Summer ride 2012
Day 1, New Plymouth to Turangi.
A lovely day. Not being in any great rush I hadn't bothered with much preparation other than to clean the bike, check the fluids and adjust tyre pressures. So by the time I had hooked up the electrical doodads, packed, and headed off it was late morning. A minor mistake.
SH 43 from Stratford to Taumarunui was enjoying brilliant sunshine. So as the journey progressed the tar melted. This resulted in a series of small slides leading me to moderate my pace and adopt a rather more cautious approach.
I'm coming to regard SH43 as a two season road: autumn & spring. In winter there are permanent wet patches on some of the corners, in summer there is molten tar.
The last couple of times I've ridden through the Tangarakau gorge it has taken longer than I expected. It's possible that it is longer than the 12k I've assumed it to be. It's also possible that I'm going slower than necessary because of it not being sealed. As unsealed roads go it was in good condition, and at least I didn't have to worry about melting tar...
The ride over the hill from Taumarunui to Turangi was really enjoyable in the sunshine. Still riding in such a way so as to allow for melted tar. Much better than my last ride over here in June, wet, foggy, freezing cold, and totally miserable.
Had dinner at Valentino's Italian Ristorante which I remembered kindly from my days as a Ducati owner. Now that I'm riding a Triumph perhaps I should be seeking out roast beef, Yorkshire pud and best bitter?
Day 2 Turangi to Clive
This is the day I've been waiting for since I heard that the Gentle Annie had been sealed.
Those bush flies around Waiouru make a mess of the visor and they hit like a bullet.
Interesting thing on the run down SH1 to Taihape. I was following a car, he was going at a decent clip - exceeding the new 4kph margin by a modest amount. Maybe he hadn't heard the news and was under the impression that nothing had changed lately. I was aware that there was a highway patrol car in the area using instant on because I'd had a couple of warnings from the detector and had accordingly attenuated my velocity somewhat.
The car in front presumably didn't have a detector and had not slowed, he was continuing on his merry way. Somewhat belatedly he saw the cop, he didn't brake, he must have just lifted his foot. Either that or his brake lights didn't work. Having seen the patrol car somewhat earlier I was doing 93kph by the GPS.
Thelet the (modestly) speeding car past without operating his instant on. Then he gave me a squirt. At 93kph! Interesting.
Despite the best efforts of the GPS to send me down one way metal roads as I approached Taihape I resisted. And so to the Gentle Annie itself. Brilliant!
The road is in great condition really, yes there are a few corners with a little loose metal but not enough to be a problem. Unless you arrive a bit hot and are still hard on the brakes. One cheek clenching moment.
There was one corner where it looked like the earth had moved. The road surface was more like something you'd expect to see in post quake Christchurch. Other than that, it was earlier in the day so there was no melted tar, and from the appearance of the road surface there were relatively few places that that would be a problem.
Of course, like all country roads it pays to expect the unexpected and I did came around one corner to be confronted by a few hundred four legged pedestrians.
What a ride. I'd rate the Gentle Annie as better than the Lewis Pass which is one of my favorites. If you are looking for a good road give this one a whirl. For me the Gentle Annie might be a three season road, it could have the potential to be something of an “adventure” in the winter time.
Next time I should take a camera.
Day three Clive to Turangi
Another sunny day. Again a bit nervous leaving Napier without having seen many gas stations. I have that sorted now (I think!). There's a couple not long before the turnoff to the Napier-Taupo Road.
This road is not at all boring. Well, not until you are up on the plateau nearing Taupo.
Stopped for breakfast along the way. The coffee didn't reach the dizzy heights but the bacon & eggs were OK and eating these sitting in the sun was very nice thank you. Back in June when Nadroj & I visited the same establishment, while all the KB jaffas huddled at home by the heater, it was not nearly so pleasant.
Met a guy at the cafe with the custom plate "Fender". He was from Direct Imports, we had a brief chat, on reflection I should maybe have asked him for his card?
My GPS maps must need updating, on the Taupo bypass road the map showed that I was driving across paddocks...
This was a fairly short ride but that's OK, more time for socialising. The forecast isn't great for the ride home tomorrow but here's hoping...
Day four Turangi to New Plymouth
The forecast is for showers, clearing. There had been hardly any rain overnight so I hedged my bets. I changed to warmer waterproof gloves, had waterproof jacket & boots but stayed with the leather jeans. This despite the fact that sad experience suggests waterproof boots combined with trousers that are not waterproof is a loser of an idea. The boots just fill up with water...
The word “waterproof” is used advisedly. The items described thus are GoreTex, but if it rains hard enough for long enough...
West of Turangi as we gained altitude the roads became damp, then wet, and the fog arrived and quickly thickened. This slowed the pace considerably. Dropping down the far side though things cleared.
There was one brief shower entering Taumarunui but not long thereafter glimpses of sunshine and dry roads. Much more cheerful.
One evening while on this ride I came across an item on the "Stuff" website which listed the ten best roads in the country, SH 43, The Forgotten World Highway, and the Gentle Annie were ranked 1 & 2. No argument from me, and if you haven't ridden them, none from you either.
SH5, Taumarunui to Eight Mile Junction didn't rate a mention in the Stuff list, but it is a recommended ride in the NZ Motorcycle Atlas, and for good reason. There's more than enough curves to prevent the onset of boredom.
SH 3 from eight miles south of Te Kuiti isn't boring either and is also rated by the NZMA .
By this time the roads are dry and the sun is shining. A brief stop at the Fat Pigeon Cafe at PioPio and it's on to the Mahoenui Hills, The Awakino Gorge, Mt Messenger and the Uruti Valley. Playtime!
And so to home.
A couple of reflections svp?
Triumph put a super usable motor in the Speed Triple, it may lack the top end rush of a litre sprotbike but has loads of smooth syrupy grunt from just over tick over. Brilliant.
We are really fortunate to have such magic motorcycling roads so close at hand.
Get out and ride them if you can.
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Originally Posted by Coldrider
. I did the Gentle Annie on my Transalp a few months ago and agree it is equal to any of the Sth Island passes - just a great road. I thought I was going to strike some gravel and was disappointed to find it all gone. I'm looking forward to going through there on the Trophy some time and doing the Forgotten Highway - I drove through part of it over Christmas and I'm pining to go back on my bike.
Oh bugger
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