Gravel Ride in the Hawkes Bay – 12/08/07

[Anonymous]

#2157

Hi allSorry for the late notice, but I am thinking of going for a quick ride tomorrow.Meet at BP Greenmeadows at 10.00amThe trip will be South towards the Ranges (SH50) through Gwavas and Makaroro and North Block Road (depending on how far we can go up North Block Road will depend on how high the rivers are)It will be an easy trip, but with lots of gravelIf you wish to join me then post here or I will see you tomorrow am  🙂If the weather is bad check here before you leave  🙂Cheers Scott

[aegis4805]

#8237

I see over on Kiwi Biker that you had a good ride Scott – good to see you using the F650GS in the rough  🙂

[Anonymous]

#8238

Thanks Aslan, here is the post  😀Well I headed off at 10am, with me, myself and II was heading for the ranges to investigate some new gravel roads that I had not yet traversed over.As I left I travelled down SH50, and through the small rural settlement of Maraekakaho (the settlement that was devastated in the recent floods here in Hawkes Bay), they seem to have the tidy up well underwayAs I got closer to the ranges the rain showers come and went and it would be a while before more persistant rain would come.[img]http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=68208&stc=1&thumb=1&d=1186897905[/img]The roads were slippery underfoot, and at times it felt as though the front wheel was going to slide out underneath me , so more power was needed on those sections of road where the clay base had started to come through.Otherwise the small section of gravel in Gwavas was fast and open[img]http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=68209&stc=1&thumb=1&d=1186897905[/img]Then I joined back onto SH50 for a few kms, before turning left at Tikokino and heading over the small section of gravel road, known as Holden Road, I hate the name but the road was good, it was wet but very fast[img]http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=68210&stc=1&thumb=1&d=1186897905[/img]Then it was into North Block Road, where the real road startsIt is fast and smooth to start with and as it gets higher it gets narrower, there is a lot of real sharp rocks in patches where they have recently repaired washouts, otherwise it is good.[img]http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=68211&stc=1&thumb=1&d=1186897905[/img][img]http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=68212&stc=1&thumb=1&d=1186898051[/img][img]http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=68213&stc=1&thumb=1&d=1186898051[/img]With all the recent rain, I had to exercise caution on the steep section of the track, as I was solo and didn’t really feel like picking the BMW upThen I came to the river, I had to pick my way along a track that really wasn’t there, here I found out first hand that a tankbag is a PAIN IN THE ARSE! when trying to stand on the pegs. ( I need bigger foot pegs[img]http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=68216&stc=1&thumb=1&d=1186898863[/img]I got stuck in the soft sand once or twice, and nearly threw it over on its side a few times, but luck was on my side for a change and managed to get along it unscathedI made along the river bed but I didn’t want to cross the rising river. That can wait until summer[img]http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=68217&stc=1&thumb=1&d=1186898863[/img][img]http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=68218&stc=1&thumb=1&d=1186898863[/img]Then I headed back to SH50, through some good tarseal roads, until I found lookout road, now this road is great. You ride along a ridge with views over Central Hawkes Bay and towards Dannevirke, I wouldn’t want to be here when it’s really windy though, there was enough debris to avoid as it was!![img]http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=68219&stc=1&thumb=1&d=1186898863[/img][img]http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=68220&stc=1&thumb=1&d=1186898950[/img]Then it was a short ride through Onga Onga (if you have never been to Onga Onga then I suggest you do, it is like you have stepped back in time) and onto Waipawa, just as the heavens opened!![img]http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=68221&stc=1&thumb=1&d=1186898950[/img]I decided that was enough riding in the rain and took the main road homeIt was a good day

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