17th March 2017
Happy St Patrick's Day!
I sleep really well and don't wake until just before 0800 - perfect...
I shower, shave and get kitted up, then pack the bike - an easy task as it's in the garage next door. I decide against a coffee and I'm going to visit Napier first thing (about 20km away) and will have breakfast there.
I open the curtains to see a cloudless sky - it's about 60°F without any discernible breeze...
I press the starter just before 0900 and make my way back to the disturbingly named Pakipaki road...
...and turn towards Napier.
Napier was nearly razed to the ground by a severe earthquake in 1931. When rebuilding, they decided to build in the architectural style of the day - Art Deco. It has become famous for this style and - since Art Deco is one of my favourite styles of architecture - I thought I'd ride along and have a look...
Well - Duh!
I take a ride through the suburbs to get to Napier - and there is the occasional Deco building here too...
I can hear the theme to Beverly Hills Cop playing somewhere...
Art Deco fell out of fashion after WWII really - although it had a resurgence in the 1950s. You see the occasional 1930s and 1950s houses in the UK - very often characterised by flat roofs.
I have a feeling that one of the reasons it lost favour was that a lot of the Nazi party's insignia and designs were done in deco style - epitomised by their eagle:
Of course, that may be complete bollocks - but every time I see German architecture and design from that period, it definitely has a Deco slant to it...
The centre of the town is well kept and seems vibrant and prosperous...
...and Deco architecture abounds...
Both old and new...
Napier is also a port - and has a beautiful beachfront...
...where I can hear the dull crash of breakers on the beach just a couple of hundred feet away...
Although there's a 50kph limit - with typical NZ Transport Dept politeness, they suggest you might happier doing 40...
Some of the buildings really are great - particularly this newspaper office...
...and the Fire Station (although it's empty, by the look of it)...
But even down the back streets there are good examples...
...if a little unloved...
I even recognise my favourite apartment chain has a rather fetching facade...
...and notice that Napier council provide free recharging for electric cars next door...
OK - I'm Deco'ed out...
I get Bettie to set course for Taupō, my target for today - she tells me I'll be there in an hour and a half. I set off, stopping to refuel at a BP station. As I undo the filler cap it comes off in my hand...
Bollocks
I know exactly what has happened, because I have had this failure once before. Because the tank bag 'bra' is not designed for this bike and I've adapted it to fit, the large hole for the filler cap isn't quite aligned. Over the weeks I have been putting strain on the light alloy casting and it has eventually broken. First failure of the trip really (I don't count the LED lamp, because I knew in advance it was likely to fail).
The good news - it still latches into place and therefore doesn't need replacing. I also think I have a spare in my parts bin somewhere...
Hey-ho - I set off and almost immediately spot a small café...
...on the left...
...overlooking a lake where they are running a training session for youngsters in small sailing dinghies, by the look of it.
I park the Adv up and walk into the cafe. I order a breakfast (bet you didn't anticipate that) and a coffee and go to pay using my card. The sign on the machine says 'No Credit Cards'. No problem, I have a Debit Card too. The girl behind the counter thinks it will only work with NZ Debit Cards - we give it a go and she's right. Unfortunately, I am short of cash at the moment (need to go to the bank later today), so I ask to cancel the order - I can find another café.
Then something quite remarkable happens. Lauren...
...who has dropped in to grab a cappuccino whilst her daughters get changed for their sailing lesson says "I've got this" and slides her card through the reader.
I protest and say there is no need for this - I'm not destitute or anything - she just smiles and says "I just like making someone's day better now and again".
What a lovely random act of kindness...
Quite taken aback by the recent turn of events, I sit outside, take a large gulp of coffee and scald the entire roof of my mouth...
I get chatting to a couple of truck drivers at the next table - they reckon this weather is going to be around for a while. I'm glad to hear it (although, being purely selfish, it only has to be around for another couple of weeks...
). They ask where I'm heading and when I tell them they both grin - "You'll enjoy that road on a bike".
My gargantuan free breakfast arrives - with Bratwurst!
After forcing that down, I get kitted up - noticing a reluctance for the zip on my jacket to fasten as easily as normal - and start the Adv back up. I wave towards the sailing class - in case Lauren is looking...
...and then turn left onto the coast road...
I notice these two odd looking towers near the end of the runway at Napier Airport - anyone know what they might be for (they remind me of air-racing pylons)?
Hey-ho - better ride my motorbike to somewhere new, I suppose...
I'm soon turned left onto Highway 5 "The Thermal Explorer Highway" towards Taupō, about 120km distant...
Immediately I am back in the Shire - I could easily imagine a Hobbit home in any of the hillsides here...
It's a great road, although quite busy...
...but I manage to get a few overtakes in, and make pretty good progress...
I seem to be climbing most of the time - I feel my ears pop as they equalise pressure...
There are a couple of sections of roadworks, but nothing like what I've experienced in the past few weeks...
It's about 70°F and very pleasant...
...and altogether a pretty good way to spend a Friday morning...
As I crest the top of the pass, the view of the valley on the other side comes into view...
Onwards!
Only about 20 minutes to run now - I'm going to have an early finish today...
...although this road is great fun - and I'd not complain if it was a few miles longer...
I pass a whole clutch of bikes - all BMWs by the look of their apparel - stopped at the right side of the road and give them a wave...
At the top of the next rise, there are acres of recently planted fir trees...
I notice a sign saying there's a lookout on the right in a few hundred metres...
...and pull over to have a look at Waipunga Falls - beautiful...
As I go to rejoin the main road, the clutch of BMW bikes ride past and I slot in behind the rear one...
I manage to pass them, in ones and twos, give them a wave and continue towards Taupō...
It's still a beautiful day - and this is a great way to be spending it...
Lake Taupō eventually comes into view...
...and I'm soon slowing to join the lakefront road...
It seems to be the Morris Minor's lot in life to be used to advertise things...
This is a lovely spot...
I'm much too early - I'm not due to check in for another hour and a half. Happily, my apartment is ready and Barbara gives me the key and explains where everything is...
This apartment would normally be a bit above my price bracket, but every ten nights you book through Hotels.com entitles you to a free night (or, at least, about $100 off a price) - so this stay is only costing me about $35...
It's very well equipped...
...with two bedrooms - including this one upstairs - which has an ensuite wet-room bathroom with a Jacuzzi.
...and a little verandah.
Downstairs is a washer dryer, hidden away in a cupboard. I transfer all of the laundry I've been carrying in the tank panniers into the machine and switch it on.
I log onto the (moderately fast) Wi-Fi and start uploading 191 pictures...
Good day...
Happy St Patrick's Day!
I sleep really well and don't wake until just before 0800 - perfect...
I shower, shave and get kitted up, then pack the bike - an easy task as it's in the garage next door. I decide against a coffee and I'm going to visit Napier first thing (about 20km away) and will have breakfast there.
I open the curtains to see a cloudless sky - it's about 60°F without any discernible breeze...
I press the starter just before 0900 and make my way back to the disturbingly named Pakipaki road...
...and turn towards Napier.
Napier was nearly razed to the ground by a severe earthquake in 1931. When rebuilding, they decided to build in the architectural style of the day - Art Deco. It has become famous for this style and - since Art Deco is one of my favourite styles of architecture - I thought I'd ride along and have a look...
Well - Duh!
I take a ride through the suburbs to get to Napier - and there is the occasional Deco building here too...
I can hear the theme to Beverly Hills Cop playing somewhere...
Art Deco fell out of fashion after WWII really - although it had a resurgence in the 1950s. You see the occasional 1930s and 1950s houses in the UK - very often characterised by flat roofs.
I have a feeling that one of the reasons it lost favour was that a lot of the Nazi party's insignia and designs were done in deco style - epitomised by their eagle:
Of course, that may be complete bollocks - but every time I see German architecture and design from that period, it definitely has a Deco slant to it...
The centre of the town is well kept and seems vibrant and prosperous...
...and Deco architecture abounds...
Both old and new...
Napier is also a port - and has a beautiful beachfront...
...where I can hear the dull crash of breakers on the beach just a couple of hundred feet away...
Although there's a 50kph limit - with typical NZ Transport Dept politeness, they suggest you might happier doing 40...
Some of the buildings really are great - particularly this newspaper office...
...and the Fire Station (although it's empty, by the look of it)...
But even down the back streets there are good examples...
...if a little unloved...
I even recognise my favourite apartment chain has a rather fetching facade...
...and notice that Napier council provide free recharging for electric cars next door...
OK - I'm Deco'ed out...
I get Bettie to set course for Taupō, my target for today - she tells me I'll be there in an hour and a half. I set off, stopping to refuel at a BP station. As I undo the filler cap it comes off in my hand...
Bollocks
I know exactly what has happened, because I have had this failure once before. Because the tank bag 'bra' is not designed for this bike and I've adapted it to fit, the large hole for the filler cap isn't quite aligned. Over the weeks I have been putting strain on the light alloy casting and it has eventually broken. First failure of the trip really (I don't count the LED lamp, because I knew in advance it was likely to fail).
The good news - it still latches into place and therefore doesn't need replacing. I also think I have a spare in my parts bin somewhere...
Hey-ho - I set off and almost immediately spot a small café...
...on the left...
...overlooking a lake where they are running a training session for youngsters in small sailing dinghies, by the look of it.
I park the Adv up and walk into the cafe. I order a breakfast (bet you didn't anticipate that) and a coffee and go to pay using my card. The sign on the machine says 'No Credit Cards'. No problem, I have a Debit Card too. The girl behind the counter thinks it will only work with NZ Debit Cards - we give it a go and she's right. Unfortunately, I am short of cash at the moment (need to go to the bank later today), so I ask to cancel the order - I can find another café.
Then something quite remarkable happens. Lauren...
...who has dropped in to grab a cappuccino whilst her daughters get changed for their sailing lesson says "I've got this" and slides her card through the reader.
I protest and say there is no need for this - I'm not destitute or anything - she just smiles and says "I just like making someone's day better now and again".
What a lovely random act of kindness...
Quite taken aback by the recent turn of events, I sit outside, take a large gulp of coffee and scald the entire roof of my mouth...
I get chatting to a couple of truck drivers at the next table - they reckon this weather is going to be around for a while. I'm glad to hear it (although, being purely selfish, it only has to be around for another couple of weeks...
My gargantuan free breakfast arrives - with Bratwurst!
After forcing that down, I get kitted up - noticing a reluctance for the zip on my jacket to fasten as easily as normal - and start the Adv back up. I wave towards the sailing class - in case Lauren is looking...
...and then turn left onto the coast road...
I notice these two odd looking towers near the end of the runway at Napier Airport - anyone know what they might be for (they remind me of air-racing pylons)?
Hey-ho - better ride my motorbike to somewhere new, I suppose...
I'm soon turned left onto Highway 5 "The Thermal Explorer Highway" towards Taupō, about 120km distant...
Immediately I am back in the Shire - I could easily imagine a Hobbit home in any of the hillsides here...
It's a great road, although quite busy...
...but I manage to get a few overtakes in, and make pretty good progress...
I seem to be climbing most of the time - I feel my ears pop as they equalise pressure...
There are a couple of sections of roadworks, but nothing like what I've experienced in the past few weeks...
It's about 70°F and very pleasant...
...and altogether a pretty good way to spend a Friday morning...
As I crest the top of the pass, the view of the valley on the other side comes into view...
Onwards!
Only about 20 minutes to run now - I'm going to have an early finish today...
...although this road is great fun - and I'd not complain if it was a few miles longer...
I pass a whole clutch of bikes - all BMWs by the look of their apparel - stopped at the right side of the road and give them a wave...
At the top of the next rise, there are acres of recently planted fir trees...
I notice a sign saying there's a lookout on the right in a few hundred metres...
...and pull over to have a look at Waipunga Falls - beautiful...
As I go to rejoin the main road, the clutch of BMW bikes ride past and I slot in behind the rear one...
I manage to pass them, in ones and twos, give them a wave and continue towards Taupō...
It's still a beautiful day - and this is a great way to be spending it...
Lake Taupō eventually comes into view...
...and I'm soon slowing to join the lakefront road...
It seems to be the Morris Minor's lot in life to be used to advertise things...
This is a lovely spot...
I'm much too early - I'm not due to check in for another hour and a half. Happily, my apartment is ready and Barbara gives me the key and explains where everything is...
This apartment would normally be a bit above my price bracket, but every ten nights you book through Hotels.com entitles you to a free night (or, at least, about $100 off a price) - so this stay is only costing me about $35...
It's very well equipped...
...with two bedrooms - including this one upstairs - which has an ensuite wet-room bathroom with a Jacuzzi.
...and a little verandah.
Downstairs is a washer dryer, hidden away in a cupboard. I transfer all of the laundry I've been carrying in the tank panniers into the machine and switch it on.
I log onto the (moderately fast) Wi-Fi and start uploading 191 pictures...
Good day...
