The annual DUVROC (DownUnder Vulcan Riders and Owners' Club) ride was held this year in the North Island of New Zealand. We alternate each year between North and South Islands.
We arranged to meet at the Wellington Top 10 Motor Camp at Hutt Park, Petone. From there a ride over the Rimutakas, around Palliser Bay to Ngawi, and Martinborough via Lake Ferry. Then on to Castlepoint for the night. The next day was a backroads jaunt up Route 52 through Wairarapa to southern Hawkes Bay, with an overnight stop near Waipukurau. The last day was Hawkes Bay via Te Mata Peak, Napier City, and back into the centre of the island to Taihape via the Gentle Annie.
After that it was more back roads to Howard's place in Palmerston North. The circuit was a little over 1000km, and the weather was glorious.
We had a varied but hard-core bunch of VROC folk - Toa (Alan) and Ali, Clive (Barbershop), Paul (Peg) and Cec, Trevor (Horse), Richard (Spider), Grunta and Karol (lurking members), Jonny and Lorraine, and me.
Our riders came from Marlborough in the south, Paraparaumu, Opotiki, Palmerston North, Feilding, Tauranga, and New Plymouth.
Dave (fart) was planning to be on the ride but Gaylene had other plans for him. The ride was held in memory of Gaylene who we farewelled the weekend before. RIP Gaylene - we stopped for a photo at Rangiwahia for you!
Those of us game to negotiate the freshly graded gravel on Waione-Horoeka Road also stopped at Waihi Falls to share a thought for Kilo, some of whose ashes were scattered there a few years back. A nice spot - Mal and Corvette also enjoyed some special moments there while on their honeymoon.
The following photos are a selection from our ride. Don't know if the order will come out correct, but you will get the picture one way or another!
I will add other pictures snagged from the guys if I can.
We arranged to meet at the Wellington Top 10 Motor Camp at Hutt Park, Petone. From there a ride over the Rimutakas, around Palliser Bay to Ngawi, and Martinborough via Lake Ferry. Then on to Castlepoint for the night. The next day was a backroads jaunt up Route 52 through Wairarapa to southern Hawkes Bay, with an overnight stop near Waipukurau. The last day was Hawkes Bay via Te Mata Peak, Napier City, and back into the centre of the island to Taihape via the Gentle Annie.
After that it was more back roads to Howard's place in Palmerston North. The circuit was a little over 1000km, and the weather was glorious.
We had a varied but hard-core bunch of VROC folk - Toa (Alan) and Ali, Clive (Barbershop), Paul (Peg) and Cec, Trevor (Horse), Richard (Spider), Grunta and Karol (lurking members), Jonny and Lorraine, and me.
Our riders came from Marlborough in the south, Paraparaumu, Opotiki, Palmerston North, Feilding, Tauranga, and New Plymouth.
Dave (fart) was planning to be on the ride but Gaylene had other plans for him. The ride was held in memory of Gaylene who we farewelled the weekend before. RIP Gaylene - we stopped for a photo at Rangiwahia for you!
Those of us game to negotiate the freshly graded gravel on Waione-Horoeka Road also stopped at Waihi Falls to share a thought for Kilo, some of whose ashes were scattered there a few years back. A nice spot - Mal and Corvette also enjoyed some special moments there while on their honeymoon.
The following photos are a selection from our ride. Don't know if the order will come out correct, but you will get the picture one way or another!
I will add other pictures snagged from the guys if I can.
You can click on a picture to see it larger, then use the browser 'back' arrow or 'close box' to return to the blog. The caption, if entered is below the picture.
Day 1: Clive, Jonny and Lorraine leaving my place for Wellington
On the lookout up the Paekakariki Hill Road, Kapiti Island in the background.
After settling in to the motor camp we trudges off to the Hutt Park pub for a welcome few beers. Toa joined us there.
Clive, Jonny
Jonny, Trevor
Karol, Lorraine
Toa, Grunta
After a feed of fish and chips, stopped for liquid supplies and trudged back to camp.
Day 2: Getting ready to move out. Joined by Toa and Ali at Maccas Lower Hutt for breakfast.
On the Palliser bay road to Ngawi. This is around the southern edge of the North Island. Ngawi is a fishing village where they launch the fleet off the (usually) stormy steep gravel beach using bulldozers.
Came back to Lake Ferry where we decided to stop for lunch.
On arrival at the Whakataki Pub, Castlepoint, on the east coast. A great pub/backpackers about 5km from the beach settlement.
Selfies - the only way to get a pic of yourself!
Big rock reef which can be susceptible to rogue waves, and plenty of fishermen have been lost. Calm and hot today, though!
Day 3: On the road north (Rt52 - stopped for a snack at Pongaroa.
I thought he was just breathing heavy!
We detoured from Rt52 to Waihi Falls where Kilo was heard murmuring a greeting in the trees. The 3 - 4 km of deep gravel made for an interesting ride, but later, the road out (a loop detour) made up for it with some stunning back road riding back to Rt52.
Been a hot dry summer, and not much water. Google images for Waihi Falls, or check earlier blogs, and you will see a difference in the volume of water!
Paul and Cec
Unfortunately, lots of Didymo (rock snot) in the water below the falls.
We stopped at the place with the world's longest name. Toa messaged us from Porangahau which was a little further on and where we planned to eat and get fuel. The gas station had closed at mid-day, and the cafe was about to close. As Trev's 'little' Nomad was getting short of fuel we decided to cut out the final leg of the day's planned ride and beat a retreat for our overnight stopping point at Waipukurau, which was 30-odd km away by the 'main' road. It was still a great finish to a great ride.
Our stopping point was an old hospital which the new young owners had converted to a winery, conference centre and events venue, and backpackers. The hospital was for WW1 rehab, and also later as a TB hospital. The beds were great, the rooms were typical of an old hospital. Lots of facilities and good views. The following pix give an idea of our digs for the night. Wellington Ulysses had a mystery ride with a stop off there as well, so it was good to meet up with some old friends.
At dinner time we all rode 5km into town, picked up some Chinese (food) and went to Jonny and Lorraine's place for dinner. We were also joined by their neighbour who is Lorraine's gardening guru.
Day 4: Dawned fine and cool, with the valleys blanketed in morning mist.
Sun is coming through and promising another scorcher of a day.
Toa and Ali split from the group to visit Toa's sister and take in the Napier Art Deco Festival. I'm sure it was a better offer!
We had breakfast in town, and Spider set the scene by having a meat pie for breakfast. The whole time I had been under duress (as the ride's obese one) to have a maggot pack and had resisted staunchly in favour of more healthy fare. Most of the time!
I had the mushrooms, hollandaise, bacon and hash browns for breakfast. Don't worry, I did have a pie later for lunch!
Clive looking very happy. Actually he was disappointed because his sausage wouldn't hold its pose with the two eggs! Needs some of them blue pills I suspect!
We had a great ride east of SH2 from Waipawa, Elsthorpe, Kahuranaki Road to Havelock North, with the obligatory ride up Te Mata Peak to enjoy the view of Hawkes Bay.
Lunch stop at Taradale before hitting the Gentle Annie. (Napier-Taihape Road)
An old suspension bridge at a picnic spot on the central plateau side of the Kawekas.
Grunta and Karol left us near Taihape to head north, home. They were a great couple and we hope they will ride with us again!
Stopped for ice creams at Mangaweka International Airport. Paul and Cec left us here to head west for Wanganui and Taranaki.
Our dwindling number rode back to Manawatu via the Ruahine Road scenic route, from Mangaweka to Feilding via Rangiwahia. We stopped for photos for Gaylene, as this country village is where she grew up as a child.
Rolled in home just after 4:00pm. Had a BBQ dinner out on the deck, with a welcome home by Stella the dog, and the grandkids! Clive joined us for dinner.
Day 5: Dawned with cool light rain, but clearing. Spider headed home after breakfast this morning. Trevor will be away shortly to get his early afternoon ferry to the South Island.
No comments:
Post a Comment