NZ_2019...The Missing Link

glitch

Mapping the next ride...
Staff member
With wheeltracks going everywhere, we're glad to have Gerard with us to guide us off that little airfield at the top of the hill...for a couple of other turns it's good to have the map.

Back onto tar near Tinui again and a quick run south via Langdale + Homewood Rds into Riversdale Beach for some icecreams...


agile_ant_095.JPG




2019_Wairarapa_208.JPG



Shadows creeping into the hills as the afternoon lights gets that golden sheen as we loop south-west through Kaiwhata on alternating tar and gravel, the landscape growing more spectacular by the minute.
:glu


agile_ant_096.JPG




2019_Wairarapa_209.JPG



agile_ant_097.JPG




2019_Wairarapa_210.JPG




....for a leisurely foamie at the local Bikers Hangout, the Gladstone Pub.


agile_ant_098.JPG




Chris's Cabin in Greytown is the jackpot....and Gerard gets us there without a sweat.
https://goo.gl/HRcqxi

Woww!! While this place hasn't got the quirks of the Puketoi Lodge, it sure is luxury. And the welcome-mat couldn't be bigger. From a good-sized carport to cover the bikes, a little, formed creek burbling away along one side of the property, the old trees, the big outdoors deck with integrated benches, a huge lounge, a semi-stocked pantry and a fresh loaf of artisan sourdough next to the bowl of fruit....NICE!! :bow:



2019_Wairarapa_211.JPG





2019_Wairarapa_212.JPG




2019_Wairarapa_213.JPG



The Hipster-Touch comes at the White Swan Country Hotel, the only place open in Greytown on Saturday nights by the looks of it.



2019_Wairarapa_214.JPG



A Big Thanks to Gerard for showing us some of his backyard (and all without GPS or maps, respect!), the laughs and a good, long gawk at an Oilhead-Mongrel of the First Order.

Thank you Sir, it's been a real pleasure.
 

glitch

Mapping the next ride...
Staff member
While the center and north of the North Island are copping a good soaking, the Wairarapa bucks the trend again and offers another sparkler of a day. :drool:


Another map from memory...this one should be accurate though, there aren't too many choices to get to the places we're about to get shown.


https://isn.page.link/F5Cs


Map_14.JPG



That's right, get shown! Dave (MrKiwi @ ADVrider.com) has offered to play guide for the day and promised us some neighbourhood gems.
Once again, to me there's the extra bonus to once-more dawdle around the back of the group, not worrying about any of the logistics and routing.

:thumbs:

The scenery isn't long in waiting...the narrow band of asphalt down the western side of Lake Wairarapa is sweet, if nothing else.
A fence-of-teddies marks the southern end of the lake, what it'll be next?
Bras, sneakers, hats, more sneakers....and now stuffed toys.
Makes for a photo, though...



2019_Wairarapa_215.JPG



Oh look...a REALLY stuffed toy. :eat:


2019_Wairarapa_216.JPG



It sure is PRETTY!! Views from Ocean Beach along the spit to Lake Ferry at the bottom of those hills.


2019_Wairarapa_217.JPG



2019_Wairarapa_218.JPG


Half an hour worth of sweepers and twisties and it's the opposite views...looking at Ocean Beach from the Lake Ferry Pub.


2019_Wairarapa_219.JPG



Tacking south on Cape Palliser Rd.


2019_Wairarapa_220.JPG



A stumping collection of baby-dozers at Ngawi :eek:



2019_Wairarapa_221.JPG



Nearly there...


2019_Wairarapa_223.JPG
 

glitch

Mapping the next ride...
Staff member
2019_Wairarapa_224.JPG



2019_Wairarapa_225.JPG


C'mon....only 250 steps to go...:sweat:


agile_ant_099.JPG



2019_Wairarapa_230.JPG



Worth it? YA BET!!


agile_ant_100.JPG



agile_ant_102.JPG



What a spot to make new friends ...the little cutie was stuffed after scrambling up all those steps on those short legs.


2019_Wairarapa_229.JPG



A last look before it's off on the return leg and some fuel in Pirinoa.


2019_Wairarapa_231.JPG



Waiting for slow-coach-Pete...


2019_Wairarapa_235.JPG


Matching colours everywhere....skies, the AT, beach, water...:drool:


2019_Wairarapa_234.JPG



The Rimutakas in all their glory...


2019_Wairarapa_236.JPG
 

glitch

Mapping the next ride...
Staff member
Fueling the afternoon is via some "GO"-juice from the Pirinoa Store and the "Land Girl" Cafe opposite knocks up a somewhat upmarket lunch.
We're all set for some more scenic overload then.... and "The Admirals", whatever that means.

Map_14.JPG


First up a quick run north into Martinborough, then tacking east to Hinakura.
Not that there's much to Hinakura...


2019_Wairarapa_237.JPG



And it's north again... "up the Admiral"!



2019_Wairarapa_238.JPG




2019_Wairarapa_239.JPG




2019_Wairarapa_240.JPG
 

glitch

Mapping the next ride...
Staff member
Dave/ MrKiwi... really showing off his backyard and doing a cracker job of it! Long live "The Admiral"!! :clap:


2019_Wairarapa_245.JPG



agile_ant_106.JPG



agile_ant_108.JPG



A visit from a "roadie"...

2019_Wairarapa_250.JPG


...who left 10 minutes later desperately looking for a bike shop to trade the Priller for a chookie on his way home!
Ohh, the power of DUST! :D


The end of "The Admiral".

2019_Wairarapa_251.JPG



As with Gerard, Andrew and Colin the day before, Dave showed us some awesome nooks + crannies of the place which made those 2 days the crown-jewel of the fortnight.
A BIG THANKS to all!
:chug:

Closed the day with some homecooked stuff at our cabin in Greytown... those pan fried, bacon-wrapped banana entrees turned out rather well...and the steaks weren't bad either.
It's a tough life
...:wink:
 

glitch

Mapping the next ride...
Staff member
After the last 2 cracker-days, expectations were high for another serve of blue skies and sunshine making this part of the loop even more special than what
it already is by roads and scenery alone : one of the top3 targets of the fortnight.

Cocky Pete brushing aside the weather forecast "we'll be right!!", things started out well enough....just didn't last too long. :whistle:
Despite the low cloud, Mt. Holdsworth outside Masterton seems worth a small detour...until the clouds dip even further and even the foothills are shrouded.
Skip that!
The coffee-stop drags out and throws another question mark at the North Range Rd...barely off the Tararua Rd. gravel (sweet!) Ant gets that sinking feeling of an arse-end-going-flat!

North Range + the Wind Farm? Skip that!

https://isn.page.link/d6Ub


Map_15.JPG



Good move to bring that tool-pouch all the way from Melbourne ...


agile_ant_109.JPG



Strapping it to the XT, as apparently it won't go onto a DR :bang:


agile_ant_111.JPG



Back into Pahiatua from the other direction with the flat rear wheel for a hopefully quicker fix by one of the 2 bike-shops in town than trying to do it ourselves out in the sticks ...and for another slow coffee W-)


The locals drop in for company while the crew is in town...thanks for the chat Colin, we might just meet in Otago again :chug:


agile_ant_114.JPG




agile_ant_112.JPG



Back in it goes...


agile_ant_113.JPG







We finally flip across the range into Ashhurst via Saddle Road, hours behind the 8-ball....and straight into the full-on bad weather front blanking out near everything beyond 30m visibility.
The Pohangina routes have to wait for another trip...skip those.
Manawatu Scenic Route? Skip that!
The Takapari Rd. climb? Skip that one, too...



agile_ant_115.JPG
 

glitch

Mapping the next ride...
Staff member
A short, drizzly stop at Kimbolton for a fuel-top-up...some more heavy drizzle and we DO manage to have a look at the historic Mangaweka Bridge before barely dodging a couple of fat blackbellies on the run up SH1 to Taihape.
If there was any highlight, in fact, if there was any LIGHT to the day, it would have to be Rangiwahia Road, which follows the ridges with presumably great vistas into the Ruahines and the Pohangina Valley.



2019_Wairarapa_253.JPG



Time-warp Taihape..."cosy" wasn't really a word for the Formica-'60s? :so
But DRY it is!! And there's beer and chips for a complimentary welcome!

What a quirky, little spot!!
Thanks to Hakan for the recommendation :clap:
https://www.taihapemotels.co.nz/




agile_ant_119.JPG




agile_ant_116.JPG




agile_ant_117.JPG




agile_ant_118.JPG




agile_ant_120.JPG



Great tucker at the Straits Kitchen
, just up the road.
Goodie and Wendy tell us what's ahead in the Taranaki, just having spent a couple of days there.




agile_ant_121.JPG
 
Top Bottom