Easter Fishing On The Hauraki Gulf

Our annual fishing trip was over the Easter weekend, with a couple of days tacked on the end. I wish it could have been more, but busy busy at work - so - take what you can get :-)

Out Of Town

We finally got out on the water at 12:30PM and headed for the Rakino Channel, where we hoped to catch dinner and start the trip. No problem catching fish - just getting the right size - but lo and behold in amongst the wee ones were a couple of nice snapper. Roger hooked into a couple of small kingfish too - and our bait supplies were already looking dodgy - would we make it through the next few days while getting pounded by small snapper?? We tucked up to Rakino for a peaceful night. Next day we went to the Noises, Zeno Rock and Oneroa, while depleting even more bait, teaching small fish to be careful what they eat, and frying in the sun. Just as well we packed a few beers on-board eh!

Landed

A night in Oneroa and the plan was "go ashore and get more bait!" which I did at the Little Oneroa Store - a great place, with good coffee too ;-) Then down to Gannet Rock and Anita Bay at the eastern end of Waiheke. That's when we started catching the right sized fish, including a kingfish!



Taken on light line and a Shimano baitcaster reel, it put up quite some sport, but I landed it - to the applause of the neighbouring boat, and whoops of excitement from both Roger and I. That was Monday, and we stayed the night in Man-o-War Bay.

Sitting on the back of the boat, beer in hand, eating raw kingfish (sugar-cured) and Kikorangi Blue cheese...

It Gets Better

Next day we mooched around by Tarakihi Island, chased some birds and drift fished until succumbing to Anita Bay. After two goes at anchoring in the right spot, we settled into some decent fishing. Trouble now was to stay within the daily limit. I like to ensure that we don't go over the 9 snapper per person limit - even though we do clean the fish on the boat, and technically they are not measurable - and that we are out for 5 days. What would you do with more than 18 fish anyway? Of course we ate fish for lunch and dinner, so it wasn't an issue.

Back To Civilisation

Wednesday dawned and we had just 1 fish each to make our numbers - so fishing in the Bay we made sure we threw back anything under 35cm. We did have a couple of fish for lunch too - mmm fresh snapper IS so good!.

Looking forward to our next successful fishing trip on the Hauraki Gulf.

Be Patient - Windingroad

A Signpost For Life

This image comes from Google, I was busy at the time ;-) but got the message anyway!

Suzuki Boulevard Rally 2013

This year the rally was "Journey Through Middle Earth" and what a great ride it was too! We started at Mount Maunganui near Tauranga on the Saturday morning, that meant riding down on Friday afternoon to catch up with the team, and stay overnight with my Dad.

I was hoping to get away early, but meeting, meetings, and meetings... and on a Friday too! As it turned out, I did get away a bit early and headed home to drop off work gear, and get into cruise-gear. Of course - I locked myself out of the house - with keys and helmet inside! Luckily (kind of) I have watched 80's TV shows where the hero opens doors with whatever he has in his pocketses. Thanks McGyver. I was in time to experience the slow drag out of Auckland that is typical of a Friday afternoon, but eventually I was underway properly and enjoying the freedom of the ride through 2x gorges and into the Bay of Plenty.

A beer or too and a hot curry later I was tucked into bed in Papamoa - thanks for the great night.

Mt Maunganui to New Plymouth

An excellent route, and one with a few twists that even I had not been on before.


View Larger Map

We stopped for lunch at Whakamaru where we also gassed up - poor girl in the gas station on her own with 143 bikes wanting fuel! All good in the end. Once we got onto State Highway 3 we spread out a bit, and I found a journo riding a demo bike - one of the new blacked out C90's. We rode with spirit on that wonderful road through the Awakino Gorge and over Mt Messenger - fun indeed - almost to the point of losing the chicken strips - which is a feat indeed on a cruiser!

New Plymouth - Conference

The Rally Conference was at the Devon, and I stayed at the Autolodge - probably a good call as I did get some sleep before the trip continued home on Sunday. Thanks to Troy I had a cold beer waiting at the end of the ride - VERY welcome! The meal was good, but forgettable, the beer was Peroni and so good, and free flowing, and the entertainment a bit of fun, with a hypnotist providing us with the laughs. Sunday was the ride home, and another chance to ride through the gorge - brilliant. I caught up with Donna and friends in Te Kuiti for brunch and headed home through Whatawhata and Ngaruawahia.

Another great weekend with great friends.

Windingroad.

NDR2013 Wairakei

The New Zealand National Ducati Rally for 2013 took place last weekend at the Wairakei Resort near Taupo. A fantastic weekend it was too - with the Evil Stig heading out on the black Ducati 916 on a hot Friday afternoon from Auckland.

Ducati 916

I met Craggsy on his Ducati 999R and we decided to take the direct route down through Matamata, where we stopped for a top up - fluids for the bikes and for the riders - it was hot, especially in leathers. What we did then was unexpected and rather exciting - we swapped bikes. This meant I got to ride on the magnificent 999R.

Craggsy's Ducati 999R

What a beautiful machine - so much power, and very comfortable and inspiring to ride. I rode between Matamata to SH5 through Te Poi - amazing! Dave must have been laughing in his helmet to see me wind it on a bit through the corners ;-) Thanks Dave, a real treat.

We were hoping for a trackday on Saturday, but unfortunately for us, we hadn't booked, and MotoTT were fully booked with no no-shows on the day. No problem, we had a great blast around the Lake, meeting our brethren near Turangi who were riding anti-clockwise. Then in the afternoon the show-and-shine - where all the bikes were cleaned and polished and lined up in model years to be judged. Its a bit kind-of bike-geeky but the array of bikes from old to new was really engaging - and the riders/builders and onlookers all had stories to tell about this model or that. I just appreciated the beauty of the Ducati bikes. Dave however managed to pick 'Best in Class' with the 999R.

With the riders and support families, were a few dealers, and Bayride brought down a Diavel and a Panigale to show off at the dinner. These bikes were also demos and I managed to get a ride on the white Panigale. Oh boy, what a ride!

Evil Stig on the white Panigale - oh yeah!

I only had around 10 minutes, and I made sure I enjoyed them... and did some 'serious' research. 195HP is quite a few - especially if you are sitting on them - and they all seemed to be working - wow! Tried out an emergency stop - man some serious stopping power! I looked down to see if any traction control lights would show - nope - just electrifying stop and then with the quick-shifter in action - electrifying go! And dare I say it - I found it comfortable to ride on, not as forward or aggressive position as the 916 - which I find to be comfortable anyway ;-)

Sunday we glided back in the rain - we finally get the rain we have been hoping for and it turns up on a Ducati Rally day! Oh well... we tagged onto the back of the Ducati Turismo, which has another week of riding the North Island to go, and headed for home, stopping at Hampton Downs to watch a couple of NZ SBK races.

A fantastic weekend. Next year it will be in Hanmer - can't wait - I wonder what I will be riding??

Waitangi Day Loop

Needed to go and have a quick ride to see if the Ducati was overheating on a descent run, before the National Ducati Rally in March (NDR2013).


View Larger Map

I devised a small loop around Clevedon and Maraetai - on a beautiful day, and had a great ride! Met a fellow Ducatisti in Maraetai, where I stopped for a breather and to get some coolant into me. The bike was fine. All good. So many people enjoying the great weather and the lovely Maraetai foreshore - idyllic.

cheers
johnhs

March Rallies

Wow, this is a great time of year - the weather is stable and the bike rallies are all happening!

NDR2013

The first is the National Ducati Rally, held this year in Wairakei. I have recently been accepted into the fold with a DOCNZ membership and I am champing at the bit, so to speak, at the prospect of a carpark full of Ducati beauties. I haven't been to one of these before - should be fun - but not hoping for 'road-tax'!

Suzuki Boulevard Rumble in Middle Earth

One I have been to before is the Suzuki Boulevard Rally, with this years run from Mt Maunganui to New Plymouth. Should be good - I spent a couple of years in New Plymouth in the mid-80's - yep the Think Big years - and always have a spot in my heart for the place.

Cheers and see you there!
JohnHS

Carbon Neutral

Coromandel Loop 5

To go with the post on Motorcycling East Cape Pete enlisted the help of a passer-by to take a photo of us outside the Wild Hogs Bar and Restaurant in Whitianga.

Cheers Pete, a great shot.