Eke Loop

Ok, so I had to call the post something...

On Sunday I had to celebrate the Tenere getting a WOF (on some fairly worn E-07's) by taking out for a spot of gravel flipping.  I had a very late start and even leaving my driveway hadn't really made any firm plans.

I eventually went right out of the driveway and made my way up over the track.  It was  a little exciting as it was fairly windy and at one stage my tank bag came adrift so I had to grab it and hang onto it until I could pull over.  I can't have clipped it in properly as it's never been a problem before.

My first patch of gravel was on Kopikopiko Road and followed my usual route through to just North of Eketahuna.  A great mix of pretty fast gravel and the odd bit of tar.

Instead of rocking on into Eke, I turned left on SH2 for a little while before turning off onto Central Mangaone Road.  I hadn't been on this one for a while and it was a little slower going with tighter, narrower roads.

Central Mangaone Road ended onto the tarmac Mangaone Valley Road Road which I followed towards Pahiatua before turning off again onto Tawataia Road.  I'd only done this road once before but remembered it as good fast, open gravel road - I was right, it was fantastic.

By the time I hit the tarmac of Route 52 a plan was forming.  I turned towards Pongaroa and and kept an eye out for my next turn-off...

...which was onto Saunders Road and eventually Pori Road.

Eventually I came to the spot where a few years ago the BRR crew stopped by a big slip.  It had been mostly removed but you can sure see where it came from and where it went...

Leaving the slip, the Gopro stopped taking pictures and I soon ran out of gravel ended up on the Pahiatua-Pongaroa Road near the end of the Makuri Gorge.  I did manage to get some video so ya'll can here the mighty S10 at play (although the YouTube video doesn't sounds as good as the copy on my PC).

The run back to SH2 had me get stuck behind a few old cars out for a sedate trundle and run head first into the howling wind.  It was definitely a lot windier than when I'd left so I passed on a return trip over the track and took the boring route home via SH2 and the gorge.  Never mind, good to be out on the bike and a nice little 195km route - I better put some gas in before next time too as the current tank was filled in Picton...