Quick tour of the north of NZ

Laava

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So, we set off for a quick fang friday morning at sparrows, 6 of us, heading a little south from Whangarei and then west and north.
First thing that happened was one of our guys saying that he believes it will be the last tour we do together as he has been speaking to jesus etc🙄( listening to bullshit at Destiny church morelike) and covid bla bla lockdown bla bla at which point our honorable and only(this trip) mormon gave him a growling and said he wasn't allowed to talk politics or covid.(He already knows not to talk about whatever god(s) he is currently worshipping!)
So, off we set and had a fantastic trip, fuck all traffic on the roads, (thanks lockdown!) and the sun was mostly out with the occaisional shower, welcome, to cool us down! Rode over the Mangamuka range which is THE best public road I have ever ridden on bar none! Stayed the night at Mangonui where we went to the kebab wagon for tea. While we were there these two young guys in a lowered and well used looking holden stationwagon asked if we wanted to race them. The driver who had "EAST." tattooed across his right cheek in 10cm high bright red asked "Where you fullas going? Wanna race? Nah! Yeah, wanna race? Nahhhhh....." He definitely wanted a race! They were just loading their car with some beers and no doubt had just been loading their brains with meth. Looked like their night was going to end badly to me but off they went, smoking up their tyres up the road. They had already followed us up one road earlier and tried to race our mate on a Transalp 650 but he wisely pulled over.
Then this morning we set off for the Cape, stopping at Awanui for breakfast and gas. The road was practically deserted as there are no tourists at the moment. Fucking magic! Rode to the Cape in one go and then rode mateys CB1300 back to Te Kao for an ice cream. I ordinarily would ride up 90mile beach, by choice and given the correct tide, but no-one else was keen so we stuck to the road.
Headed back down the east coast and stopped at our favourite cafe in Opua. You know, the one with the "stranded by covid in NZ" hot american waitress? She told me she has nearly been here long enough to apply for residency which will be in march. Her and her man sailed here on their yacht. She wants to stay here now and use it as their base for sailing their yacht around the pacific. Papua New Guinea, New Caledonia, Fiji, Tonga etc etc. I have a vivid mental image of her cute little butt. I will try and download it for you!
We said our goodbyes and our mate reiterated his opinion that this was our last trip together until he was reminded that we have a big trip booked for feb, which he is part of, and if he does not come, then that is his choice, we are all still going and have everything booked. I will be disappointed if he does not come as he is a decent bloke, can be very fun and he can ride too!
This all brought about on account of our new covid passport scheme, which came into effect this weekend. It is no big deal, you can have it on your phone as a photo or an app and/or print it out for your wallet. Is just a personal QR code.
Then the final leg home, only about an hour, uneventful and boring SH1.
I will try to download a video I made with a gopro of the trip up the beach to Cape Reinga on a previous V Strom...
 
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Taipa estuary
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Cape Reinga carpark
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The view from Cape Reinga westward towards Austraya
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The stunningly beautiful Hokianga harbour
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Cable bay, in Doubtless Bay.
Cable bay is where the transcontinental cable used to come ashore in NZ.
Doubtless Bay was named that by Capt Cook as he sailed past, didn't enter, and said, "doubtless, a bay". Apparently...
 
Sounds awesome. I've always thought NZ would be an excellent bike tour location.
Did it in a car about 15 years back.... loved it.
 
Sorry about the last track on my video! I downloaded from my turntable and it is a bit crackly. Is a Lennon McCartney song done better than they did it!
 
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