Puketoi preamble

I hate to admit it but in a couple of weeks' time I'm taking some guys from work on another gravel roads excursion in our utes/4WD's.  A bit sad really (4 wheels and all) but they know that I know (I know that's a lot of knows) my way around a few gravel roads and can put a bit of a route together if asked.

Anyway, I have put a route together and I kinda promised I ride it prior.  Well, Colin and I sort of did a tiny bit of it and in particular checked out Puketoi Road which may be an option if the weather is good on the day - if it's wet it will be a no-go as it's as slippery as jandals on wet lino.

Leaving here, we gassed in Woodville (survived a small heart attack at the price of fuel - cheers Trump) and then headed to the first gravel Road of the day - Pahaeke Road.  It was here I confirmed that my ride would be interesting - a bald rear E-07 is not the flashest on gravel.  This would be a day of slides and every change in gravel composition had me relearning how to handle the bike - yeah, it was fun!

Top of the Rising Sun (Towai Road)

What damn mode is this in?

Our timing into Pongaroa was bang on with it being right about lunchtime.  It just so happens that the pub was open and serving up its great burgers.

After lunch, it was time for a short run down 52 before the attempt on Puketoi Road.  Puketoi Road has all sorts of signs saying no trailers at one end (no problem) to road closed and unmaintained road at the other end.  But it is passable and needed to be ridden.

From the Eastern end, it starts off as a decent gravel road before changing to a dirt farm track which gets a little rougher in places as you climb the hill.  Along the way there are places where it definitely can get slippery when wet (went up with a 4WD club a few years ago and some souped up 4WD's had difficulties) but we were lucky in that there were only a few muddy bits and I only really had one moment where I thought I was going off (see previous bald tyre comment) but managed to stay on somehow.

One of the things we came across was the below slip.  It's narrowed up the road quite a bit - not sure that I want to squeeze my ute through that gap - and it's pretty huge when you look over the side.  Shame the picture is a bit crap.

The not so great pic of the slip

After summiting the hill, you then drop down towards Pori Road.  This generally is in better condition but still had some technical bits where you need to swap ruts and pic decent lines.  At least you get to use a couple more gears - the rough stuff coming up normally required 2nd and occasionally 1st.  I really enjoyed the more technical riding, and the descent was a lot of fun.

A bit of a breather, it was hot work

Out back on Pori Road

Mission accomplished, the ride concluded with a pootle to Pahiatua, a fang over Tararua Road (much sliding was had), a zap over the track and then home.

Not a particularly long day but a great little ride to confirm the performance of bald tyres on a variety of interesting surfaces...