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An overcast morning with a bit of drizzle greeted the Wellington mob for their 8:30 gathering at Caltex Rimutaka on Saturday morning. The fact that it’s usually clear over the “hillâ€? and the prospect of a weekend away at the Pukeora Estate, just a few kilometres South of Waipukurau, proved to be enough inspiration to get a sizeable group on its way.In 1918 the hill site on which Pukeora sits, with its abundant fresh air and altitude of 250m, was chosen to build a sanatorium to care for soldiers returning from World War One with respiratory illnesses particularly mustard gas injuries. Soon afterwards the sanatorium turned its attention to the treatment of tuberculosis for the general public. The complex was redeveloped as a home for the disabled and physically handicapped from 1958. The complex was home for up to 80 long-term residents, some for as many as 20 years or more. In later years as there was a decline in the number of disabled residents, the centre moved more to caring for head injury patients. In 1998 after the Regional Health Authority had decided that people with disabilities should be better cared for in the community, the home was closed and placed on the market for sale.Max and Kate bought it in April 2000 - lock, stock and barrel - and have slowly developed the land as a vineyard, and converted buildings to the winery and conventions venue, along with accommodation facilities. The ‘roadies’ planned a trip over to Masterton to meet a couple of bods from the Rangitikei then motor up the scenic road, known as Route 52, to the coastal town of Porangahau for lunch before heading into Waipukurau for the rest of the afternoon.A more hardy four of us - Peter (Dakar), Stephen (1150GS0 and Ken and me (on our respective HP2s) - figured if we were going all that way it would be rude not to find as much gravel as possible in getting there, so as the ‘roadies’ left we planned our assault.All fired up, we were gone, heading for Martinborough on what gas we had, figuring we’d fill up there for the run out to Hinakura and onwards. Very soon a sight you don’t see very often, but inspiring just the same, appeared in the distance. Snaking up the Rimutaka Hill was a line of gleaming BMWs, riders and pillions resplendent in the colourful (and often matching) gear, taking it easy due to the wet and somewhat shiny state of the road – with a handful of the big ‘trallies’ just sliding on by 😀 and sure enough as we crested the hill it came out sunny and warm and stayed that way for the rest of the trip.Heading East from Martinborough, the road gets narrower and less populated. Stephen set a good pace on the big fella and we were not long getting to Hinakura. We were not alone, as the Wairarapa sheep trials were on that morning and much activity at the hall setting up and the like.
Friendly bunch though, offering us coffee and the usual savouries typical of such country gatherings. A polite decline however, as we were just getting warmed up and had much gravel still to explore.Onwards, and we fair rocketed through Ngakonui Station on up to Summerhill. A spectacular climb and easy run now that the road had been well swept by the locals.
After Summerhill, it’s downhill all the way to the end of Admirals Road. Sadly, one can’t get across to the Seaview Forest without landowner permission (which we didn’t have) so it was a bit more seal further down into Gladstone, along a bit and back up to Te Wharau to enter the forest. We regrouped on the corner to take a breather and discuss the route so far - all good apparently 😀
Stunning ride through Seaview Forest and the run out through Homebush to Riversdale Beach takes you along wide, long and pretty straight sections of gravel allowing one to give free reign to the horsepower. I can tell you on the HP2 this is a very, very exciting thing and corners come up very quickly 😀 😀 :-D. Ken and I had a bit of a breather at the end just waiting for the other two to catch up. By now it was lunch (apparently we were supposed to catch the rest of the mob at Porangahau for lunch but that was never going to happen, we’re not even half way there yet).Unfortunately, the gas pumps at Riversdale were empty. Ken was anxious, the reserve light had come on his HP2 and he figured he had about 70 kilometres left. Our choice was out to Castlepoint where we might get gas or do the run to Alfredton where the shearing gang headquartered there would definitely have some. Alfredton is only about 19km from Ekatahuna (which has a gas station) so we pointed things that way - mainly because it was on the way.The road from Tinui to Alfredton is one of those little gems. Beautifully twisty, totally uninhabited and the scenery is stunning. Just our luck then the grader was at work, flipping deep gravel in places and took some pretty solid concentration for the best part of an hour to get to Alfredton. 
Plays havoc on the fuel consumption as well. My reserve was on about half way through and Ken was running on empty (according to his computer) the last couple of kilometres. And - the shearing gang was out at work, no gas.While Ken and Peter rested up, Stephen and I elected to fire into Ekatahuna (I had 23 kms distance to empty so figured I fill up) and get Ken 5L to get him to Pongoroa. We were back in 40 minutes, filled him up and on we went. Got to Pongaroa and the girls at the dairy were kind enough to ring the lady who runs the petrol station to come down and open up – after she finished mowing her lawns of course. We took that as an opportunity for coffee and a chat with the locals.By now it’s getting a tad later than we expected to be. Sun was going down and it was getting hard to see in the dust. We elected to run up to the Akitio turn-off and take the short gravel stint along Esdaile Road to meet up with Route 52 just shy of Wimbledon. Again, a magic piece of New Zealand, filled with sheep not too keen on getting out of the way.We got to Porangahau a little late for lunch, about 4:30 it think it was. We cut out the last 44 kilometres to Waipukurau to in pretty smart time catching up with the rest of the gang for a well earned beer or two before dinner and the fancy dress bit (but, along with the trip home, that’s another story). Here’s the view when we got there.
I must say a special thanks to Stephen, Peter and Ken – better riding buddies on a jaunt like this you couldn’t wish for, a great day for sure 😎 😎 😎 😎A big thanks also to Kate, a great evening and a great place to stay. Be a good spot for an Annual Rally one year I reckon.Post count: 2134Post count: 305Post count: 2134Post count: 2134Post count: 2134Great pics and excellent report Garry. Specially liked your piece about the history of the former sanitroium.Thanks for your company - it was good to have Ken and Peter along as well. Till the next one - check out Zukin's Makiro Track challenge in a couple of weeks would be good to see you there - i'll be using my little DR on that ride. Cheers Stephen O
Great pics and excellent report Garry. Specially liked your piece about the history of the former sanitroium.Thanks for your company - it was good to have Ken and Peter along as well. Till the next one - check out Zukin's Makiro Track challenge in a couple of weeks would be good to see you there - i'll be using my little DR on that ride. Cheers Stephen OÂ
Sounds like a plan 😀
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