Geoff James
Registered User
We had intended to go round NZ?s East Cape this weekend but the weather looked distinctly iffy so there was a late change of plan. Dave (Blackbird - Easey Rider on the Bird website) from Auckland rode down on Friday night to join me (Blackbird) and John (Hayabusa) in Tokoroa. We set off at 1030 on Saturday morning, travelling down Lake Taupo?s Western Access road and stopping at the lookout half way up the Tokaanu saddle for Dave to see Taupo as he?d only arrived from the UK in 2004 and hadn?t ventured in that direction. Then it was up Mt. Ruapehu (a 9000 ft high active volcano! 
) for lunch in perfect conditions.
We then headed south down the Parapara Road ? 100km of practically deserted twisties in the bottom of a valley. The Paraparas were attacked with enthusiasm until Dave and I had a couple of monster 2 wheel slides due to molten tar on corners, after which we were rather more circumspect (ummm? rather de-tuned actually). Man, it was hot in that valley! John didn?t seem to have the same problem and pressed hard deliberately so that he could rush into the pub at the bottom of the Paraparas and be sitting outside with a drink by the time we arrived!
A very quick, but uneventful trip round the south coast of Taranaki province saw us arrive in New Plymouth at about 1730. We headed for the Belt Road Holiday Park and a whole load of surprises unfolded here! The owners are Kevin and Teresa Bowe who also own a Blackbird. They weren?t aware of the Bird website, but are now! We were made extremely welcome and the place is beautifully kept. Also, the views over the port and Tasman Sea are stunning. What?s more, it?s only a 5 minute walk to the game fishing club where great food and cold ale could be had at very fair prices. We were also entertained watching an elderly guy on a mobility scooter heading down the slippery boat ramp to let his pooch on a lead have a splash about whilst cars, trailers and boats were charging about all round him! A recipe for disaster if ever there was one, but the gods were on his side. We also met a friend of Kevin?s who is doing the Southern Cross ride which I'm doing in May and between us; we may have pressured Kevin into doing it too. We also met an English guy (Brian) at the camping ground who was touring NZ on a rented bike for the second successive year and owns a Blackbird in the UK, as well as 4 other bikes! He?s from Bridlington, wasn?t aware of the Bird website or the Cloggers, but is now! A new member of both methinks when he gets back to the UK! :yo:
We left New Plymouth this morning and headed north (the road surface over Mt Messenger was badly broken up over the summit and a bit hairy) and onto Mokau for a late breakfast. It was here that we met a whole load of Aussies who had containered their bikes over, were touring the country for 5 weeks and having an absolute ball. It?s typical of bikers everywhere that friendships were immediately established and lots of good-natured banter followed. From there, we headed at a goodly clip through the Awakino Gorge and up to Otorohanga where we said goodbye to Dave who headed for Auckland via the back roads. John and I carried on to Kihikihi and then took to the back roads, arriving in Tokoroa early afternoon.
A total of 750 km was covered for the Tokoroa round trip, fantastic riding partners, saw stunning scenery and met a whole load of really neat people. Yep, I know why we ride bikes!
Cheers :beer:
Geoff
) for lunch in perfect conditions. We then headed south down the Parapara Road ? 100km of practically deserted twisties in the bottom of a valley. The Paraparas were attacked with enthusiasm until Dave and I had a couple of monster 2 wheel slides due to molten tar on corners, after which we were rather more circumspect (ummm? rather de-tuned actually). Man, it was hot in that valley! John didn?t seem to have the same problem and pressed hard deliberately so that he could rush into the pub at the bottom of the Paraparas and be sitting outside with a drink by the time we arrived!
A very quick, but uneventful trip round the south coast of Taranaki province saw us arrive in New Plymouth at about 1730. We headed for the Belt Road Holiday Park and a whole load of surprises unfolded here! The owners are Kevin and Teresa Bowe who also own a Blackbird. They weren?t aware of the Bird website, but are now! We were made extremely welcome and the place is beautifully kept. Also, the views over the port and Tasman Sea are stunning. What?s more, it?s only a 5 minute walk to the game fishing club where great food and cold ale could be had at very fair prices. We were also entertained watching an elderly guy on a mobility scooter heading down the slippery boat ramp to let his pooch on a lead have a splash about whilst cars, trailers and boats were charging about all round him! A recipe for disaster if ever there was one, but the gods were on his side.
We also met a friend of Kevin?s who is doing the Southern Cross ride which I'm doing in May and between us; we may have pressured Kevin into doing it too. We also met an English guy (Brian) at the camping ground who was touring NZ on a rented bike for the second successive year and owns a Blackbird in the UK, as well as 4 other bikes! He?s from Bridlington, wasn?t aware of the Bird website or the Cloggers, but is now! A new member of both methinks when he gets back to the UK! :yo: We left New Plymouth this morning and headed north (the road surface over Mt Messenger was badly broken up over the summit and a bit hairy) and onto Mokau for a late breakfast. It was here that we met a whole load of Aussies who had containered their bikes over, were touring the country for 5 weeks and having an absolute ball. It?s typical of bikers everywhere that friendships were immediately established and lots of good-natured banter followed. From there, we headed at a goodly clip through the Awakino Gorge and up to Otorohanga where we said goodbye to Dave who headed for Auckland via the back roads. John and I carried on to Kihikihi and then took to the back roads, arriving in Tokoroa early afternoon.
A total of 750 km was covered for the Tokoroa round trip, fantastic riding partners, saw stunning scenery and met a whole load of really neat people. Yep, I know why we ride bikes!
Cheers :beer:
Geoff
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