East Cape

This has been a long time coming but at last the journey has started.

Those of you who know me will recollect that Brian and I rented BMW 1150R's last Easter and 'rode' to Wanaka from Christchurch. The trip made us both realise how much we enjoyed the two wheel stuff and how horribly rusty we have become, perhaps not too surpising after 40 years out of the saddle?

Yesterday (21 Feb) was the 'big day' with me taking delivery of a brand new BMW F650GS in glorious red. Luckily I'd also decided to buy one of the Garmin motorcycle GPS's, the Zumo 550 and a N-Com bluetooth adapter kit for the Nolan helmet. 

Add a comment

Read more: Getting Started

Off to an excellent start today, a first rate breakfast with Mike (a local lover of mororcycles) and a photo (to come) of the bike and I taken by another Whakatanien. You're never alone with a bike!

Doreen, the Zumo voice, (not to be confused with Darleen, who speaks something called Australian English) and I had worked out a route to take in the East Cape lighthouse and end up in Gisbourne.  Doreen reckoned it would be just about 5 hours motoring and a wisp over 400Km. Sounded right to me and a 10:30 set off from the cafe should have been on the money. I even rang a motel in Gisborne to make a booking after the previous nights problems. Add a comment

Read more: What's an adventure without problems?

A much quieter day. Us born again bikers (bambis) are not to be discouraged by a few adversities. The rain in the night was torrential, the bike was outside but just had to cope.

The Capt Cook Lodge in Gisborne is functional and quiet and the staff have much to commend them, the young chap cleaning the neighbours room gave me their paper. Breakfast back on the pier was whitebait fritters but my word the service was slow. Finally away about 11:00 and headed south. Add a comment

Read more: Out on the Peninsula

A very pleasant night catching up with friends and their family. A modestly early start followed by a nice breakfast in the Napier mall, always a treat, I just love that art deco look. Spoke to Brian whio said he'd come down to join me at Opotiki for the night

Reversed the previous day going back to Wairoa intending to take the Frasertown route (down the Gentle Annie) followed by the gorge from Gisborne. By Wairoa at 12:30 numb bum had set in so stopped at the same cafe for another excellent coffee (next to the Gaiety Theatre).

 

Add a comment

Read more: Disaster Strikes

We'd have to revise the opinion of the Eastland Pacific motel; make sue you get a room away from the main road. Large trucks come grinding around the corner of State Highway 2 starting at a very early hour! With the the windows open, necessary in the summer, you're guaranteed an early start, not always a bad thing.

Fortunately we had an uneventful trip home, but once past Whakatane the road is mostly straight, busy and uninteresting. The Karangahake Gorge between Waihi and Paeroa is a highlight but soon over. We had some showers around Tauranga but there was not much wet road.

Add a comment