There and back again I guess.

[Isopedella]

My site name is Isopedella, which is a Huntsman Spider, and I live in New Zealand.

Its Autumn here (Fall I think for you northern Blokes and Sheilas) I saw 24 °C (low 70°'s F) on the dash.
Bit warm with ATGATT, but it's worth it should the worst occur.

I did a ride yesterday and thought I would post up some photos.

I started from a house on the hill and rode up to Ohakune which is beside Mount Ruapehu.
There are ski-fields up there.

home 20230313_165732.jpg


20220812_105345.jpg

I went via The Parapara Highway (Valley of a Thousand Hills).
Then Fields Track.

c e 11 20230312_111359.jpg

Ohakune NZ

ce 3 20230312_121510.jpg

2 made it home.

oh 3 20210613_125531.jpg

c e 2 20230312_115323.jpg

Yup. They are biggins.

Short and sweet... Hope you enjoyed the photos. Iso.

[pegasus1300]

Thanks for the cool pictures. What is the 1st picture you posted? Looks like a neat water tower.

[Isopedella]

You nailed it.
There is a large tank up top and it provides good water pressure for the city which is pumped from bores from local environs.

There is a spiral staircase in the center and in the past was accessible by the public up to the third level, but now days it's restricted.

[Cobwebs]

Excellent pics Iso! Now we know why the trout are so big over there.

[Isopedella]

Ah so you spotted that.

Those slugs in the canals really go for the Chocolate Eclair nymphs bigtime.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6E5y8bGM-zw&t=1024s

[ulflyer]

Neat pics. Tnx. What kind/color of cream in eclairs? My mouth is watering..............

[Isopedella]

Neat pics. Tnx. What kind/color of cream in eclairs? My mouth is watering..............

Um....what type of cream. ??
From cows milk I guess. Is there any other?

Freshly whipped and ultra yummy would describe it I guess.
Squelches out the sides when you take a bite so work carefully.

[Valkrocket]

What a beautiful country. Post card pics. New Zealand is on my bucket list for sure. Thanks for the post.

[Isopedella]

What a beautiful country. Post card pics. New Zealand is on my bucket list for sure. Thanks for the post.

Thanks. Be happy to touch base if you ever make it down to our South Pacific Islands that make up New Zealand.

A couple of teasers. haha

north PB170234[3]_thumb.jpg

1111514336457399.jpg

OTHER LINE X5JHaDFfrxU.jpg

PS. Its mostly all corners.

[Peter Aawen]

......

PS. It's mostly all corners.

And then there's the really twisty roads!!

Some fantastic riding roads in NZ, and lotsa other things to do too, with great scenery, good food, friendly people too (well, most of them )

[Isopedella]

And then there is the 8th and possibly the 9th wonder of the world here as well.

speights 20220724_161858.jpg Speights car.jpg

[Virgil2014]

Had a few Speights in 2019. Did a two week cruise around New Zealand.
Great country, will be going back at some point in time.
Cheers
BF7A147E-6B2F-4CCA-ACA3-70136F3B080D.jpg

[Isopedella]

So I thought I would take the Spyder up the The Forgotten World Highway - SH43 NZ..

Its about 150k long and takes takes up to 3 hours, as it passes through rugged countryside.

It climbs three saddles: the Strathmore Saddle, Whangamōmona Saddle, and Tahora Saddle. 14 km past Whangamōmona is the Moki Tunnel, also known as Hobbit's Hole.

There is also an unsealed section through the Tarangakau Gorge.

Its listed as one of the worst roads in NZ by the Police.

There is little or nil cell coverage mostly but I found some in the thriving Republic of Whangamōmona.

https://nzpocketguide.com/republic-whangamomona/

Some not so high quality photos but from a damp cell phone.


20230507_115443.jpg

20230507_115511.jpg

20230507_115532.jpg

20230507_115714.jpg

20230507_121620.jpg

20230507_123402.jpg

20230507_123611.jpg

20230507_123800.jpg

[Isopedella]

cont

20230507_124713.jpg

20230507_124953.jpg

Oops. Thats the Napier Taihape. I will leave it.

Ya wouldn't like it.

20230509_070047.jpg

20230507_132503.jpg

20230507_132520.jpg

I shot into Taumarunui and had a feed then went on the hills to Turangi. Bout another hour.

It started raining after Whangas and all the way to Turangi.

20230507_163328.jpg

I forgot my cover so put some Glad wrap over the switch gear overnight.

20230508_053056.jpg

Still keen to see more.
https://www.google.com/search?q=the+...ih=773&dpr=1.2

Cheers
Iso

[safecracker]

Great pics.

[Isopedella]

Great pics.

High quality digital images they are not.
Ex. I had a pro forensic photographer mate that I made the mistake of asking him to take a few snaps for me.
I got a bit of a reaming, and a bunch of glossy printed photos.

Cheers.

But most importantly it was an awesome ride. I have been through a few times but this was the first on the Spyder.

Coming up.

The Napier Taihape road.

[pegasus1300]

..... "Oops. Thats the Napier Taihape. I will leave it.

Ya wouldn't like it. ...

What is that and why wouldn't we like it? BTW thanks for the pictures. This is the only way I will ever get to experience riding in NZ, so I really appreciate the views.

[Isopedella]

That day 3 of my ride.

I will do more but here is a taste.

You can see the road off in the distance.

Majic riding up through here.

20230509_070244.jpg

[Isopedella]

So..
Day 3 of a 3 day ride.

I woke as usual early made a brew and packed the Spyder.

Chugged down a large teapot full and thought...

OK. Let's do this. Left about 0600 or so.

I left early as I had a 300k journey home and a weather system was expected around noon.

I headed from Taradale and off up the road to Taihape.

The road winds its way from the coast and up through the Kaweka Forrest Park, across some tops and into Taihape. Bout 150k or so.

About 0700 it was getting light, so I took some snaps along the way.

Great camping spot. Beside the river with Trout if ya good enough.
Deer available if you wish to go for a hunt. Hunting is all year with no season.
Walking tracks head off to some small huts from here as well.

20230509_064843.jpg 20230509_065205.jpg 20230509_065226.jpg

20230509_065552.jpg 20230509_070153.jpg 20230509_070244.jpg

20230509_071134.jpg 20230509_071158.jpg 20230509_071805.jpg

20230509_071834.jpg 20230509_081755.jpg 20230509_083923.jpg

And never forget.

20230509_082456.jpg

Some more photos of the area if ya keen.

https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo/ta...ortBy=relevant

[Isopedella]

Cheers Pete.
Just stumbled on a time lapse u-tube thingi of that road if ya want some more.

Its my ride but in reverse.

I turned the sound down and put on full screen on my desktop.

No leaning for the corners.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ESnP3fSyavs

[Redbeard]

Thanks for the photos and the names of the places. Google earth is my friend when someone mentions a town or place for me to take a peek at. New Zealand looks stunning, thanks for sharing it with us.

[Isopedella]

Hey there Redbeard.

Cheers for your kind comments. Happy to share.

Got one for ya.

Not too far from Taihape NZ.

Want a laugh?

I was riding along bout 11C and a bit chilly.

Then I noticed a sharp burning smell. Wow its getting stronger. Crikey.

THE BIKES ON FIRE!

Slowed right down and looked down both sides for smoke.

The smell getting stronger.

Cant see anything.

Stopped and did a walk around.

Nope.

Oh well its still running. See if I can get into town, but ready to bail at the first sign of flames.

Then I rode around the corner and passed the main homestead and buildings of.....

Erewhon Station.

Early morning fires had been lit and several chimneys at work.

Whew.



Cheers Iso

[Isopedella]

So, Sunday...

Blinkers firmly attached.

Can't see 1 or 2 jobs that need attending soonish...

and with a full tank, just what's a Bloke to do?



I don't really care where as long as it's got food somewhere along the way and interesting.

A Bloke I know, Steve with an RT, had flicked me a TXT on Saturday Arvo and asked the question, "Going anywhere Manana... (tomorrow)? Round the mountain perhaps?" (That's Mount Taranaki.)

"Hmm. Yeah, Nah. Just got back from some biggish rides.
How about a coffee at Opunaki at that bakery. The Sugar Juice Cafe?

Then up to Dawson Falls. Then back to Stratty (Stratford) for a bite to eat and gap it home."

"Sorted" was the reply.

I did not take a photo of the cake display, its full of old school baking and served with cream.
Ya wouldn't like it. Probs crack the lens on my phone anyway. Enjoyed an awesome coffee and 1 bit of cake.

Then headed off to Dawson Falls a tourist attraction on Mount Taranaki. The mountain is 8260 feet.

I have been up to the summit several times.
First time in 1969 or so, summer trips only. There are some foothills extending off to the East.
The Pouakai and Kaitake Ranges. Been all over them over a few years.
A retired bloke, the ex-Mayor from New Plymouth introduced me to the hills and bush and passed on some Bushcraft Skills to a beginner 9 yr old.
He lived on the edge of the farm we rented a house on at Omata by the Southern boundary on the Tapuae Stream.

Anyhow...

We tootled up to the road end past all the dairy farms. Then to Stratty and home. Trip was a full tank ride. It wasn't sunny all day with a few rain showers blasting through now and again, but ok.

The summit of the Mountain was clagged mostly but now and again it cleared, just a bit. The photos are taken over a short space of time so you can get an idea.

The road up to the Falls on the Mountain.

20230514_125839.jpg 20230514_125942.jpg 20230514_130147.jpg


Entering the surrounding bush. Very narrow sealed road.

20230514_130237.jpg 20230514_130423.jpg 20230514_130508.jpg


Road-end.

20230514_131426.jpg 20230514_132006.jpg


Home safe.

Inkedjimny 20230103_041754.jpg


Some additional links if ya want to have a surf.

Ride safe Iso.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Taranaki

https://www.google.com/search?q=moun...ih=773&dpr=1.2

https://www.google.com/search?q=kait...ih=773&dpr=1.2

https://www.google.com/search?q=poua...ih=773&dpr=1.2

[Columbia]

I was sure you wrote "Damn phone" since that's frequently on my lips.

It was "damp phone." Oh well.

Fun to read. Nice photos to look at. Thank you.

[Isopedella]

Cheers.

Looking at that last snap the Spyder is nearly as big as my Jimny ..