Banditrider's Pootles
 

Ok, time to shamelessly flog my blog (does that sound right?).

Had a great ride in hot conditions today: http://banditrider.blogspot.co.nz/20...ying-tank.html

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Kia Ora bandit rider. Not sure flogging blogs is legal in some states but the ride sounds great and the weather most unKiwi from what I remember. I've always thought it would be great to get over there and tackle some of the roads I travelled when working there in the late 90's for a while. In the mean time it's Kiwi blogs to fill the void. Well done.
:clap:

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Good stuff!! :so

For anyone (like me) wondering what the hell the "Paraparas" are...

http://www.timcooke.com/NZ/District/Parapara/

....
....


http://www.timcooke.com/NZ/District/Parapara/01a.jpg


Thanks for sharing, mate :so

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Cheers! I'm planning to come over and explore our Western island at some stage so I guess if you lot will let me in then we can probably allow in the odd one you guys...:thumbs:

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The Paras rock! They've put a lot of work in over the last couple of years sorting out the storm damage and improving the road - it is a great ride now. In winter you need to take it a bit carefully - not only can you come across icy patches but when wet there can very mucky slips across the road (really slippery clay type gunk). :woot:

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Could you knock up a quick Gmap with a main route through the Para's?
I'm still not quite clear which area they exactly are.

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It's basically Wanganui to Raetihi. If you zoom in to the map you'll see Fields track heading East about halfway to Raetihi.



Hmmm, couldn't get map to insert :bang:

Linkee: http://goo.gl/maps/kxHDy

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Map worked fine...and thanks, too!
Mentioning that Fields Track again finally shook loose some memories.
What an awesome place! :glu


http://www.glitch-oz.com/pics/12/NZ_2/Bernard_0021.JPG


http://www.glitch-oz.com/pics/12/NZ_2/NZ_Nov12_0137.JPG



http://www.glitch-oz.com/pics/12/NZ_2/Bernard_0024.JPG


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And we were oh-so-close in November....

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Now you've given me somewhere to explore too...think I've only done bits of your route.

Here's another great route to get ya to Fields Track:



http://banditrider.blogspot.co.nz/20...whanganui.html

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YEAH Pete You know, just 8 days, but very good days ......:thumbs:

Hi Banditrider
Thanks for sharing:clap:
Pretty nice Places along the Hwy 4.
You know the place of Sir Edmund Hillary Camp in direction Taupo ?

Westerly, you can see the thousand peaks..... the hills between highway and the dirt road via Athene, Korint to Pipiriki.
Nice views, waterfalls, endless windings.....
Also damned good along this way !

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:clap::clap:
Thanks for that one!!
Immediately transferred to the maps for next time.

How does that compare to the Whanganui River Rd.?
(Whanganui-Pipiriki)

On closer inspection...there's a hell of a lot of stuff bouncing inside that "square" made up by SH 4/ 49/ 1/ Mangatipona Rd.
Not too much sealed, I guess...but great for an overnighter to suss out the whole lot.

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Ohhh yeah!! :clap::clap::chug:

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A lot more gravel - some of it a bit rougher in places. Similar sorts of views although the river is not as big as the Wanganui River. Not as many settlements so it feels a bit more remote.

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Oh man, you know how to sweeten the offerings :thumbs:

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Hmmmmm, where shall I go tomorrow...

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Ok so today I got lost in the 'naki. A brilliant day out!

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The 'naki? Juuuuuuust :clap: Sweet pics, yayy!

The second I saw the name, kapow!

http://www.austouring.com/forum/show...6&postcount=66

http://www.austouring.com/forum/show...6&postcount=67

What a hidden, little cracker that Waitotara Valley road is, eh? :glu:glu

Nice one!!

There's another one a little further to the west, along the Patea River.
Ball Rd. and Maben Rd. Wished we'd had the time, just saw it too late on the map, by which time we'd already hooked into the Waitotora.
Another one for next time...

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That's hard case - I read your thread but never even clicked. Just turned off the road...

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....and found a bloody gem!! :chug:

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Today's little pootle: http://banditrider.blogspot.co.nz/20...ange-road.html

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Full write-up of my TT2000 ride: http://banditrider.weebly.com/2013-tt2000.html

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Oh man....LOVE the pics! :glu

Looks like a cracker of a ride and the weather being kind to you... and I HATE southern Christchurch, the place has got me baffled.
The Banks Penin is a dream though :slobb... bloody sweet riding, dirt or seal.
Views galore and virtually deserted on a weekday...but contaminated through and through by the Lycra-Pest on the weekends. :doh::doh:

Thanks for another good read and gawk, mate...:clap::clap:

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what ever could you be refuring to...
Was on the Summit Rd..section above Akaroa
a couple weeks back on the XTR... just about took
a mob of the prats out....
Came around a blind corner going down hill... there was
a swarm of those "lycra clad pests" weaveing all over
the road trying to get up the hill... I stood on everything
skided to a stop on a gravel section... then got mouthed at
for saveing there lifes...

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Cheers, looking forward to reading a certain write-up...

No numb-skulls when we went out. I don't have a lot of sympathy for 'em when they don't obey any road rules. My stebel and my brakes have had the odd work-out...

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Ok, so I'm back after a great time in the South again and this write-up's gonna have to come in installments: http://banditrider.blogspot.co.nz/20...ure-day-1.html

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Day two: http://banditrider.blogspot.co.nz/20...ure-day-2.html

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:drool::drool::lao
BEEEWWDIFUL stuff!!
Isn't the north of the SI something else? The whole Sounds area is just incredible, particularly on such a perfect day as you seem to have had for it. One of those years we'll spent a fortnight or more just exploring some of the dead-end dirt roads of all those bays, capes, beaches and headlands...:clap::clap:

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Day Three: http://banditrider.blogspot.co.nz/20...ure-day-3.html

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That blue water colour is amazing!

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Ready for some more? Read on...

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Day Four: Bandit Rider: Top of the South Adventure - Day 4

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You guys sure know how to have fun :chug::clap::clap:
Oh boy...some sweet pics.
And yes, the water is THAT colour!

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That water still looks blue! Nice one BR...

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Day Five: Bandit Rider: Top of the South Adventure - Day 5

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Boy, you've got a knack to be able to take someone along for the ride...whatever the target!

Stunning pics...many of your compatriots got no idea how beautiful that place is. NZ's a ripper!
Both...North and South.
Thanks for showing it off so well.:so

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Thanks! Been drip feeding ya a bit...

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A blog challenge accepted: http://banditrider.blogspot.co.nz/20...s-to-park.html

Potential for a forum challenge????

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Anzac Day ride: http://banditrider.blogspot.co.nz/20...-day-ride.html

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Back on some gravel: http://banditrider.blogspot.co.nz/20...in-gravel.html

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Re: Banditrider's Pootles
 

What's a blog challenge? How does it work practically?



Kimbolton...had to google for that one. Is there a route through the Ruahine to Dannevirke? Would make a nice loop with a few places further south.
Looks like a pretty scenic and quiet area.


Peep O'Day Rd.....what a name for a road :thumbs:
Good to see the Strom out again where it belongs.

How do you guys go through the winter months....are you high enough above sea level to get snow?

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You can get snow on the ranges (I've had it on Takapari road and in Rangiwahia (near Peep O'Day road).

Did get snow here in Palmy a couple of years ago but that's the first time in 20 years for me.

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Bummer....thought there might be some local forestry roads/ tracks to cross the Ruahines (because Gmaps didn't show anything).

@snow...they're really the first line of ranges from the coast, I guess.

Ever been down to the Pahaoa River mouth? Just wondering if it would be worth it (while playing with the maps for another NI ride) http://goo.gl/maps/NZCpK

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Nope, but it looks interesting...:so

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Today's little road ride: http://banditrider.blogspot.co.nz/20...erruption.html

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Back on the gravel again: http://banditrider.blogspot.co.nz/20...n-weather.html

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Re: Banditrider's Pootles
 

Today's pootle: http://banditrider.blogspot.co.nz/20...s-queenie.html

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Boy, the good, old Queen seems to be having one hell of a birthday bash...last weekend over your side of the ditch, coming weekend over here.

Anyways...nice to see some sunshine, even if only on pics.

Dad's R11 looks schmick. Always liked the 11 before they turned all Buck Rogers style with all the angular bits.

Let's hope you didn't leave the lights on on the Connie, too :bs

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Well, the battery will need a bit of a charge. I have a preference as to how to do that...

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Just as a matter of interest....what year/ mileage/ condition etc was the BM at time of purchase...and what are the local prices for something like that?

Still like the shape of the thing...

And that loop looks sweet. too...you lucky buggers got just the most amazing riding country right at the front door, regardless of which starting-block one chooses to pick. :lao

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It's a 2000 model with 50k on it. Owned by an ex engineer. Really clean and well looked after. It is a good looking BM and I reckon silver is "the" colour for them. I really liked the handling. Ride position was ok (sportier than either of my bikes though). I still can't get my head around the boxer though - ridden two now and don't think they're for me. Dad's second R bike - he had an 1150GS a few years ago:

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-N...GS%2520001.jpg

He got the S for a bit of a steal as he was looking at a scruffier one with 90+km on it for the same money. It's got all the luggage too.

I think it was around $7500 - not absolutely sure.

Route 52 rocks! It runs from Waipuk to Masterton (about 200km all up). Very rough and tight in places but way more fun than taking SH2. Lots of gravel options heading off in all directions too. Not as much in a storm in the middle of the night - took a good 3 hours that night (on the Rusty Nuts Grand Challenge - 1,000 miles in 24 hours).