platypus121
Tour Pro
Ohhhh No !!!!! A policeman in the wilds of New Zealand? ?
There are a couple of them.
That one looks like the one who looks after the top half of the North Island.
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Hobbits And Bobbits...NZ'12-The North
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There are a couple of them.
That one looks like the one who looks after the top half of the North Island.
asphalt
Tassie...where tyres are flat and nights are long
Really !!!!!:wow:
I've never seen one before in Nz!
The mug of hot coffee from the café on the corner is like a fart in a storm....things get pretty bloody cold real quick, then foggy and damp and freezing.
Then the rear starts to step out occasionally when gassing it out of corners.
Bummer....the views are supposed to be breathtaking even from the car park at Mt. Egmont.
A quick turnaround then :???:, withdrawing to underneath the fog-blanket and tacking south via some backroad-asphalt towards Hawera on the coast, the first part of the day turning into some....“commuting”.
The Tawhiti Museum is also closed, no luck here either.
It’s supposed to be a good place to check on the history of the whole Taranaki area.
At least it sets us on an inland course running parallel to the coast on deserted farm roads rather than the busy coastal hwy.
Patea Library....with a dunce cap!!
Then the rear starts to step out occasionally when gassing it out of corners.
Bummer....the views are supposed to be breathtaking even from the car park at Mt. Egmont.
A quick turnaround then :???:, withdrawing to underneath the fog-blanket and tacking south via some backroad-asphalt towards Hawera on the coast, the first part of the day turning into some....“commuting”.
The Tawhiti Museum is also closed, no luck here either.
It’s supposed to be a good place to check on the history of the whole Taranaki area.
At least it sets us on an inland course running parallel to the coast on deserted farm roads rather than the busy coastal hwy.
Patea Library....with a dunce cap!!
With all that extra time on our hands let’s have a look at the maps and find some of the most squiggly stuff around....and the Waitotara Valley Rd. up the same-named river looks to fit the bill perfectly.
It’s an “up & down” affair, up river to Makakaho Junction, where the road splits....then back to the hwy.
Howzat for nearly 90k’s of bends?
b
Time to “cut everyone loose” to go their own pace; do their own thing...
No probs sharing the first few bends with a pack of 4-legged yoghurt-makers
It’s an “up & down” affair, up river to Makakaho Junction, where the road splits....then back to the hwy.
Howzat for nearly 90k’s of bends?
bTime to “cut everyone loose” to go their own pace; do their own thing...
No probs sharing the first few bends with a pack of 4-legged yoghurt-makers
The “bearded Twins” 
...
Typical North Island country... rows of poplars are the trademark.
How lucky was that pick?? Two hours of absolute bliss....
Some lunch and fuel at a roadhouse to not get caught up in the much bigger and busier Wanganui... then cutting north, up the Whanganui River Rd., another piece of motorcycle heaven and stumping scenery.
Similar to the Waitotara Valley... but much wider, the river bigger and cradled between steep cliffs at spots....and nearly twice as long to where the road does a sharp turn at Pipiriki and turns east, inland.
Tim SF giving the DR the berries
...
Typical North Island country... rows of poplars are the trademark.
How lucky was that pick?? Two hours of absolute bliss....
Some lunch and fuel at a roadhouse to not get caught up in the much bigger and busier Wanganui... then cutting north, up the Whanganui River Rd., another piece of motorcycle heaven and stumping scenery.
Similar to the Waitotara Valley... but much wider, the river bigger and cradled between steep cliffs at spots....and nearly twice as long to where the road does a sharp turn at Pipiriki and turns east, inland.
Tim SF giving the DR the berries
The local council didn’t skimp on the gravel....
but the ploughing stops after a few k’s.
The road east from Pipiriki to Raetihi is another screamer....tight, tighter, some loose gravel, plenty of bark dropped from timber-trucks, some royal midcorner bathtubs that lift you out of the seat on exit just as you flip it onto the other side, a good chunk of your lane missing, signed with a few tiny stakes and a bit of pink ribbon ...
Then the top of the valley crests in a hairpin and....
Those guys are good...REAL GOOD!!
They are not just acutely aware of what’s behind them, they also use any and every lay-by, slow-lane, wide-shoulder or whatever to give you room to pass!!
They even slow down a little to create a greater speed difference...which actually goes for most, if not all, Kiwi drivers, but the rigs are the most impressive as they “have the most to lose”.
Hats off...AWESOME guys!!
This rig’s run by a lady who’d managed to allow everyone to pass within a very short distance....and that on a road like the Reefton Spur. THAT....is impressive!!
Raetihi....hmmm.
A town far too big for the very few residents, kids... a tradie with his ute...not much happens here by the looks of it.
Perhaps the last outbreak of Mt. Ruapehu in the mid-90’s shook the crap out of the town and people moved away?
Even the Backpacker is deserted... the “International Airport” is waiting for a plane....anything with wings, really!
Quartermaster TimSF found some digs, which turn out the Police Association Ski Lodge and we’ve got it all to ourselves.
Bernard and TimSF enjoying the last warming afternoon rays shining through the windows.
A town far too big for the very few residents, kids... a tradie with his ute...not much happens here by the looks of it.
Perhaps the last outbreak of Mt. Ruapehu in the mid-90’s shook the crap out of the town and people moved away?
Even the Backpacker is deserted... the “International Airport” is waiting for a plane....anything with wings, really!
Quartermaster TimSF found some digs, which turn out the Police Association Ski Lodge and we’ve got it all to ourselves.
Bernard and TimSF enjoying the last warming afternoon rays shining through the windows.
TimC takes a stroll...and comes away with some great shots from the edge of town
Mt. Ruapehu is an incredible sight above all that green....
Dinner comes from the Chinese Takeaway down the road since the cook of the local Social Club took the night off after checking for potential business earlier on....but they’re good on the beer and allow us to eat the take away at their tables.
If the weather holds, it’ll be a mighty push across to the eastern side tomorrow...and BOY; it’s getting COLD out there!!
Another day chockers full of twisties, stumping sights and great travelling...the place just hammers out one exciting surprise after another, from dawn to bloody dusk!
Mt. Ruapehu is an incredible sight above all that green....
Dinner comes from the Chinese Takeaway down the road since the cook of the local Social Club took the night off after checking for potential business earlier on....but they’re good on the beer and allow us to eat the take away at their tables.
If the weather holds, it’ll be a mighty push across to the eastern side tomorrow...and BOY; it’s getting COLD out there!!
Another day chockers full of twisties, stumping sights and great travelling...the place just hammers out one exciting surprise after another, from dawn to bloody dusk!