Starting the day nice and early with a nice coffee and breakfast with homekill sausages was a good start. Supplied by Mark as one would expect since I stayed the night there.
We decided the evening before that we would hit the beach at about 2pm. Meaning we would leave at about 1 from Marks place and fuel up about 10km before the beach.
This gave me some time to rethink the packing which I in turn spent quite some time on. As the sun was burning like crazy even at 9am Mark allowed me to do it all on his deck.
One last banana and glass of cold water and of we went to the magical 90 mile beach.
The beach itself got me very excited once we arrived at the start. Had a quick look from the top of a dune to see if the sea had retreated enough and if we went. Probably should have taken a picture there.
Mark mentioned that after the first few kilometers it all becomes the same. Have to say that he was right but it didn’t make it less epic. Me and the little 51 have done it. 100% sure that so far it’s the only Guzzi V50 Nato that has done it.
Picture take at the bluff about 2/3 up.
And at the entrance or exit at Tepaki stream depending on how you look at it. Where I randomly bumped into one of my friends. Tiny country this New Zealand place.
Coming onto highway 10 Mark turned right and went home. I had to go right to camp up at Taputopu bay and hike to Cape Reinga. By the time I had set up camp at Taputopu the sun was already getting close to the edge of hills. Tried to hike for a bit but ended up going back because I didn’t want to be on the track in the dark. At least I got to see some nice views.
Back at the tent I dropped my stuff off and stumbled into the sea to cool down. After doing 90 mile and Tepaki it was absolutely lovely to jump into the water.
Followed by some simple food and hiding in the tent from mosquitos. That tent is where I’m writing this, and out of blue heard people say “that’s another Dutch bike” followed by a “you can’t be serious” (that was said in Dutch so I translated it).
A nice couple hailing from Deventer (Guido & Lilian) rode their two motorbikes from the Netherlands to Kuala Lumpur and then flew them to New Zealand. Two random encounters on one day. Follow them on http:// www.thereisnotry.nl
To top it off, the self inflatable matt that I bought at the Warehouse leaks. Looked everywhere for the leak except where it was (next to the valve). Tried to fix it with some tape which didn’t work of course. Good thing I threw the repair kit out three days ago. Ended up fixing it with chewing gum, toilet paper and a shoe lace. As long as it lasts this one night…. I’ll be happy.
