NZ_2019...The Missing Link

glitch

Mapping the next ride...
Staff member
https://isn.page.link/udsa

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The narrow, twisting and weaving asphalt band tacking north from the Tiniroto Rd. finishes just north of Ruakituri, from here its a steady climb towards the ridges and saddles of a whole ring of hills and low mountains.

What a feast!

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....before it morphs back to the black stuff under your wheels...
... while all else continues the same, glorious rush. :slobb



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North on the SH38 towards Lake Waikaremoana.


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glitch

Mapping the next ride...
Staff member
Too late to run up to the Caravan Park at Te Urewera to top up the tanks now, the only fuel far and wide.
Better settle in at the night's stay, the Lake Whakamarino Lodge the old lakeside place in Tuai, a former hydro-worker town.
If you book and let them know, they'll even cook up a tasty 2-course dinner for you (not that there's a choice in town :)

Great place, great folks, a BIG THANKS ! :clap::chug:


Tuai

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Bridge into town....

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Sluice-keepers cottage



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Benita, manager and yes-can-do of the place, dishing up.


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And while the humming and buzzing of the afternoon is still on the retinas, there was no clue that this would only turn out the precursor. :glu:glu



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banditrider

Long Timer
Good stuff. I've had a look (on maps) at that unnamed road. Will now have to investigate in person...

Keep the good stuff coming!
 

glitch

Mapping the next ride...
Staff member
Good stuff. I've had a look (on maps) at that unnamed road. Will now have to investigate in person...

Keep the good stuff coming!

Gmaps calls it Erepeti Rd. from this turnoff
https://isn.page.link/ikGA
and it's signed as such at that junction.
Once you enter the station at the top of the small ridge there is no further signage until the Ohuka School just north of the bridge at Mangaaruhe River.

Then again, just follow the main-looking track.
That whole semi-circle from near Ruakituri to Ohuka is ringed by a line of hills, the road stuck to the hillside about 1/2 to 3/4 way up. Beautiful little pocket...
and the seal from Ohuka to the 38 doesn't let the show down, either.
 

glitch

Mapping the next ride...
Staff member
https://isn.page.link/S35Y


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....might as well start the clear, sparkling day the way we finished the previous one: with some hearty tucker and a few laughs.
Again, that's if you let them know in advance you'll be on for brecky...
Early morning at the Lake Whakamarino Lodge...


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No calorie-skimping here!


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First up, some sweet twisties north to Te Urewera for some fuel....
via the Onepoto Bay Lakeside loop for a bit of a gawk, eh? :glu


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The SH38 is somewhat intense....a hotchpotch of prime and junk-tar mixed with sections of smooth+scenic gravel laced with teeth-chattering (and arse-puckering) corrugations...
I can't see much of a "riding"-road here, there's far better to be had at both ends.W-)

Getting back to the "good stuff", it's south past Tuai for a few km for the turn off onto Waihi Rd.....and maaaan, NOW we're talking!!
This is text-book "Ridge-Skimming" :thumbs::thumbs: at its BEST!

Anyone who can read a proper, old school map (or Gmap above, zoom in hard)) will realize, that this thing is literally PINING for a point to drop into the steep valley below... and cross the Waiau River.

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What a find!!
 

glitch

Mapping the next ride...
Staff member
This time around, the Putere Rd. twisties-polka (all sealed) wins over the Cricklewood farmland and ridges-gravel due to time-constraints....while the quick check out of Putere itself is blocked by some serious roadworks blocking passage for another hour or 2.

The Cricklewood Rd. option is the one I rather prefer (as per some previous trip)... but finishes rather further west on the SH2 near Wairoa.


Termite-proof?

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Skimming along the SH2, Mohaka Railway Bridge


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Time for some excellent fun and sweet gravel ridges from Tutira up the sealed Waikoau Rd./ Holts Forest, climbing to the branch down Darkys Spur and Waipunga Rds. for some ridge-magic and fabulous views into the Upper Hawkes Bay beaches and coastal flats.
Too busy here for pics...but this shouldn't be missed.


While Napier doesn't do it for me, Havelock North and the Te Mata Peak Park most certainly do!!
Make sure there's no floating pigeon-coop near the shore... the resulting line of coaches to ferry the cruise ship -inmates up to the lookout totally spoil the experience.

At the right time...Te Mata is GOLD!
:glu:glu


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glitch

Mapping the next ride...
Staff member
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The shadows are getting long...but there's time for a quick-one at the pub-in-the-middle-of-nowhere, the Patangata Tavern. :chug:



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Time for the leg into Waipawa...

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...where Paddy from the Rivers Edge Holiday Park has shut the shed-door on his Harleys, Trumpys and Kwakas to welcome us with a beer and a cute, little cabin!
A big thanks for the "family-welcome", brother! :gday:



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