This afternoon I spent a couple of hours riding the loop around Hunua. The first stage of the ride was a straight run down the motorway ‐ SH1 until Takanini. Then I headed a long Manuroa Rd onto Porchester Rd, then Ingram St to Marne Rd onto Clevedon Rd which becomes the Papakura-Clevedon Rd and it was on this road I entered & passed through Clevedon. The riding up to this point was fairly standard with nothing noteworthy.
After passing through Clevedon, the ride improved with the ability to increase my speed but it was not a fantastic/amazing riding. It was enjoyable ‐ I was out of the city on a sealed 'country' road but the landscape was not any of the amazing rural New Zealand scenery from previous rides.
It was not until I was descending into Kawakawa Bay that I really enjoyed myself. There were some nice little bends & then I was at the bay. I have to admit I was underwhelmed, the journey thus far was for most parts boring. The first stop was not a stunning beach ‐ am I becoming too fussy?
I pushed on from Kawakawa Bay heading inland along Kawakawa ‐ Orere Rd where the road started to climb amongst native plants. I could smell the dampness in the air that comes with these plants which always is nostalgic, therefore, I enjoy the experience. During the climb, I became spoilt with some tight bends, which kept me on my toes. This was the ride I was looking for and then another nice descend with some good bends before flattening off onto East Coast Rd. It was a flat approach into Whakatiwai despite this the roads here were pretty good. This allowed me to open up the throttle as I made my way along the coastline.
It was nice to put my head down & run along the coast. There was a bit of traffic on both sides of the road as it is a popular route for bikers & tourists so on occasion it was difficult to pass the RVs or Juicy vans I came across. It was nice to see all the bikers out there with a nod or a wave as we passed each other.
I travelled along East Coast Rd until the end where I met Miranda Rd, turning right I headed along Miranda Rd with SH1 as my destination. Miranda Rd became Mangatangi & then Mangatawhiri Rd where the iconic Castle Café is/was situated. Prior to being a café it was a dairy where as a child we would stop for an ice cream on a family Sunday drive.
Soon after the Castle Café is a right‐hand turn with a quick left‐hand turn onto SH2 which will bring you back to SH1. I find the signage round there inadequate & signage showing both turns prior to the first turn is needed. Once on SH2 & after merging into SH1 I headed back home.
Overall the ride was enjoyable with some decent roads to ride after Clevedon but the scenery, to begin with, was not as spectacular as it has been on other rides but as you can see improved the further along the journey.
