Ride Log 05/01/2021 Kerikeri - Mangamuka - Rawene - Kaikohe and back

• Distance: 423 km
• Roads: Sealed (some gravel on my ride to the meeting point)
• Weather: Sunny, hot
• Buddies: Camilla, Dave Willis, Dave, Steve, Marcel Duchale
• Comments: First ride with this group, bike still has electrical issues but doesn't affect riding (much), lost my front light protector 😒

I left at around 8:15 am from home to meet the group at the Waipapa BP Station. There was some fog at some places which cleared up as soon as the sun rose higher. Peria Road which is in the process of being tar sealed is still in its worse condition. Which proves that something has to get worse first in order to get better.  Very deep gravel at some places and big corrugation at the uphill parts. It is a pleasure to hit the new sealed section. Not that I mind a good  gravel road but only if it is my chocie to ride it. This one I have to ride. 

I had a nice ride to Waipapa. Little traffic that early in the morning, some sun strike but not too bad. I arrived in time at the meeting point. I met Camilla (Susuzki Bandit), Dave (BMW GS), Dave Willis (BMW 1150 GS), Steve who was my Passmasters instructor for the ride forever silver course (Triumph Tiger) and Marcel Duchale who I know from the market (Suzuki VStrom). The initial plan was to ride the short distance to the Blue River Orchard for some coffee and Blueberry treats. But this was abandoned since we were early and the place doesn't open until 10 am. After a brief discussion in frot of the sevice station we decided on the route. Waipapa to Okaihau, onto SH1 heading north, crossing the Mangamuka Gorge and Range, Kaitaia, Ahipara, Herekino, Broadwood, Kohukohu, Ferry to Rawene, Kaikohe, Waimate North. 

After the first couple of kilometers I realized what a great pleasure it is to ride with a group of people who are experienced and who have the same riding style as you have. The speed was cruisy, you didn't have to worry about anyone doing something stupid and could just enjoy the ride. Perfect. 

Our first stop was at the Mangamuka Village Store for some ice cream and a break. Then we headed towards the Mangamukas. SH1 was closed after a massive storm and huge slips which damaged the road quite badly at 11 places. To get updates on work progress visit the NZTA Web site. Most of thee slips are repaired and the road was restored. At some places it had to be moved further into the hill. But the biggest slip at the Northern end of the road is still not fixed. The hillside dropped about 300 meters down and half of the road was hanging in the air. The road is open temporarily until the 10th of January 2021 for light traffic using a one lane traffic light setup. 

The ride over the range was perfect. We had no cars in front of us and could enjoy the tight corners and the scenery without any challenges caused by those Big White Sleeping Boxes on Wheels. We regrouped at the old Pamapuria Store and decided to have a lunch break in Ahipara. 

Marcel and I (Photo courtesy of Camilla)

We stopped at the North Drift Cafe  which was extremely busy. Which is not surprising at this time of the year. Everybody enjoyed a more or less light lunch. Dave almost had to eat two massive Angus Burgers but to his disappointment the second burger was for someone else. 

Next section of the ride was from Ahipara via Herekino, Broadwood to Kohukohu. I took the lead with Dave Willis following me on his 1150 GS. The others fell back a bit. The road is not the best quality with a lot of drops in the tarmac. But as Dave said "We are adventure riders" so we didn't mind. And the scenery made up for it many times over. A short regroup in Kohukoho. I had to press people on and there was no time for a coffee because the Hokianga ferry left in 15 minutes. The ferry was extremely busy. They couldn't even fit all cars onto it. But the good people who run those ferries are always good to bikers. We jumped the queue and could squeeze onto the boat. Otherwise it would have been an hours wait for the next one.  

On the ferry I chatted with a couple from Dunedin. I saw them passing by on their 1200 GS when we had lunch in Ahipara. The did a whole New Zealand tour and just came down from Cape Reinga. They loved the Far North and were looking forward to their ride through Waipoua Forst to Dargaville, their next stop.  

(Photos courtesy of Camilla)

We disembarked in Rawene and parked the bikes on the front deck of the Boatshed for another coffee
break. Most went for the iced coffees they do. I had a Coconut and Banana cake which was excellent. I was very impressed by the service and the quality of the food as well as the presentation. 

The ride to Kaikohe was eventless - well almost. Our "coffee cruise" got rudely interrupted by a hoon on his bike which featured a rear tire as wide as a Formula1 race car slick. His pipes were so loud I guess he wanted to save as many lives as possible. (Loud pipes save lives - yeah right). 

I don't k now what it is but some roads just don't "speak to me". The Rawene - Kaikohe road is one of them. We had a brief stop to say good bye to Camilla who is from Whangarei and headed home via Twin Bridges (one of my favorite roads up here). Steve kindly invited us to his place for a cuppa. We enjoyed Steve's and his wife's hospitality, hot and cold drinks were much appreciated. But I felt the pressure of two dogs being locked in the house sine 8 am so I headed back home soon. 

After a nice ride home, a petrol stop at Kapiro,  mastering that dreaded gravel road again I arrived home safe, tired and happy. A perfect riding day.

Please note, the end of the video is quite abrupt because of a flat camera battery