GREAT GRAVEL
The next morning I set off for Oparau and
some more gravel up to Raglan. I was too late
to catch the locals so headed on to Pukekohe
with heavy cross-winds to keep me awake.
Time was telling me to hit the motorway and
all went well until Otahuhu when a downpour
encouraged a stop for morning tea under
a tree. Heading north I had my first trip
through the new Waterview tunnel and heavy
traffic until I turned towards Maungaturoto,
where I stopped for a very good steak, cheese
and bacon pie. I elected a short deviation
south and ended up in Dargaville in time to
stock up on grog and head out to the camp.
FAR NORTH ADVENTURE
A final stop for fuel at Kaihu had me
repairing a puncture that just appeared,
hole in side of otherwise perfect tube, so
I fitted the spare tube and out to the Top
10 at Whatoro to tent up, cook food and
socialise with friends both old and new. It
was at this point I discovered what had been
left behind… a little item called a route sheet
holder, bugger.
Saturday morning gave me the opportunity
to tape the route sheets to the inside of the
screen and get ready to roll. After the rider
briefing many riders hit the road, some even
in the correct direction on perfect gravel to
Aranga Beach and South Omamari before
heading inland and into private places
including some forestry farms and a nice trail
called Opouteke Rd. This took us out to Twin
Bridges and some more private stuff until we
turned up to an awesome lunch put on by
the locals at a country school near Kaikohe.
After that it was time to ride some more, but
we were delayed by a local locking a gate and
trapping some of the cast of thousands in a
forestry block… so it was an extended lunch
stop until the gate was unlocked again.
KIWI RIDER 99