Here’s the plan, let's keep it simple. What else would you do with 4 days off  😀Travel up to Paengaroa on Friday to meet up with John Glasswell and stay at my Mum’s place, meet 7 other guys we don’t know yet at Opotiki for breakfast on Saturday, take a trip over the Motu, stay the night at a farm I’ve never heard of, traverse the Wakeremoana Road and Whirinaki Forest to Taupo on Sunday, stay the night at a flat we’ve been given access to, and travel back to Wellington Monday. Sounds reasonable to me  😎I set off on Friday morning in pretty dismal weather, reminiscent of the aborted Whangamomona trip a few weeks ago. But, as I crested the Paekakariki Hill, things were on the up and blue skies stretched up the coast. I planned on taking Turakina Valley Road from Marton up to Tangiwhai and, as it happens, was pretty much forced into this route anyway. A pretty police officer stationed on SH1 just out of Bulls was there to inform motorists that travel plans needed adjusting if they intended getting to Waiouru. This due to a fatality that morning just North of Taihape, closing the road for about 4 hours apparently. She let me trough the road bloke on the basis I was turning off and heading for the gravel. Was lovely ripping up SHI and off at Marton with absolutely no competition for road space and I shortly found myself at the Turakina Valley road junction.The weather ahead looked on the up ………… ………. and the road was in pretty good shapeAn uneventful journey on some great gravel (tempered only by those cars being diverted from Waiouru to the last bit of Turakina Valley Road to Colliers Junction, the turn off to Taihape) culminated at Tangiwhai where a right turn took me back onto the seal and to a cold and  miserable stint on the Desert Road. I stopped in Turangi for gas and the sight behind me was this………The rest of the trip was just plain damp, with incredibly heavy rain coming into Rotorua. At least the last half hour to Paengaroa was clear enough to dry my gear out a bit. John arrived at Mum’s about an hour or so after I got there.There was some very heavy rain overnight but Saturday morning dawned reasonably clear. After a stop for gas we had a quick run up to Opotiki to meet the others. An eclectic turnout to say the least with a variety of machines and from various locations.Me (HP2 from Wellington)John (G650X Challenge from Auckland)Colin (KTM640 from Rotoiti)Brian (XT600 from Whakatane)Brent (Triumph Scrambler from Hamilton)Andrew (1150GS from Hamilton)Mike (KTM990 Adventurer from New Plymouth)Mark (XTX660 from Raumati)Scott (F650GS from Napier)And so it started, the mighty Motu. This route was well used by Maori Chief Te Kooti during the19th Century as the only direct route between Poverty Bay and Opotiki. Early in 1872 the pursuit of Te Kooti led to the upper reaches of the Motu River; however, Te Kooti escaped into the fastnesses of the Urewera Country. Motu means “isolated” or “severed”. The Motu Road is a winding metal road that sees little traffic, apart from the odd 4-wheel drive and stock truck, but is rich in history. This road is one of the best rides through native bush in the country, offering panoramic views beyond the road.The X Challenge handled it pretty wellBrent and Scott doing the tail end Charlie thing, thanks guys.That Scrambler is a nice looking (and great sounding) bikeJohn shows some form in the creek crossingClint shows his KTM is no slug eitherWe stopped briefly in the seething metropolis known as Motu and decided we’re making pretty good time so a look down at the falls was in order. The Motu River, which rises in the south-western side of the Raukumara Range, drains the southwestern part of the Raukumara Peninsula and flows into the Bay of Plenty roughly 40kms north-east of Opotiki. The whole of the country through which the Motu flows is mountainous, rising as high as Arowhana (4,724 ft). Because the whole of the course of the river is confined within a continuous gorge, there was the possibility that a series of four dam sites might be developed to provide hydro-electric power. Some 5kms from Motu the river plunges over the Motu Falls. Fortunately in 1965 the Power Planning Committee recommended the abandonment of hydro-electric plans for the river, effectively preserving this rugged countryside for us.Just downstream from the falls is a swing bridge that leads you across to a 5km walking track should you have the time.Time for us to move on though, we have a date at the Matawai Pub for a beer and a pie. The Matawai, at the junction of SH2 and the Motu Road, houses a varied collection of memorabilia of pioneer times. Matawai was a sawmilling settlement that gradually became a farming centre as the bush was felled.After fuel for both body and bikes, we head back towards Opotiki on SH2 (the Gorge Road) for a wee way then turned left heading inland for the last part of the day’s outing. Our destination is Journeys End Station at the end of Koranga valley road. Gorgeous gravel and views of vast proportion awaited.Beyond the hills we’re looking at is the Station.Journeys End belongs to Rob and Ann Sherman. It’s 4582ha working sheep, cattle and deer farm. The farm is steep to rolling countryside, with a 17km boundary that backs onto bushline and into the Urewera National Park.Our accommodation was the shearer’s quarters, and most salubrious it was too. Ann cooked up a brilliant dinner, which we shared with the family.There was even undercover parking for the bikes.Sunday was time to head off early, a long day in the saddle today. Our first stint was to get from Journey’s End to Wairoa. A fair chunk of gravel to.Scott doing it well on the 650 GSColin showing some of that KTM foot actionOur first stop for a breather is Rere Falls on the Wharekopae River. Just down the road is the Rere Rockslide, a natural 60m waterslide I remember from my youth. If you get the time one day, take boogie- board or inflatable mattress.  Thrilling ride - but take care!Onwards to Wairoa, now the boring bit – 70kms of seal just to get to lunch. At least it’s not chucking it down and lunch wasn’t too bad. Then it’s off around Lake Waikeremoana. I just can’t get enough of this place. Waikeremoana centers vast forests - the land of the Tuhoe - children of the mist and is steeped in Maori legends and mystery.  It is situated high up in the unspoilt forest of Urewera National Park.  By and large the road is still really narrow, winding, and unsealed. Beautiful scenery …………..Andrew and that big GS just make it look so easy ………And on it went, until we stopped for a re-group just past Ruatahuna at Totarapapa Falls.The locals obviously don’t have much time for signposts, judging by the number of bullet holesAt Minginui, two of the group, Brent and Brian headed off home via Murapara. That left seven to tackle the trails though the Whirinaki Forest to the Napier-Taupo Road and a well-earned beer at the Rangitaikei Tavern. To me this was the best bit of the day, great mix of surfaces and nothing that bothered the HP2 at all. Everyone else had heaps of fun as well.The end of the trail.We got into Taupo just on dark and John and I left all the others to their various destinations.John and I had breakfast in Taupo on Monday morning before he left for Auckland. I had arranged to meet Mark at Turangi for the trip back down to Wellington. I opted to do Turakina Valley again in reverse as Mark had not been that way before. My camera battery ran out with the last picture taken at the falls just out from Pukeroa, where the Mangamahoe stream joins the Turakina river.A stop for a bite to eat at The Church Café in Sanson, I can recommend this if your passing, and gas in Levin meant I arrived back home around 4:00 pm Monday. Pretty much all gone to plan then. The HP2 never missed a beat and I’m well happy about the whole trip. Best was the great company from everyone there and some seriously good riding. I’m up for the next one – what about you?CheersGarry