our ever trustworthy weathermen Saturday dawned with clear skies and sunshine.
Hartles arrived from Auckland just as I had brewed the coffee and we all then enjoyed a hearty breakfast of sausages bacon and eggs cooked by Tim. He and Beate had ridden down to Katikati from Whangarei on Friday.
First stop was in Matata to try and convince Hutch to join us but his bike was staying firmly put in the shed. Too cold to be on a bike he said and at 72 I guess he is allowed to make those decisions. We did manage to get him to boil the kettle though. Tim and Beate continued onto Whakatane Hospital to pay a quick visit to our friend Pauline who has been in the wars lately. Thanks to texting we met up with them again as they exited the Hospital carpark and we then carried on up and over the hill to Ohope where we discovered one of the Vincent contingent broken down. We stopped to see if we could be of assistance but as none of us had a spare coil we left them to it.
Hartles took the opportunity to do some more of his crossword.
We had an enjoyable ride down to Opotiki where we stopped for lunch. As we were preparing to head off 2 Vincents appeared. A passerby had stopped and then gone home and collected his trailer and taken Chris and his bike back to Repco in Whakatane where he was able to get 2 coils (from a Morris Marina)and do a makeshift repair and get underway again. Great stuff. They had lunch and then followed the coast to our destination in Te Kaha.
Tim, Beate, Hartles, Marty and I headed inland to Matawai as we wanted to ride the Motu Road. The road through the Waioeka Gorge was a bit wet in places as the rain was one step ahead of us. we caught up with it at Matawai where we stopped for gas. I was very surprised that it was 190km from Te Puke to Matawai. The EftPos self payment machine didn't work so we had to wait for the lady in the cafe to finish serving her 3 customers ( no make that 4 - Hartles bought a pie) before we could get gas. As she filled each bike she told us the cost and we went inside to pay while she began filling the next one. About half an hour later we were refueled and ready to leave.
The Motu Road is a 50km single lane gravel road that heads back down from Matawai to State Highway through some beautiful countryside and native bush. Thankfully we left the rain
behind not far from Matawai.
There wasn't much gravel on the road in places, more like hard packed dirt - or slippery clay as Beate was to find out.
I wanted to take my time and stop and take photos so Tim and Beate pressed on ahead as Beate has trouble seeing in the dark and we were running behind schedule. The views were stunning, the mist, the drizzle and the sunlight trying to sneak through making them even more so.
About half way through we rounded a corner to find Beate waving madly and her bike in a very horizontal position in the middle of the road. she said she had been sun struck and hit a particularly nasty bit of mud and that was that. Only damage was pride and her highly polished boots and new riding pants were now very muddy. Marty and Hartles lifted the bike up, checked it out, got it going and we were off again.
We met Tim about 2km's down the road coming back to look for Beate. He was relieved to find she was ok. They continued on while we tikkered along stopping to admire the scenery and take more photos.
What a great road. Although it is now officially off my bucket list I think I may have to do it again one day.
The last 45 odd km up the coast on State Highway 2 were a breeze. The sun was setting and the colours reflecting onto the banks of the road were stunning. We stopped at a lookout and admired the view.
Everyone had settled in at the backpackers when we arrived. Beer and wine was flowing. we found our beds, changed out of our riding gear, relaxed with a cool bevy on the deck and watched the last of the sunset.
We had a scrumptious dinner cooked for us by our host Paul. Crayfish, fresh battered fish and mussels,chips,salads and bread. There was deathly silence as dinner was eaten.
After much will we / won't we it was finally decided that we would and 9 of us stumbled down to the spa pool which is right at the water's edge and soaked our weary bones. Still can't believe that we forgot to take our bubbly or that Maree (who didn't want to soak) never thought to bring it down to us!!
(This pic was taken on an earlier visit but you just need to see what a beautiful spot it is.)
Once we'd turned into wrinkled prunes we headed back up the hill
and settled in to watch the third tri nation's rugby test which was between Australia and South Africa. Australia won.
Paul cooked up a storm for breakfast and
so with full bellies we said our farewells and headed home.
It was a great weekend, spent with wonderful friends, awesome riding and best of all superb weather. I'm glad the weather man got it wrong again.
