Wot the Jatz's did

**Padmei** · 30th March 2011, 20:24

Originally Posted by JATZ

yeah, o.k. and there is a track on the other side I reakon might come out on Q.C. drive. I went part way down it on the boys bike one wet day

before I chickened out

Notlike youtochickenout!!Ohhang onI thought Iwas talking toWoodman.

**Woodman** · 30th March 2011, 21:47

Originally Posted by NordieBoy

Yep. Warewolf, Woodman and I went down that one. Goes off at/near the summit and heads off east?

Was pretty rain rutted when we went down...

Going up it would be even more of a challenge with all those ruts.

**marks** · 31st March 2011, 07:44

Another great report Mr Jatz

Keep them coming

**JATZ** · 5th May 2011, 20:42

I've been a bit slack lately (but thats not unusuall) so I'll copy this RR from ADVrider over to here....
"cause it's my thread and I can do what I like

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Where to begin....... ? Day 1
Due to Mrs Ztaj's tenere giving up again it was decided she needed a new bike. I found one in the North Island, out New Plymouth way, a deal was struck and I headed north with a bit of a plan to have a look about.I didn't have to be home untill the following Sunday
Here's the bike... A 2000 DR350,

After staying with the seller for the night and talking bikes and stuff I left with the intention of heading for Hamilton.

It was a nice morning for a ride in "the Naki"

I found my first bit of gravel on the Tarrata rd, between Inglewood and highway 43

,

It was not long after I took this shot I was riding along , enjoying the scenery when I had a wild goat leap off a bank almost on top of me and run in front of me for a bit before hurtling off into the scrub on the other side of the road
After a quick coffee at the pub in Whangamomona

(it was to early for anything stronger ) and it was off towards Taumaranui.
Here's a tunnel,

I was told to take the next left turn after the tunnel by my host, the night before, and by the nice lady at the pub. Be rude not to then I thought . So I turned onto Moki rd, then a couple of other roads with a plan to pop out on the West coast at Ahititi
I guess you've all seen the fences with shoes or bras strung up on them ? Well they do things a little differently around here

I got to Highway 3 and headed north with the intention of getting onto the Manganui rd just after Awakino, I couldn't resist a quick blast down the beach though, it was such a nice day

The Mangonui road between Awakino and Kawhia, roughly, (there's a few different roads but if you look at a map you'll get the idea ) was a gem

It had a bit of everything, fast gravel, seal, twisties, and a tiny bit of mud and wild goats scurrying off the road at every second bend it seemed
I got to Kawhia where I had a txt from a fellow KiwiBiker (google it ) with the offer of a bed in Hamilton, Cheers TriBoy and Kanny, I planned on catching up with another inmate there anyway so it was all falling into place.
I had to go to Raglan though, just cause there was an interesting piece of gravel rd between Kawhia and Raglan
Ended up in Hamilton just as it was getting dark, awesome, Changed the front sproket for a slightly bigger one and had a couple of beers,
So ends Day 1

**JATZ** · 5th May 2011, 20:53

Fellow inmate Dino was convinced to join me for a bit, just aswell 'cause I needed help to get out of Hamilton.
"Hey Dino, get me the hell out of Hamilton"

We headed towards Rotorua and then Murupara down a couple of state highways, almost did my head in that bit.
Dino turned out to be a friendly guy.
Here he is giving the new bike a road test, nice wave Dino

Dino turned back at Murupara, he had to get home and I carried on, heading along the Lake Waikerimoana rd.
I had been warned about the locals on this road and told not to stop. I felt a bit uneasy so didn't stop, strange really as the only people I did talk to seemed o.k. Some of them looked bit militant though, but I think they waved, hard to tell as I was sideways around a corner at the time
It really is a magic place, very primitive feeling, with wild horses and isolated settlements. I will go back
Here is a couple of pics anyway

I missed getting any pics of the horses, next time
I got past Lake Waikerimoana and through Tuai when I came over a rise and the bike just stopped revving, it would idle nicely but died with any throttle.One of the locals turned up and offered help, cheers Ra.I started investigating and found the needle had broken in the carb , not something I needed here,Before long another local turned up,Ling (?) and offered moral support . I didn't have the tools needed to fix it on the roadside, so I bodged it up and tried to get to the next town (Wairoa) I got about another 1 kilometer before it stopped again. I pushed it to the nearest farmhouse to leave it there while I went to town (getting dark by this stage).I phoned MrsZtaj who put up a thread on Kiwibiker, asking for help) I didn't look like i could get another needle.
Before long my phone was buzzing and beeping with offers of trailers/utes and names of people to contact in the area who may be able to help, also people looking for replacement parts and getting information on what was needed.
To those people... A big thanks, it was really apreciated
Anyway.... I started walking to town and who should show up but Ra who took me back to his place at Tuai for the night.
I spent the evening in his shed fixing the carb

but it's o.k..... I had company

Thanks to Rawiti and Trish and kids, for the roof and the food, you really are good people

Here ends Day 2

**JATZ** · 5th May 2011, 20:59

Day 3

Rawiti took me back to the farmers house bright and early to see if my repairs work.They did and after saying goodbye to Rawiti and John (farmer) it was time to make tracks to Masterton.
This sign is at the eastern end of the Waikerimoana rd, I like signs like this one

A quick re-fuel in Wairoa, gas for the bike and chocolate for me, and I motored down to Napier on the seal.
After lunch in Napier it was time to have a look at some of the backroads south and east of Hastings.
I took Middle road to begin with, then got lost
Somehow I ended up at this beach

Kairakau Beach it's called.
Then it was onto some more nice flowing gravel roads, reeeal nice riding and the little 350 was loving it.

I didn't take to many pics here as it was getting late-ish and I still had to get to Masterton, before the rain and darkness if I could. I got to Porongahau via more gravel roads and filled before the final leg to Masterton down route 52, ooooo that is a fun road, even on knobblies
and I didn't beat the rain
I eventually found JunkmanJoes house in Masterton just after dark, after a fairly busy day and his good wife made a huge meal, Onya Alana

End of day 3

**JATZ** · 5th May 2011, 21:09

Day 4

Joe was going to join me for the day and show me round some of the local roads

We headed to Carterton where we went up a Mt Dick ( did I get that right Joe) for a view of the Wairarapa valley, then took a round about route to Martinborough and the cafe formaly known as Toppys, I have a vague idea which roads we used but can't be sure, they were absolutely first class roads though.
Here's a sample......

I was
to busy riding to take too many pics.
At one point a mob of wild deer ran across the road in front of me, then came back a wee bit further up the road.
After lunch we made our way out to the coast at White rock station. Joe had organised access through some private property and we headed for Cape Palliser via the coast.

Here's Joe

and some other random pics

Yet more great riding, I was gobsmacked

I upset some of the locals with my noisy bike

and we had to walk/climb up the steps to the lighthouse at Cape Palliser

We joined the main rd at Ngawi, a small fishing village on the south coast.

.

After a mind and butt numbing ride to Featherston we said seeya and headed in opposite directions. Thanks for a top days riding Joe

I organized another bed for the night in Wellington, cheers EddieB and made tracks over the Rimutakas. Almost the end of another great day

but Wellington must've known I was coming and they put on a show for me

So ends day 4

**JATZ** · 5th May 2011, 21:15

Day 5...
It had to end I suppose .
After an early morning pootle into the city I went to this building

I asked nicely and smiled sweetly and the security guards let me take my bike into parliaments grounds.
Then I made my way down to the ferry buildings to get my ride across Cook straight

.

Waiting on the other side was the new bikes shed mates, they introduced themselves to each other

after lunch it was a rather spirited trip back around Queen Charlotte drive for me, trying to keep ahead and take photos,

glad to be back on my own bike too
I think MrsZtaj likes her new bike

Here the bikes are getting to know each other in the shed.

so ends day 5 and the trip