Akitio

29-30 January 2012

This weekend 4 bikes rode from Rerewhakaaitu down the Desert Road, to Dannekirke where we then headed to ward the coast for 80km to a place called Akitio where Roddy's son had just moved to a new job. Very beautiful place right on the coast at the entrance to a river. The boys went out to collect paua, well they got one paua which was duly sliced and barbequed for a taste, was quite nice, very salty. Spent the night there and then the next day we headed north again, up through Parangahau, Waipukarau to Omahu, then headed over the Gentle Annie road. The last section of gravel had been sealed only a couple of months before. Awesome ride but was hell of a windy. Rode about 950km over the two days

Waihau bay

6 February 2012

This day we had planned on riding right around the East Coast from Rerewhakaaitu and back again.  Google said it was about 800 km, so when we got to the meeting point in the morning some of the riders weren't too keen on doing that many km's, thought we needed to do a night over ride for that one.  Well anyway we took off, 5 bikes, headed down through Murupara to Kopuriki Road, Awakeri Hot Springs, Taneatua Then on to Opotiki where we fuelled up.  Stopped for a bit at Te Kaha then thought we would have lunch at the Te Kaha Hotel but they had had a wedding there and had run out of food.  Carried on to Waihau Bay and had delicious oysters, fish chips and burgers at the Hotel.  Had a leisurly ride back through Ohiwa and called into a beautiful little bay where there was no wind and stopped and chatted to the locals.  Came back through the Rotomas and back to Rerewhakaaitu.  We still did 580km for the day

Lunch at Waihau Bay

Gentle Annie