WORDS: PETER ‘PESKY’ KEMPTHORNE
PHOTOS: BEN WILKINS
THE
FINAL
CHAPTER
ey Pesky, are you entered for
Northland?”, asked the text from Mike
Britton. I took it that replying, “Yes” meant
I was now in. The commitment made, I just
had to travel from my man-cave in Shannon
to the Top 10 Holiday Park some 20 minutes
north of Dargaville to ride the final New
Zealand route sheet adventure ride with
Britton Adventures – the most prolific NZ
adventure company in the last decade.
A few years back I made a set of brackets
to fit Givi Hard luggage to my trusty Suzuki
Pesky Kempthorne takes you through the
last Far North Adventure Ride.
DR650. I had two reasons for making the
mounts. Firstly, Givi doesn’t seem to make
them for the side boxes I have, and secondly,
I had lots of time… but very little money.
So, onto the bike I loaded my tent, sleeping
bag, pillow, cot, street clothes, tools, spares,
chair, cooking utensils and food. Other
than getting on my riding gear I was ready.
I checked the weather forecasts and almost
loaded everything into the back of the van due
to the predicted rain... but as I’m not a total
marshmallow, sleep and ride it was to be.
RAIN AND GRAVEL
My route took me to Foxton beach and some
sand to Tangimoana, seal to Turakina valley
where the road becomes more adventure as
you climb towards Mt Ruapehu, with some
really good gravel in golden autumn colours
and plenty of fallen leaves. I crossed west
onto Fields Track and then towards Raetihi
on another old route.
I stopped under a tree for morning tea, and
to fit the rain lining to my gear due to the
obvious rain ahead. Water fell from the sky
at an increasing rate up to Erua where some
sneaky trails took to me into National Park.
Dropping down into Raurimu I ditched the
98 KIWI RIDER
rain, so I set off to Kaiteiki on perfect wet
gravel, back out to Owhango and backroaded
it into Taumarunui from Hikamutu.
I took a quick stop at Bike Torque, where I
had worked at the turn of the century, for a
snack and to let the rain pass. Then I followed
the old rail line to Martiere and back on the
gravel to Aria and more heavy rain. Time to
adjust the plan. I headed for Otorohanga and
a known cabin near a pub and super-market
for food and grog. But on the way the rain
took a small break so I included some extra
gravel after Pio Pio and on through Waitomo.