with the North boys, Scottie knows the far north, it is his playground. He has a new Tenere and has clocked over 26000km in the first year....Not bad for a full time working dad...

We rode some of the beach from Glinks due to time restraints, the Yamaha took on a bit of the surf and coughed up a little sea water, she didn't like it.....
I had to drain the carburettor, then all was good....We carried on our merry way.

The idea was to ride north, stay at Spirits Bay, then travel down to Houhora heads and ride that. I had a little tour planned through Dargaville areas and we took in some great fast metal roads as we criss crossed our way north....
Jake, Eddie and myself were feeling the effects of a long ride the second morning, we gathered, rode 90 mile beach and more, I took a scenice route home, 1440Km all up and a nice hot shower awaited me.........
I bumped into the boys once and then we parted in different directions. I took in a few massive straight roads near Kaikohe and then a few roads that led to SHWY 12 and onto Dargaville.....
The one time I really wanted a sports bike was the ride through to Brynderwyn from Ruawai....

The view from the top
Two of our adventurers
A little respite on the ferry, time to rest..
The boys cross the Bluff. The tide was still a little high....

[Waihou Thumper]

nice mate....
whats up with Marks bike in pic 3 (bad habit from the KTM, stopping for a service )

what happens when you try to breathe at the same time you get splashed by a wave?
She coughed and spluttered, needed the Surf Life Saver, temporary glitch...
Me and Poutu point have fond memories....NOT! I remember the last time, it was nearly terminal....

[junkmanjoe]

where you up there when all that rain came.
sounds like good fun..

[BMWST?]

where you up there when all that rain came.
sounds like good fun..

think they were,eddie has all his plastics on in one of the pics!

[Eddieb]

Mark and Jake on 90 Mile beach
We were on the beach early so pretty much had it to ourselves
Mark and Jake on 90 Mile Beach
The KTM got tired waiting for the Tenere to work again so had to have a lie down.
The 950 on 90 Mile Beach

[Eddieb]

think they were,eddie has all his plastics on in one of the pics!

It started raining about halfway up 90 Mile Beach, by the time we got to the Bluff it was getting pretty persistant, not heavy but enough to be getting wet.

It then rained on and off all the way home.

This wasn't the heavy rain of a few days ago, just your usual garden variety rain.

[drbandit]

As Eddie said we covered some good distances, most of it metal roads. I sent the boys a GPS track of what I had planned based on some rides in the past up there.
About twice a year we head on up to ride with the North boys, Scottie knows the far north, it is his playground. He has a new Tenere and has clocked over 26000km in the first year....Not bad for a full time working dad...

We rode some of the beach from Glinks due to time restraints, the Yamaha took on a bit of the surf and coughed up a little sea water, she didn't like it.....
I had to drain the carburettor, then all was good....We carried on our merry way.

The idea was to ride north, stay at Spirits Bay, then travel down to Houhora heads and ride that. I had a little tour planned through Dargaville areas and we took in some great fast metal roads as we criss crossed our way north....
Jake, Eddie and myself were feeling the effects of a long ride the second morning, we gathered, rode 90 mile beach and more, I took a scenice route home, 1440Km all up and a nice hot shower awaited me.........
I bumped into the boys once and then we parted in different directions. I took in a few massive straight roads near Kaikohe and then a few roads that led to SHWY 12 and onto Dargaville.....
The one time I really wanted a sports bike was the ride through to Brynderwyn from Ruawai....

The view from the top
Two of our adventurers
A little respite on the ferry, time to rest..
The boys cross the Bluff. The tide was still a little high....

Have you got a GPS track of the route you did.. Always looking for new stuff.

[george formby]

What was it like riding on the silica sand on East beach? The dry stuff is really soft & boggy, stuck a 4wd in it a few times. Admittedly in the dunes..

[Waihou Thumper]

Have you got a GPS track of the route you did.. Always looking for new stuff.

Check out the link on the bottom of my posts.....I haven't done this trip yet, but will be posting it soon.

[Waihou Thumper]

A little video of our trip part 1....
at 36 secs in it froze but then carries on.....That was the damn upload, cos the original is fine... Part 2 features one of our intrepid heroes tackling East Beach and poses for the video looking like a Dakar wannabe....

[5150]

Note to self. Standard DR650 seat + 1300kms = sore bum. so modify / replace seat before next trip