Saturday morning I arrived at the Plimmerton Weigh Station meeting point on 8.00am. Alan arrived 10 minutes later, we hooked up the bluetooth headsets and headed up SH1. The first stop was in Sanson for a much needed coffee and some food. A fuel stopped followed in Waverley at 11.10 where 11.45L at 230kms was put in the tank. We planned a run around the coastal road with a stop at Opunake for lunch.
Opunake had nothing to offer in the way of decent food; we had a look at the beach and carried on. The next stop was Oaonui next to the helicopter pad; took some pics and I reminisced on the 50+ trips I had done from there to Maui A. Next was a trip down Cape Road to view the lighthouse and sea and take a few pics. By now I was very hungry and was certain we would be able to find somewhere to eat in Oakura.
It was 2.40pm before we ordered food at the Oakura Village Cafe. Some local HD riders were at the pub next to the cafe. There were some rough bikes and equally rough riders - nice sound to one of the bikes. While having lunch I contacted John (Pussy on KB) and we planned to catch up later and have a ride somewhere. The next stop was to book into the Flamingo Motel, call John and arrange to meet him at the airport to have a look at his plane.
Following some minor maintenance to the aircraft John led the way to Waitara for fuel and a ride. The bike took 9.6L at 4291kms being 270kms. John led the way north for a few kms and then right up Otaraoa Road (thru a tunnel) with a stop somewhere in Tarata Conservation area. A few photos and chat about bikes the road and we headed to Inglewood. John left us at the Egmont Road intersection for his home and Alan and I headed to the motel.
It was dark by the time we got to New Plymouth. Half and hour was spent resting in an indoor heated swimming pool and then we went out for a much needed steak. John and Annie (Gasset Girl KB) joined us at dinner. We can recommend the Steak Out restaurant.
Sunday morning was a sleep in to 8.00am. We then headed to have breakfast at the Bach cafe on the breakwater arriving at 9.00am to find they don't open until 9.30am. To fill in 30mins we took a ride around the Paritutu park and then up to Vogeltown to view the house I lived in 22 years ago. When we arrived there the owner was trimming the edges of the lawn and offered to show us around the section. It was just after 9.30am when we got back to the cafe. A cooked breakfast later and we were on the road and heading to Stratford.
At a stop between Inglewood and Stratford photos of a HP car and the mountain were taken. The weather was kind so we rode up to the ski field car park. From there it was to the museum at Tawhiti. This is a private museum and well worth the $10 entrance fee. Coffee and food in the on site cafe followed. We carried on the Ohangai road and Meremere road to SH3.
A fuel stop was required at Patea at 2.24pm. The bike having done 170kms took 14Litres to fill. Other than following a very quick RX Mazda (RX2ENV) for a while it was an uneventful trip home.
I got home at 5.45pm. A final odo reading of 4721kms and total trip of 930kms. This was an enjoyable trip and a comfortable distance to travel over two days.
