Going for Ride Mon 25th from Caltex UpperHutt Meet 9.30 .Keen to hit Pylon track and then cruise to Martinbourgh then Possible Western Lakes .Big need to Get some riding in before Edwards Up Coming central ride
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An riders out there Wellington region who is keen to blast some gravel and moderate dirt tracks in the region no issues going over the hill if need be.
Hi is that Monday 25 July if so keen to tag along
Hi billingtond. You going to the lunch at Gladstone this Sunday? I’ll see you there. If you are, see you at Caltex Rimutakas at 10.00am. I’ll be the idiot hooning it on the R80 sidecar. I also ride an R100GS from time to time. I lurk over on ADVrider.com in the NZ section.
hi sorry will not be on Sunday ride heading over tomorrow to hit the gravel roads
hi is 25 Monday this month if so yes keen to tag along thanks
That post was from Jan 25th.
BMWOR run thru Summerhill & Admirals Rd 17/7/16:
Given all the anguish about the weather in the lead up to this ride, the weather was surprisingly civilised. There had been all sorts of warning about potential cancellations due to expected ‘Tempests’. This was fully supported by the weather forecasters, who I have noticed have become very conservative – almost the weather equivalents of ‘Repent, the Apocalype is nigh’. I like Hubert Kriegels statement & acceptance – ‘if it rains – I get wet’. I was actually really looking forward to a wet muddy ride – on a chair it’s harder (but not impossible) to fall off…
So prepared for the worst, but expecting better, I met with Wayne at Caltex Rimuatakas at the very civilised hr of 10.00 am. No sign of any BMWOR rider prepared to embrace the dirty end of the spectrum, though a few oil & water head GSs did waft past just as we were about to leave.
Wayne decided the KTM needed to taunt a Merc, so left me behind before we hit the Rimutakas – but then he has experience with the sidecar buggering solo flow on left hand bends before, so… I have to say the Rimutakas is brutal on this chair. Fun though. Probably good for building inner thigh & upper body strength.
Coffee & scones at Martinborough at the Village Cafe, as we were 20 mins early for the scheduled meet point. Really, that’s the way that civilised runs should be managed. And given we were on a BMWOR run, we had standards to maintain.
Bill managed to find us there. He was mounted on his very nice R60 ISDTR replica. Sounds gorgeous. Unfortunately the other BMW owners didn’t manage to find us. Not to worry. We’ll see them at the Pub.
I let Wayne & Bill lead out Hinakura Rd. Best not to startle them with the handling prowess of the sidecar on seal. A wee regroup at the intersection of Hinkura & Moeraki Rds. Not that we got separated at all… I was surprised to find out that Wayne hadn’t ever been out to this piece of the Wairarapa. We’ll have to organise another ride to allow him to explore the Wairarapa coast.
The start of the gravel. I demurred on leading from here, but couldn’t resist from the gate at Ngakouri Rd.
Probably frightened the stock. But at least that got me far enough ahead to be able to take some photos as the guys came through. Now I know how Bart feels. At least parts of the road are slow enough that my camera can keep up.
The road was in excellent condition. If anything, the road was too well swept. Instead of being able slide, I was getting too much grip on some of the corners.
Got a couple of rain splats here, that might have been melted hail. But that was our lot for the day. No wind. ‘Tempest’. Hmmm.
Bill
After the Summerhill Rd gate, I nearly missed a corner when I realised that Bill was right behind me & was giving chase.
Later, coming down downhill thru some coarse gravel, the bike started to run onto one cylinder. I thought it might just be a bit of crap in the fuel, & was sure it’d just blow thru. After all, Airheads just don’t break down. They have a quality reputation to uphold. But about a km down the road, it hadn’t resolved it’s self. So I thought I’d better stop, & speak sternly to the bike about it’s behaviour. It quickly became apparent that the bike was pissing petrol, & that something was missing from the bottom of the carb. I must have hooked the float bowl clip with the bottom clip of my boots, & that’d dropped the float bowl – a km up the road. I turned off the fuel & waited for Wayne & Bill to catch up. Oh the ignominy…
Fortunately, Wayne was able to pillion me back up the road. I must congratulate Wayne. I am a very reluctant pillion (I’ve been terrorized by a prior experience with a former KLR owner). He was very calm & accomodating.
We found the float bowl sitting sweetly on the left hand track of the road, back where things started running rough.
Back to the Chair. Fortunately the gasket was hanging on the clip, so we had all the bits to reassemble things. But I still had issues with gas leaking, so popped the chair up onto the right cylinder to check what was going on. This apparently created a great photo opportunity (too good for Wayne to miss) of Steve’s arse pointing out from underneath the chair. Well how else are you supposed to fix these things? Seems to me that popping the chair in the air is only logical. Seemed to amuse Bill no end though. Apparently Urals don’t do that.
Not very flattering…
By the end of the ride Bill & Wane seemed to have hit it off well. Holding hands seemed a trifle excessive on a first date though…
Relatively uneventful ride down to Gladstone Pub. Still missing the phantom BMWOR, but that’s all to the good – the pub was fairly busy.
In keeping with Oater’s original plans, we then did the whole thing in reverse.
At the beginning of that run, nearly had a side swipe with a Dodge Journey on a particularly narrow piece of road. He didn’t slow down, & didn’t move to give me any room. I was already across as far as I could be, on the left of the road. I reckon he missed having a stripe from a BMW cylinder by about a cm. Honestly thought I was history.
Polite people don’t talk about the emergency defecation situation…
Funny how the return run always seems to take less apparent time. Didn’t get to go out to the coast because time was moving on, & the day was cooling. Back to Martinborough, fueled up (still getting used to the little tank on the chair), then over the hill (a bit busier), & back to Wgtn. Arrived home just on dark. To find out that the run had been cancelled.
looked like a great day thank you for sharing the experience
Anyone going over this weekend to hit the gravel
Hi anyone out there that wants to get out adventure riding I own a F800GS. moved up from South Island I think I have been spoilt out most weekend hitting the dirty. up for any thing I have been in Akas Forest a few time done pram track hydro road etc on the GS however on my owe a bit risk due to a few bike drops, however in and out no issues cheers
Not this weekend sorry. Looks pretty crap out there this afternoon. Committed to spending some time with the family…
Wellington ride out Sunday 21st Aug to Riversdale & Castlepoint. Meet Caltex Rimutakas 9.00am. Mainly seal & gravel. Suitable noobies.
‘@box.a.bits I’ll be there
Bugger should have checked latest topics last night.Looks like a great day for a ride enjoy
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‘@box.a.bits sorry I disappeared so abruptly, I was waiting for you in Tunui a while, then Paul came in and said that you are refueling so I decided to do a runner. Thanks for an amazing day riding. What a blast. Hope I will join you guys soon again.
Some shots from today
https://www.facebook.com/kusaj/posts/10157407265440374?pnref=story.unseen-section
(Edited by @Eddieb to embed the Facebook gallery)
how was the ride out?
RIDE TO WHITE ROCK & TORA – Sunday 2nd Oct
Just to make this official – Leaves Caltex Rimutaka at 9.30am. Park over by the fenceline – the service station gets pissed when we block the forecourt.
Coffee at Village Cafe at Martinborough at 10.00am, then on to White Rock & Tora.
Tight seal to Tuturumuri, then gravel. The White Rock Road traverses a few Stations – expect stock on the road.
Suitable for noobie riders & bikes on roadie tyres (no off road sections – seal & gravel only).
Bring your lunch (no shops out there).
Just bringing this to to the top again. Weather forecast is flip flopping, but we are going anyway…
WHITE ROCK & TORA – 2nd Oct 16
The weather forecasters had been flip flopping on this one. A bloody big front coming across from Australia, after causing havoc over there.
On Saturday I’d been in Motomart (to get fuel line for Gus) & toyed with the idea of getting new wet weather gear. In the end I flagged it. After all, we’re heading into summer aren’t we? Of course after a decision like that, it was sheeting rain 1st thing Sunday morning.
There’d been good interest in the ride – but I wasn’t certain how many would brave the conditions. As it happens, the ride contingent were Stuart Swan KTM990A, Chrome22 (Stu) KLX250, Jeff Sichoe (Thomas) Vstrom 1000, Oaters (Stephen) R1200GS, Ian Cook TDM850, & me on my R80 sidecar.
Once we cleared the Rimutakas, the day started to improve. By Martinborough the wets were starting to get too warm. No herb & cheese scones, so had to make do with a poppy seed & lemon muffin. And a Latte, albeit that my first was stolen. By the Hau Nui wind farm it seemed evident the day was going to stay nice.
I‘d foolishly told Stuart Swan that he’d never stay with me once we hit gravel, so of course he felt obligated to do so. And surprisingly dragged Chrome22 (Stu) & Ian with him.
Lunch at White Rock (anyone know what the white rock is?), then down to Ngapotiki Station gates, followed by a play in the little stream fords.
Ian Cook
Stu (Chrome22)
Jeff Sichoe (Thomas)
Stuart Swan
At the Tuturumuri intersection we waved off Chrome22 (Stu) & Jeff Sichoe (Thomas), then we beatled off to Tora.
Ian Cook
Lost Oaters there, while Ian, Stuart & I took in a quick tour down to Te Awaiti Station. Never been down that road. Very scenic.
Quick squirt back to Martinborough, then across the Rimutaka’s. Had a wee dice with a girl in a Corolla who was determined to unpass herself from the sidecar. Fortunately I had the better line. Was a crack up.
Home just after 5.00pm, feeling like I’ve done a few rounds with Joseph Parker.
I may have to do a realignment on the sidecar. I can see the top front mount has moved. I’ve been too strenuous on the tight right handers I guess.
This would be the white rock of which you ask.Today was a good day not to be working
Check out @harrywatson’s new thread about Mangatarere Valley in Masterton. It looks like a fun explore for some lightweight bikes.
Someone take a GPS and a camera up there and go exploring.
Sundays WIMA Pink Ribbon Ride is fundraising for the NZ Breast Cancer Foundation “Pink Ribbon’ appeal.
We’ve just put together the most awesome of pizes for “Best Dressed” Bike, Female, Male, Girl & Boy. Not forgetting the raffles and spot prizes.
Reminder:
Please be at Wellington Motorcycles on Sun 16th Oct by 10:30am as we’re off on our bikes at 11am.
Then we head to Boundary Tap & Kitchen on Ramauti Rd.
PINK UP YOUR BIKE or YOURSELF.
Looking forward to seeing you.
Anyone in the Wellington region up for some rides this summer?
I’m keen to explore some of the GPS tracks from this site and also any other tracks in the region.
Hi Raj. Yes we are here. Just not riding as much over the Xmas season. Keep an eye on this thread & I’ll advertise a group ride sometime shortly.
SATURDAY 31ST DEC:
I’m thinking that I need to take advantage of the last free fine day of this year. Gus is up & running again. Not sure where I’m riding but would like it to have a little challenge. Open to suggestions (Sutherlands Hut is suddenly looking attractive, though it’ll be hot in there).
Meet at Caltex Rimutaka’s at 9.00am.
What about the Rimutaka Hill Pylon Access Track? I’ve been riding past the entrance to this track for years. Perhaps it’s time to take advantage of a fine morning on the last day of the year, and take a gander.
OCEAN BEACH – SATURDAY 31ST DEC:
Given this was the last fine day available this holiday period (& the last ride day of the year), I thought I’d advertise & see who wanted to get out & about. Given Gus has only recently been up & running, I was keen on a more challenging ride, but wasn’t too fussed one way or another. I had a backup plan if no one showed.
As it transpired, Viferpilot was keen, albeit his suggested ride possibly didn’t gel well with his TKC70 shod F800GS. So we did Ocean Beach instead. I hadn’t been there for while & Viferpilot had never done it, so wins all round. Also, this was a ‘time limited’ outing for him, so a short ride was better than my initial suggestion.
Fine day but the wind did get up later in the day.
The slip face has moved & the track has been recut along it.
The sandy section leading the gate may have caused an issue. It’s all a confidence trick anyway.
Viferpilot headed back home, while I was initially headed for Ngawi. But a bad attack of the can’t be bothered struck & it seemed a much better bet to try for mushrooms (fail) or coffee in Martinborough (win).
The Rimutaka’s were probably about as gusty as I feel comfortable with, not helped by a very slow Commodore V6 idling up the windiest section.
Discovered another coffee at a friends house at Whitby. Sat in the sun, & helped him avoid installing a new carport roof, & all was good in the world.
Thank you for the illustrated write-up Steve. Definitely keen to do another jaunt sometime during Week 1 of 2017. On a less time limited occasion. I’ve been out to much of the Wairarapa/Hawkes Bay coastline, except to White Rock. Just haven’t gotten round tuit. Wondering if anyone else is interested in visiting that terrain when the weather clears.
Yes include me in White Rock is a good ride out albeit tame roads
Time has arrived to get some bugs in my teeth for 2017. Friday 6th Jan works for me. Keen to knock-off White Rock from the to-do list, and perhaps some meandering on the way home e.g. Ruakokoputuna (Blue Rock Rd) etc
I’ll be at Caltex Rimutaka at 9AM to rendezvous with whoever is interested in joining the jaunt.
BTW
Aerial imagery (and WAMS) indicates there’s a legal route around the coast to/fro Cape Palliser. Just ‘curious’ … the ride report by Box.a.Bits would indicate some practice is required in sandy stuff (!).
Unfortunately I’m back at work. You’ll strike locked gates at Ngopotiki Station, so that’s an in & out ride unless you can negotiate access. Whilst there is a paper road thru there, a portion of it it has collapsed into the sea long ago, so you would have to traverse private land.
Three adventurers turned out for the run to White Rock and other curious wanderings. Some photos with captions here (click on ea. photo for full view): https://goo.gl/photos/DiP8kTyxkTCDiqW98
Anyone up for a ride Thursday or Friday Wairarapa
Of the two options, Friday might be a bit dryer (if Metservice 3-day rain forecast is to be believed). It’s my first week back at work so the idea of shortening it by a day is tantalising! Will ‘test the water’.
Friday good for me i have moved to Greytown so all the gravel on my door step adventure riding heaven. everyone welcome to stop in a my place either before, during or after the ride bring your toggs nice pool to cool off and wash the dust away
Anyone interested in a ride out this Saturday ? Wairarapa area cheers Dave
Usefully, my lovely wife has ‘organised’ my Saturday for me (again). So won’t be able to get out. 🙁
Hi Everyone. I would like some feedback on a few tracks. I will be traveling this Friday from Martinborough to Napier. Can I use Honeycomb Rock track from Glendhu to Glenburn rd? Does Otahome rd from Whareama go all the way to Castlepoint? Some maps show not while another does.
What are my options from Castlepoint to Owahanga/ Akitio?
Is there a track from Akitio to Herbertville?
Please give me some feedback or alternatives. Looks like the tides are in my favour so will go over a few beaches and try to hug the coast as much as possible. Thanks very much. Cheers Hans.
Thank you Dave for the suggestion to snap-up that weather opportunity this Welly Anniversary Weekend. I reckon we and our machines did a great job of it. Thank you to everyone for great company. Really enjoyed this outing.
Our story in pictures https://goo.gl/photos/sAfKoxGKFidNZwRa7
Hans asked:
The legal road will get you out to Otahome per WAMS (it’s a scenic ride):
http://tinyurl.com/zv6b3rn
You’ll need permission to get from Otahome to Castlepoint through Castlepoint Station. My understanding is that Anders Crofoot owns it; National Vice President of Federated Farmers:
http://tinyurl.com/hfcqwhw
Though you don’t mention anything north of Herbertville. In case it is of interest I had some fun in November running from Blackhead to Aramoana along the beach. It was only a couple of hours past high tide. A track at the northern segment enabled passage where the beach was too narrow or rocky.
https://goo.gl/photos/uxKNAJocUcAgZtk96
From the map it looks like it might be possible to traverse further along the coast beyond Aramoana to Pourerere.
http://tinyurl.com/zwu4qsd
A great day thank you for leading the trip and taking the time to photograph it. A true adventure ride and great company. Dave
Hi Viferpilot. Thanks very much for your suggestions. North of Herbertville the plan is to go over Porangahau beach and then it all depends whether I can cross the Porangahau river. Last time I was there I wasn’t game. From Blackhead I will go along the beach to Pourerere. Have been there before so know it is a possibility.
Will you please let me know about the purple lines on the WAMS map? Are the purple lines tracks you have ridden on a motorbike? In that way I can go from Mataikona over Pack Spur road to Tinui Valley road. From there to Tinui, Annedale road and Waitawhiti road to Tiraumea.
Also is there another station between Tautane road and Ireland road from Herbertville?
Sorry for all these questions but I love it getting all this information.
Again thanks very much. Cheers Hans.
Hello Hans
Per the WAMS legend the purple line delineate the legal roads, both formed and unformed, throughout NZ i.e. routes that should enable unfettered right of passage (by any means … horse, motorbike, etc). Use the topographic base map to see if there is a formation. If the legal road isn’t formed then it is courteous to seek permission from the adjacent landowner. The Walking Access Commission’s website has guidance about this.
Nice route. Involves a deviation onto private land (including airstrip) but I’ve never learned who the amicable landowner is.
Over a kilometer of this is private farm track (a deviation from the path of the unformed legal road). Courteous to call Allan Wellbrock 06 372 6635 to test situation re stock etc. It could be greasy if damp; clay surfaces in parts.
I’m not familiar with the situation here/attitude of the landowners. You can see on WAMS that the legal roads are unformed and not contiguous. The topo map indicates there are gates at the ends of the formed roads. If you can get through it certainly looks like a great way to sneak up on Porangahau. 🙂
Mataikona – Pack Spur is documented here on the website
Hi. Thanks Viferpilot for the suggestions. So far I have permission to go over Castlehill station. Normally there is no access so it must be a case by case situation. Don’t know the situation after Herbertville so will knock on a farmers door. I will let you know later how I got on to Napier. Cheers Hans.
Heading out for a ride this Friday if anyone is interested some gravel and tracks in the wairarapa
Hi if you want to join in you are more than welcome. My plan is to go from Martinborough to Hinakura, Admiral rd to Gladstone. From there Te Wharau, Homewood, Riversdale beach to Whareama, Otahome rd and Castlepoint station to Mataikona. Pack Spur to Tinui and Annedale rd to Tiraumea. From there on I will be heading North, Okitio, Herbertville to Porangahau etc. to Napier. If anyone else is interested you have to let me know as so far I have only permission for myself to cross Castlepoint station. I will be in Martinborough at 8 in the morning. Will be a big day for me. If you want leave a text on 0279 372 526. Cheers Hans.
Anyone going to this? http://www.adventurerides.co.nz/wellington-adventure-ride
Me, GT, Box.a.Bits