Sleeping in...

 ...is a waste of good riding time.

On Sunday, Colin and Andy got up early and were at my place just before 8am.  I was even ready for them too...

After coffee it was time to make tracks with the initial plan (based on our usual detailed planning session) being to head for Turakina Valley.  But first I had to show off and demonstrate that I was only 5 minutes from gravel - ok, so it was only a short bit of gravel on Watershed Road, but it got us over towards Colyton, Feilding and then Halcombe and Marton.

North of Marton we got back onto gravel on Galpins Road and dropped down Taurimu Road onto Turakina Valley Road.  The drop down Taurimu is particularly nice as there are some good views at the top and then a cool dive into the valley of Peacocks.

Did I mention peacocks?  Oh yeah, this time around they were out to get me.  I didn't see the damn thing until I was nearly on top of it but luckily it went for a near vertical take-off next to me rather than head butting me.  Damn, they are pretty big when they're taking to the air - even Andy mentioned it after watching it all from behind me.  Oh, and there was another one just up the road a bit too...

Once North of the peacocks, the gravel was good, but we had to deal with quite an unusually large number of vehicles along with plenty of sheep to keep us on our toes.  Still totally worth it 😉

The last bit of gravel (North of the above pics) was its usual sublime self.  Plenty of pace could be applied and Andy sat just behind me eating my dust as I slithered around a fair bit.  Great fun!

In 'kune we stopped for an early lunch and fuel before crossing over to Raetihi and turning South for a bit, aiming for the gravel of Oruakukuru Road.

This was another cracker with the gravel being more fun than the seal at the start of the road.  Once again there were a heap of sheep all over the place and even one taking a permanent break in the middle of the road courtesy of something bigger than a bike (I hope).

Not far from the resting mutton I had my next run in of the feathered variety.  Coming out of a right-hander, I disturbed a snacking hawk, and it was blimin close - I reckon I could have given his nails (big ones at that) a trim for him.  I dunno what he was doing there when the feast of a lifetime was just down the road - probably a bit much for a hawk to takeaway...

After the last stretch of fast but very corrugated gravel we hit Whangaehu Valley road and enjoyed its tight and twisty corners before it turned to gravel and took us up over Burma Hill.  This time around we had to deal with cattle as well as sheep, but the big chooks left us alone.

At lunch and because we had plenty of daylight left, I floated the idea of adding in a trip through the Badlands, North of Whanganui.  The two others both thought this was a reasonable idea so we decided to use Te Rimu Road as a short-cut to get over that way.  It's always fun and though the bulls were hiding today (I'm not complaining), there was the odd bit of silt from flooding around the (dry) fords that behaved a lot like the dreaded sand, and everyone hates sand...

Not being able to ford the Whanganui River (might have got run over by the paddle steamer) and not being naughty enough to sneak across the pedestrian bridge, we had to briefly dip into Whanganui to cross and then make our way back up the other side of the river before the great run through the Badlands.

What a blast it was!  This is a really neat little track that gets narrower the further you head in and you really feel like you're in the middle of nowhere.  This is why we have adventure bikes.  Oh, and once again, there was plenty of slithering around.

Andy ready for a breather

Colin makin' dust

Luckily, the end of Kauarapaoa Road doesn't mean the end of the gravel.  The ride out on Rangitatau East Road is on 20+km of wider, faster gravel and it was good!

Expensive!

Rangitatau East was the last of the gravel for the day and after a cool drink just out of Whanganui it was time to slab it back on the seal and wave off the guys at Sanson before parking the trusty T7 up.  About 510km for me and 700ish for the Southern contingent.  Great ride!  Oh, and I need a new rear...