It was the Motu gravel road to Opotiki the next day and what a great ride it was. The weather was fine, the road a bit narrow in place's but overall it was a good ride and one I would repeat.
Into Opotiki, a stop for fish & chips, and the nearest campsite.
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
Monday, October 30, 2006
October 30 Napier to Wairoa
Next leg was to head to Opotiki via the Motu gravel road. I must have pissed off someone some where because just about halfway between Napier and Wairoa the chain
comes off the bike. As I brought my own tools for this trip it was a no-brainer getting the chain back on, except for having to down load all of your gear off the bike. As I had the bike up on the center stand it would be prudent to check out the chain before getting underway. You know where I am going with this story don't you?!!!!! Well as I am watching the tyre spin don't I just notice a large bubble...... It seems that the tyre has delaminated to a degree. After calling the rental company I have no other option but to continue to Wairoa and find a tyre shop. Getting into Wairoa, stopping at the Goodyear dealer, and the dealer is talking to the bike rental company as I pull in. Any how they had to bring another tyre in from Gisborne, arriving that afternoon and I had the tyre back on the bike by 1700 hrs and into a holiday camp sight for the night.
comes off the bike. As I brought my own tools for this trip it was a no-brainer getting the chain back on, except for having to down load all of your gear off the bike. As I had the bike up on the center stand it would be prudent to check out the chain before getting underway. You know where I am going with this story don't you?!!!!! Well as I am watching the tyre spin don't I just notice a large bubble...... It seems that the tyre has delaminated to a degree. After calling the rental company I have no other option but to continue to Wairoa and find a tyre shop. Getting into Wairoa, stopping at the Goodyear dealer, and the dealer is talking to the bike rental company as I pull in. Any how they had to bring another tyre in from Gisborne, arriving that afternoon and I had the tyre back on the bike by 1700 hrs and into a holiday camp sight for the night.
Sunday, October 29, 2006
October 29 Eketahuna to Napier
Finally I made the trip to Cape Palliser and as I suspected it was raining, raining, raining and would remain as such for another couple of days. So it was to north to Napier for the night and 6 hours of riding with wet clothes.
Saturday, October 28, 2006
October 27 -28 Hastings to Eketahuna
Next day it was Route 2 to Waipukurau then the Porangahau Road to Wimbledon. Got to the hotel and what do we find but the road from Wimbledon to Weber was closed
to a five day car rally. Welllllll, I never! So it was a cup of coffee and sandwich and listening to a couple of the local lads so full of smoke and mirrors.... I even moved a couple of times and they would just follow and tell me about their biking days. Finally one of the race officials told me of a gravel road that would get me to Weber (20km) Birch road). Now normally going on a gravel road would be a walk in the park. Unfortunately I just so happen to pass a turkey along the fence line, do I really need to go on with this, anyhow I hear this noise behind me and if it isn't the turkey with an attitude chasing me down the road. I stopped and he was just having an attitude check with me and the bike....... reminded me of wife number 5..!
Got into Eketahuna and they had a cabin with heater for $12.00 a day......... it was like the parting the of seas, A HEATER...!!!!! for $12.00. Somebody up there was finally smiling down on me. Weather forecast for Cape Palliser was not good and it was going to get worse so it was another day stay with the heater on...
to a five day car rally. Welllllll, I never! So it was a cup of coffee and sandwich and listening to a couple of the local lads so full of smoke and mirrors.... I even moved a couple of times and they would just follow and tell me about their biking days. Finally one of the race officials told me of a gravel road that would get me to Weber (20km) Birch road). Now normally going on a gravel road would be a walk in the park. Unfortunately I just so happen to pass a turkey along the fence line, do I really need to go on with this, anyhow I hear this noise behind me and if it isn't the turkey with an attitude chasing me down the road. I stopped and he was just having an attitude check with me and the bike....... reminded me of wife number 5..!
Got into Eketahuna and they had a cabin with heater for $12.00 a day......... it was like the parting the of seas, A HEATER...!!!!! for $12.00. Somebody up there was finally smiling down on me. Weather forecast for Cape Palliser was not good and it was going to get worse so it was another day stay with the heater on...
Thursday, October 26, 2006
October 26 Rotorua to Hastings
Next day it was off to Route 1 to Waiouru looking for the Taihape Napier Road. Before I get too far, I spotted another electronic Loo on the east side of Lake Taupo. There were about fifty people in a large circle around the loo and every time the lights would flash, they would all hold their hands in the air and hum ......
Getting back to the Napier road; it was probably one of the most scenic rides that I've done since being here. I could go back and forth on that road a dozen times and never get bored with it. I had estimate about 30km of gravel. Talking to one of the sheep farmer's, he mentioned that the week before the weather was right nasty and the roads were closed.
Spent the night in Hastings at a holiday camp where at 2400 hrs had a
bunch of locals come into the camp and just made all kinds of noise and of course management was not to be found.
Getting back to the Napier road; it was probably one of the most scenic rides that I've done since being here. I could go back and forth on that road a dozen times and never get bored with it. I had estimate about 30km of gravel. Talking to one of the sheep farmer's, he mentioned that the week before the weather was right nasty and the roads were closed.
Spent the night in Hastings at a holiday camp where at 2400 hrs had a
bunch of locals come into the camp and just made all kinds of noise and of course management was not to be found.
Wednesday, October 25, 2006
October 25 Gisborne to Rotorua
Mahia Peninsula was on the agenda for the AM. Rain and wind was my constant companion all of the way from Gisborne. From Mahia it was Route 2 to Wairoa where it was fuel and a stop at the local bakery. It was north on the Waikaremoana gravel road from Wairoa.
Getting to the lake, midway, me thinking was just a bit more to go (of course never thought to read the blurb in the motorcycle atlas) and after asking around come to find out it was another 88 km to go...am I having fun at this point! And the funny part about this trip is I had stopped at a hardware store in Wairoa and asked about the road earlier. One of the Senior members of the store crowd had told me that it was 90% paved........ the Grey beard must be still laughing!
Got into Murupara looking for a camp site; come to find out that the place had closed down. Next stop was the Rotorua Thermal Holiday Park and managing to get there on petrol fumes only.
Getting to the lake, midway, me thinking was just a bit more to go (of course never thought to read the blurb in the motorcycle atlas) and after asking around come to find out it was another 88 km to go...am I having fun at this point! And the funny part about this trip is I had stopped at a hardware store in Wairoa and asked about the road earlier. One of the Senior members of the store crowd had told me that it was 90% paved........ the Grey beard must be still laughing!
Got into Murupara looking for a camp site; come to find out that the place had closed down. Next stop was the Rotorua Thermal Holiday Park and managing to get there on petrol fumes only.
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
October 24 Gisborne and Weather
Intensions were to head north to Opotiki via the gravel at Matawai. Got as far as Otoko on Route 2 when I got hit with a wall of rain, wind and the horizon north looked if it was going to get worst. Back to Gisborne with a stop at Tatapouri Point for surf pictures with the rest of the day spent feeding thy self on chips, sausage and fine wine.
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