At present backin Dinsdale to sort out a few problems.To be continued

Wednsday

WEDNESDAY 25

ANZAC DAY

Another nice night apart from the trains rushing past now and then,only a short drive today. Drove to Levin and stopped of for a ride up Arapaepae lookout point. A lot of other people walking running riding up it as well. Bloody steep hill and a bumpy ride down. Back into Levin to dump waste then along to Paraawau Bridge parking spot. Still nice weather but they say there should be some rain today ( Thursday ) will head down the coast road to Otaki or Waikanae Beach

Tuesday 24

TUESDAY 24

Left Vinegar Hill about 8 to drive till I found a spot with phone access and a view . Stopped at Stormy point just past Rewa on SH 54 made some calls and sent of blog update.

Then drove past Fielding and into Palmerston North. Had a ride around to the Square and other parts had my first Macca's this month and checked out the I centre no bike rides around here apart on metal roads and I am so over them after Ohakune . So I checked out the RSA but it is too small for my bus so headed out of town. Spotted a countdown so parked up in to car parks opposite and got some food, Was parked right next to a Z station so got some Fuel ( $1.56 – 4 from a coupon I had choice I Paid $1.52) drove 1 km down the road It was $1.49 stink.

Anyway drove down SH 56 to the Himatangi Beach turn-off then down SH 1 to the Manawatu River bridge where I will stop for the night

Vinegar Hill

SUNDAY 22
Quite night at Waiouru headed south on SH1 not much traffice around,
Nice sunny day again. Stopped at Taihape to refuel then onwards.
A very senice drive south of Taihape as you wind down the valleys along side the Rangitikei River. Got as far a Vinegar Hill Reserve for lunch and as it was so nice stopped for the nigh Very very quite night so peacefull decided to stay the day and do some maintance on the bus,No phone service so will send this tomorrow.
Replace the hose clips on the gas line with the correct fittings at last.
Also checked to see why I have a small leak on the clutch line, tighten up a bolt going to the slave cyclonder and toped up fliuld . Replace water pump as it was getting very noisy and slow, found filter nealy blocked up with gunk, tank must be full of something as well as watere, no wonder the water is not too nice to drink, will put some janola in it next fill
Will head off to either Marton/Bulls or Palmerston North tomorrow
Tuesday
Parked up at a place called Stormy point, which is a lookout place just south of Rewa on SH54 on the way to Fielding. Fantasic views across the Rangitike River valley and back to Mt Ruapehu to the North. Another lovely sunny day. Hoipe to spend the day in Palmerston north and stay at the RSA tonightr

Saturday 21

Saturday 21

Spent a very interesting day going around the National Army museum. Very good

Then went for a bike ride around the camp , man it has changed since I was here last.

Thats it must not say more as I might get chased up by the seceret Police for spying.

On south Sunday

Friday 20/4

Drive down to town and park in a little park beside the Mangawhero river and ride into town. Check at the local bike hire place that all tracks are open and head off. Big mistake did not ask the vital question , what kind of tracks are they. If I had of and got the answer rought metal farm tracks and shingle roads I would not have gone after doing the Old coach road the day before.

Neve mind off I went. After 22kims of road rideing the best bit was rideing back down the track beside the Mangowhero river.

So up stakes, food up and head to Waiouru Army camp with a short stop to view the Tangiwai Memorial where on Christmass eve 1953 the Auckland bound train fell into the river as the bridge had been swept away by a Lathar flood from Mt Ruapehu. There was a lost of 151 lives. On to Waiouru to park up behind the Museum with 6 other motorhomes

A Ohakune icon

Finish of the Ohakune Old Coach Cycle Trail

Start of the Ohakune Old Coach Road Cycle/walk trail

Thursday old coach road

Thursday 19
A bit cold here at the Ohakune Moutain rd DOC camp 4* but warmed up as the sun came up.
Drove down to Ohakune Township for a 10 pickup to be driven with bike to Horopito , which was the sceen of the NZ hit movie Smash Palace. There was 5 others in the van a nice size group.Headed out along the Ohakune Old Coach road, 17 kms back to Ohakune.
It starts off across farmland then into bush.
The old coach road was built in 1906/7 to link up with southern railhead at Ohakune and the Northen railhead at Raurimu before the Raurimu Sprial and the Taonui and hapuawhenua Viaducts where built.
A interesting ride, not too hard for and old fart but man the cobble stone part of the ride was very bumpy.
Took me 2.5 hours with lots of stops along the way
Then went for a short ride around Ohakunes tracks then up the hill to the doc camp.
Writing this on Friday morning colder still 3.5* this morning.

Makatote Viaduct just south of National Park on the North Island Main Trunk Line . Completed in 1908 it is 77m high and 262m long

Wednesday 18

WEDNESDAY 18
Cold in National Park this morn 6* but warmed up quick. Another sunny day but with a chilly southeast breeze. Decided to do the start of Fishers Track which they premote as a 17km 95% downhill buzz. As it was going to cost me $60 to be picked up at the other end I was only going to do the bit to the highest point. Took me 25min for 4km. I had a look at the downhill bit and it looked like it was all like the metal road I rode up on. I would have been P of if I had paid $60 to do that.
Never mind up stakes and off to Ohakune
On the way stoped and looked at the Makatote Viaduck built in 1908 , massive.
Lust past that is the site of the last spike driven on the railway 1907
Then on south to check out the Erua Forrest Track , looked a bit barren so on to Ohakune via Raetihi.
At the moment park up at the Maugawhero DOC camp, which is at the start of the Ohakune Mountain road.
Tomorrow have booked aa ride from Ohakune to Horopito to do the Ohakune old coach road .It is more downhill from the Horopiti end, I love downhill.
Horopito is the site of “ Smash Palace” for you oldies who remember those things
The spell check does not work on this comp.

Sign at the entrance to Raurimu Village

Tuesday 17 April

Tuesday 17 April

A nice drive from last night stop at Piriaka along SH4 very little traffic around so I can doodle along at 70kms .

Stopped at Raurimu to check out the world famous Railway spiral which when completed in 1907 was a brilliant pierce of engineering .Can not see much from the road but can see the rise of the tracks to the top. At present Parked up at the National park railway station for the night. This place is so empty it is unreal. Can not book any ride and pick-up bike rides as no one else is booking

Will do a short 5km ride to the top of Fishers track tomorrow morning then head to Ohakune where there are a lot more tracks than here .

THURSDAY 12/4/2012

After a trip south from Dinsdale with a stop at Te Awamutu to get some spices and pasta sauce and a quick dump of waste, I had a good drive throught light rain through Kihikihi, Otorohanga,Te Kuiti where I turn off on to SH 30 . Stoped for lunch at Puketutu then on through Benneydale to the DOC camp at Pureora. Got here about 1.30. The skys where clearing and by 3 the sun was fully out . Went for a short ride around the walking track ready for a long ride tomorrow. Nice flat level track through heavy bush with lots of signs describeing trees ect.. Here by myself allthrough a group of walkers came by in two vansand did a short walk. In internet wilderness here so will send this latter

Black Friday

Nice quite night no hoons here.Had a late breakfast then headed out on thr Pureora timber trail. A good level surface but going mostly sightly uphill into the forest Love uphill out rides because that means a donwhill return went for 9 kms winding through heavy forest ending in regrowth pine forrest Did a small side trip to see a old 1928 catapiller crawler tractor Had a great downhill ride back inspite of having to stop every 4km to pump up a sloe lek, too lazy to replace tube , will do it when I get back.

Saturday

Another quite night although a and camper snuck in sometime during the night. Very misty this morning but as te sun came up it all burned off. Had breakfast and got all set for a 26kms ride aroung the Maraeroa Cycleway loop, but got lost after 1km as the track disappered.. carried on and rode up some forrest trails, not to my likeing as the ars to rought and you keep looseing trackion, never mind it was a beautiful day so rode on for a hour till I hooked up with the Pureora timber trail and di the downhill section or that. This would be the best forrest trail I have been on. Nice smooth track and winding threugh heavy bush.I did not know how far I went as my speed/log had a hissy fit and did not work. Will head out tomorrow for Taumarunui

Sunday

Did not head for taumarunui but Piropiri Doc camp instead Wasy out in the sdticks along 18kms of dirt road. Still there was about 6 groups there. The Roar is about to start so a lot of hunters about. Another quite night awaken by birds in the morning

Momday

Head for taumarunui a nice drive alon theMangapehi to Ongarue road joining up with SH 4

the road runs alongside the main trunk railway , that would have been a job when they build itt 100 years ago ( finished in 1908) refueled refood now of to a NMCA Camp atPiriaka where the is the best fresh water supply in NZ. Time to drain my tanks and refuel

Misty day here in Dinsdale. All loaded up and ready for the big OE to the South island.

The plan so far. Leave here about 9 head south on state highway 3 to Kihikihi, then turn and head towards Mangakino. Turn onto SH 30 to the Pureora Forest where there is a DOC camp. There is a new John key Bike trail there to try out plus I will need a couple of days to sort out mods from tied to shore power to freedom camping. From there it is of to Taumaruni then National Park,Ohakune, the Army museum at Waiouru, taihape ( my old stamping grounds from my Army time) then on to Vinegar Hill. I will update this most days ,hopefully with photos. Happy trails