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‘Tis the season for taking a break and what else would you do with a while off than get out for a good pootle. Even earlier than the break Colin had been expressing a wee little bit of curiosity in getting away for a number of days and exploring a some gravel roads. Simply earlier than New Years he booked a motel and we have been sort of dedicated.
Within the lead as much as our departure the climate had positively converted to summer time mode with temperatures within the early thirties ie. too scorching…Checking the climate the evening earlier than and it appeared like we have been going to be heading into some fairly scorching nation – oh nice. Camel-baks required then.
Monday was the primary day of our journey and as I used to be leaving to satisfy Colin on the servo he arrived at my gate… This meant turning round and going to place the jug on…Afterward John turned up too and after he grabbed a drink too, we have been off.
We began off following an identical route as our final trip, heading out via Pohangina in direction of Totara Reserve. However this time, as a substitute of turning proper to go round Pohangina Valley East Highway, we went left and continued on Pohangina Highway via to Makoura after which to Apiti. Just a bit dry, dusty gravel to begin getting our eye in. It was superb what distinction every week had mad to the gravel – it was far dryer and dustier and positively extra “marbly”.
After zipping across the Manawatu Scenic path to Rangiwahia, we dropped down into Mangaweka the place we determined that we would have liked a pie to leap begin the journey.
Subsequent up was slightly diversion that I’ve taken as soon as earlier than whereas in the hunt for a sure highway. It nonetheless is not the right strategy to discover that highway…However, I did get us off SH1 for a bit…
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| Small 20km diversion to keep away from 3-4km of SH1… |
In actuality, it is a pretty tight little gravel highway with grass rising up the center in locations however it does take you thru some good nation. An added bonus was getting caught up in a mob of sheep coming in direction of us after they’d had a shower. Sheep in all places and never a mind cell between them…
Again on SH1 have been fastidiously cruised as much as Taihape earlier than turning off onto Mataroa Highway. This and Ruanui Highway have been all seal however had had some nice corners made for Journey bikes.
Ruanui Highway ultimately dumped us out on Turakina Valley Highway which we took North to our subsequent flip off at Owhakura Highway. I fairly loved this neat little bit of gravel which crosses over onto Fields Monitor.
As soon as once more we turned North for a bit earlier than taking the scrumptious Oruakukuru Highway via to the Parapara’s. The beginning of this highway is superior as it is rather quick – I most likely loved it a bit greater than the others as I used to be out entrance, slightly than behind within the rooster tail…
In the direction of the top of the highway it does change to seal and within the excessive temperatures this was our first style of crappy melted tar. I had a number of wee moments on bits that really appeared okay (that they had stones on them, not simply melted tar). These couple of slides have been an excellent warning to not belief the black stuff – finest get again onto the gravel ASAP…
Simply up the highway in Raetihi, we searched in useless for an open cafe however needed to accept a sandwich (not dangerous truly) and a chilly drink on the gasoline station. It was fairly good to get out from underneath the blazing solar for a minute and the sunshine breeze was very good.
After lunch it was time for John to take over the lead as he is aware of his manner round this a part of the nation. He bought us off the primary highway at Raurimu as we made our manner West on Kaitieke Highway. I would ridden this highway earlier than as a part of the Fishers Monitor loop however John quickly had us heading North once more on some new to me roads.
And sure, it was a bit dustier behind the pack…
Extra nice, if a tad dusty roads bought us Hikumutu the place we got here throughout some individuals messing round with horses in a paddock subsequent to the highway. I am not fairly positive what they have been doing, however it will need to have been attention-grabbing because the Ostrich within the paddock on the opposite facet of the highway was paying it a good bit of consideration. I do know it was scorching however I swear that there was certainly an Ostrich…
Simply up the highway, was one other actually “cool” sight. The varsity pool appeared ever so inviting…
As a substitute of leaping the fence after which into the pool, we dropped down into Taumarunui which was our cease for the evening. We have been quickly in our un-airconditioned room, throwing off our driving gear, rinsing the mud off and the heading out in the hunt for chilly drinks and dinner.
An amazing days driving was throughout, time to calm down and plan the subsequent day’s trip…
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