Goin' on a summer holiday...... in the rain

**Moise** · 01-07-2012, 04:45 PM

Sorry, no photos yet as my camera isn't waterproof

Headed north from Auckland yesterday with my wife for a week away. Only problem is it's rained almost every day since Boxing Day but I decided to take the bike anyway and my wife took her car.

Well, it rained the whole way from Auckland to Opononi (will post a map later). 4 hours riding in the rain, and I learnt a few things about the bike and my wet weather gear!

The bike was great, I was pretty careful at first as it was my first trip in the wet but the last part of the journey was a road through a forest with lots of very tight corners and I was really getting on the gas out of some of them - at least the ones with a straight afterwards! After all the mods to the brakes, they worked well and felt very progressive.

Wet weather gear report:

I need waterproof gloves!!!
Better rain pants. They kept the water out but despite what the label says, the fabric is not breathable as my leathers got damp in a few places.
My rain jacket was great. It's a Goretex jacket I bought on sale from an outdoor shop, and it kept me dry the whole way. Much to my surprise the trick water resistant zips didn't leak.
The waterproof boots stayed dry for most of the trip but eventually leaked through the toe seam. Some waterproofing should fix that though.
Had trouble the whole way with the visor misting up. Could try an insert (it's a Shoei) - any other suggestions?

But I loved the ride, it's certainly a great way to improve your riding skills.

**ramblin66** · 01-07-2012, 06:40 PM

I've visited Paihia (Bay of islands) but not the West coast that far North... It's beautiful. You're lucky to live where you do.

Have fun, be safe. Looking forward to some dry weather photos.

**Moise** · 01-07-2012, 10:53 PM

Here's a map of yesterday's ride. The first part of the ride on Highway 1 to Wellsford isn't much fun as it's the main road north from Auckland and is usually clogged with holiday traffic at this time of year. But it gets better after that with a variety of roads from long straights and sweeping curves to a very tight road through a forest.

http://www.wises.co.nz/d/11/auckland/opononi/

Still raining today, should be better tomorrow. Never mind, we have plenty of food, wine and beer...

**loppy** · 01-08-2012, 06:17 PM

Getting home sick. Ride safe and post pics of the sunny north

**Moise** · 01-09-2012, 02:09 AM

Still raining ... Starting to get worried about roads getting cut off by floodwaters.

But went for a walk in the rain this morning:
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1326096390.347501.jpg

And someone drove into the back of my wife's car:
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1326096478.739551.jpg

**loppy** · 01-11-2012, 04:21 AM

Sucks about the car, least the bike is ok.

That weather looks more like a Naki summer and coastal surf

**Moise** · 01-11-2012, 04:40 PM

We've travelled north yesterday to Taipa in Doubtless Bay (so named by Captain Cook when some smart a*** said "Doubtless a bay") And it was fine and became sunny as we got further north.

Here is the route: http://www.wises.co.nz/d/12/opononi/...9618,173.46658
Not always possible to travel in a straight line due to harbours and many of the back roads being unsealed. I haven't tried the Zed on such roads yet and Northland is not the place to experiment! But the road over the Mangamukas (SE of Kaitaia) is motorbike heaven - about 15 miles of smooth road with one corner after another and the odd short straight.

Couldn't stop for photos as we were on a tight schedule because we had to meet the person who had the key for the house where we're staying. Will post a couple of photos of the beach from my iPhone.

**Moise** · 01-11-2012, 08:56 PM

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1326336804.228757.jpg
Taipa beach
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1326336912.153216.jpg
Taipa beach #2

**Moise** · 01-12-2012, 07:07 AM

We'd gone out for a coffee and there were a couple of Electraglides and a Suzuki cruiser towing a trailer parked across the road. My wife noticed them and said "they're weird looking motorbikes, aren't they?".

**Moise** · 01-13-2012, 01:15 AM

The rain finally stopped today and of course we go home tomorrow. Went for a drive today, had a nice lunch and visited a winery. The photo is from the south end of 90 Mile Beach,, which is actually about 55 miles long. Nothing to do with Captain Cook this time.

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1326438828.433493.jpg

Will try to take some photos on the way home.