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Judy and Bill's Autumn Colours Tour Sunday March 30 2008
A journey up the Waikato River, through the river valley, across the ranges and through the mature native forests to Papamoa Beach for a seaside picnic.
This was the last Sunday of Daylight Saving this year, so it seemed like a great opportunity to have an "End of Season Celebration" of what has been a fantastic summer of riding.

Review:
This ride - details below - went ahead on 30 March 2008. The weather was great and everything went to plan. We had alternate plans (in both the Waikato & Bay of Plenty) in case the threatened storm broke, but again we didn't need them.

Thank you to everyone who came on the tour, we loved seeing you all and we hope you enjoyed it as much as we did.
We welcomed new members (all from Whakatane) who were on their first EOM ride with us... John Fergusson, and Peter Cavanagh with his fiancé Chanita. It's almost a 6.00 am start for them to get to Ngaruawahia to begin the tour, so thanks for the effort. Also joining us were George and Barbie Crandlemire - our Goldwing friends from Idaho.
George and Barbie had stayed with us at Papamoa Beach a couple of weeks previously, and we'd gotten them involved in the Ulysses Easter Egg run which we all enjoyed, so they seemed to jump at this invitation to clock up some more NZ miles.

Since we were going all the way to the East Coast via some special parts of the country, this was a slightly longer ride than some.
So...
We all met as a main group at the Ngaruawahia BP Connect... but not for coffee as is usual.
We were all gassed up, coffeed up, and ready to leave the service station by 10.00am.
There had been a refreshment break organised for a little later.

When the Auckland group arrived and met up with their "Southern and Eastern cousins" we all headed off through the picturesque Western Waikato plains and along some of the seldom travelled country routes, with special glimpses of the meandering river, spectacular lakes, rich valleys with golding leaves of mature Autumn tinged trees and colourful fields of maize.
The countryside is truly sensational right now! We had "test-ridden" the route over Easter and all roads were in excellent condition, with very little in the way of road works.

 We started out on a familiar road towards Ngahinipouri, but then turned East across the picturesque Ohaupo-Rukahia swamp (a little bumpy) past the classical Villa Grad Winery and on to Mystery Creek before heading through the outskirts of Cambridge, past the Karapiro dam and lake reserve (rowing, speed-boating and skiing) and continued on along the edge of the 3,500 hectare Maungatautari forest reserve where one of the country's most significant ecological projects is under way. (read more about this in the links)

At Arapuni Dam, we stopped for a few minutes at the rest area on the Western bank and met up with Jim Clarke (with his son as pillion) on his new red 2008 Goldwing. Another new bike on our trip was also the brand-new blue GL1800 that Geoff Coubrough has just traded in "Silver Fox" on. Congratulations to both new owners!
 ArapuniWe then crossed the dam to the Eastern bank of the river and rode a couple of kms to Arapuni Village where we stopped, dismounted and took a short stroll down a path to the swingbridge across the Arapuni Gorge.

The swingbridge has just been refurbished and was only re-opened last month. This is an exceptionally spectacular experience with exquisite views of not only the turbulent Waikato River and the massive power-station, but also what's probably the best view of the largest variety of mixed native forest we're ever likely to see.
The swingbridge is about 60 metres above the river - so the views of the forest are from above the tree-tops.
Arapuni is the oldest of the Waikato River Power-Stations, though with eight turbine-generators is also the largest producer on the river - great testament to the plans and construction of the 1920's and so is well worth the visit.

On return from the walk we had refreshments waiting. Made it worth the walk!

When we left Arapuni we got to ride through one of our favourite little valleys - the road is great, the curves are sweeping and the countryside's pretty - complete with a babbling brook that runs alongside the road. We passed though Putaruru and from there, the countryside changed a little as we headed up into the Mamaku Ranges with their glossy and deep green native foliage - Fitzgerald Glade and all. The Mamaku Road has been constantly improved over the last dozen or so years, and is now quite a special piece of riding with many sweeping bends, no sharp corners, excellent surface, and has lots of passing lanes.
We were lucky to have a clear day and were treated to spectacular lake views as we dropped down towards Ngongataha and then turned to head North along the fantastic riding road, that in the days of Cobb & Co., was once the Old Coach Trail from Rotorua to Tauranga. There is still a watering trough from the stage coach days, on the roadside at the middle river crossing. This road has a few sharp and steep corners, and three one-lane bridges, but is well maintained. It's another road that has been seriously upgraded in recent years. The forest scenes are unique and the views out to the coast from the open plains at the road summit, as we approached Tauranga, were quite special.
When we got close to Tauranga, we skirted the city and travelled East, through Welcome Bay, arriving at Papamoa Beach Domain for a seaside picnic.

Lunches were organised, so there was no need for anyone to bring anything but their happy dispositions! (and they certainly did that!)

This was a super journey, and although a little further than we sometimes do, it was easy going. We always find it such a refreshing trip and are glad that others did too.

Bev, and Dave Mackersey were waiting to meet us at Papamoa, so that made a total of 24 Goldwingers picnicking at the beach.

We've added links below for the GPS route-map and points of interest - including details about the Maungatautari Ecological Island, The Power Stations, Mamaku Forest Park, and the other features of the route.

Friends, thanks for coming.

Would you like to do another Autumn Colours tour on 29 March next year?
Again, that's the last Sunday of Daylight Savings, so time for another "end of Summer celebration".
Let's know please.

Judy and Bill Gibson-Patmore
 

And a photo album below>>

Judy and Bill Gibson-Patmore
Diamond Sands
37 / 644 Grenada Street
Papamoa Beach 3118

Phone: (H) 07 572 4454 Judy Mobile: 021 832 627 Bill Mobile: 021 932 627

Here are some photos taken along the journey:

Click to view a larger version - then use your "BACK" button to return.