about 10-15km faster , at wide open throttle . The roads through the Waipoua forest bring grins and appreciation , as winding , over-canopied bush breaks open to glimpsed rivers and pretty bridges , and an extraordinary abundance of thriving , lush greenery . Huge Kauri and Totara loom above , and their lofty magnificence imposes itself on our diminutive view . We whisk past , grateful and awed . Overhead the forecast rain clouds loom and we decide that wet weather gear is a sensible idea . No sooner had the thought occurred , than the heavens opened , and a torrent of fat rain pelted down ceaselessly . Cramming the Vespas onto a tiny gap at the side of the road , there was a mad dash to haul out the wet weather gear . We become sodden in seconds . Pulling wet weather pants on over sopping boots and Kevlar jeans takes much longer , and my gloves on the ground may as well have come out of the nearby river . Unfortunately Cam ’ s bike toppled straight over on its right side , the rain so heavy it had turned the ground to instant pug . At the time we thought his loved 2011 Vespa 300 fell on the grass , but later noticed a nasty road rash where it impacted . First casualty .
Tane Mahuta was no longer a joy we could endure in such rain , and we hurtled on the twelve inchers directly to the Hokianga Copthorne – the deck , some sun , and a cleansing ale beckoned . Cresting the brow of the hill into the Hokianga is always breathtaking , and once again it didn ’ t fail . Silly grins and happiness hung around our faces , the weather had passed , the sun was out , we were on tour , and that coldie beckoned .
THE HOKIANGA AND BEYOND We hung out like a third world laundry on the deck , sitting in the afternoon sun , savouring the journey so far with wet clothes steaming . Sadly , the weather arrived again , and ominous clouds hastened our wet departure for Rawene , 25km up the road , and our first night ’ s accommodation . Rawene is a strange little place . It was originally a logging town , with a mill and shipyards established in the early 19th century . Captain James Herd took out the first shipment of Kauri from the Hokianga in his ship Providence , in 1822 . The north is full of these interesting wee settlements , but today it ’ s largely just a stop on the way north , with the ferry running daily to Kohukohu .
42 KIWI RIDER