Taranaki Adventure rides

So what was the result of the T7 vs 990 shootout?

Aside from the usual constant of the bike with Phil on it being faster

The KTM will certainly win in a drag race.
Can’t beat cubic inches !

One was orange, enough said !!

(Seriously any bike Phil is on will go very well and I did a lot of riding in his exhaust fumes yesterday )

Power to weight might be interesting?

I’ve got less power and I’ve put on weight

Im on the brink of sorting out some new ( fat boy ) pants.
Went for a pootle and hello no chance of securing them in the normal manner, at all.

A brilliant Taranaki day so Phil, Al and I blew out more cobwebs with a ride to the end of Tangahoe Valley Road (which at the end runs alongside Lake Rotorangi). The tunnel is cool, it had a collapse a few years ago and they cut a new road nearby, but after a number of slips on the cutting they reopened the tunnel. In the middle of the tunnel there’s a big void above you where the roof had fallen in.

A great way to start the long weekend. The three of us (Phil, Al and myself) were joined by Mo on his 1190. We made our way to Waverley using a mix of state highway and back roads where bikes and riders were refuelled. Then to Waitotara and up the Waitotara Valley Road to Taumatatahi Road and we followed that to the road end.

I have heard that this is the longest no exit road in the North Island with a distance of 55km from the state highway to the road end (so no exit being no other way out except the way we went in). Does anyone know of a longer no exit road in the North Island?

With such a mint day, and roads north of here supposedly off limits, it was another 500km to get to know south Taranaki/Whanganui a bit better. Never been a big fan of 'no exit' roads, I like to be going somewhere. But since NZ is full of 'em, I may as well get busy checking a few out.

End of Taumatatahi Road, which is also the start of Trains Track which follows the river up to a hut.



Back out to Waiinu Beach for a breather in the nice cool sea breeze. If you squint you can see fishermen with their eskies and rods hard at it.

A great day out today with Phreaky Phil and his wonderful T7. North from New Plymouth, over Mount Messenger and turned right at Ahititi and followed the wonderful gravel road to Ohura (I say wonderful, but we had all conditions of gravel which made it exciting at times especially for me!)

Morning tea at Ohura and then I continued to follow Phil on some awesome roads to Taumarunui for lunch. Then the forgotten world highway back home with afternoon tea at Whangamona.

Heads up, Tangarakau Gorge is still unsealed, but the roading gangs are there. If you haven’t done it and want to do it unsealed do it soon (actually even when it’s sealed it’ll be an awesome ride)

All up around 360 kms

I saw you head out as you both were going past the airport intersection, wondering at the time if you'd post later.

Did you notice my brand-new helmet and gloves? Ha ha

You were going too fast. Lotta bikes out today, which is usually the way after a week of shit weather.

Has anyone explored the Old Whangamomona Rd recently? I have some time to ride on Wednesday or Thursday (pending weather conditions) and want to have a go at riding through, if it is still possible...?

I would have thought that would be a bit of a slop bucket given all the rain recently?

Take lots of photo's if you go

That's kind of what I was worried about, But if I do I will...

I spoke to a guy I know a few weeks back who has a new Suzi Jimney with aggressive tyres. He had just done a trip through with the 4WD club. He had to be winched through 6 times with the Jimney getting bellied. So ……………..

hmm maybe I just need to go and have a little look see. ...

What can possibly go wrong?

Not recently. Bunch of us went through last July on 4WD farm bikes. Sloppy and rutted all to shit, and there was towing involved.