A MOTOR-CYCLE TOUR.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4818, 4 March 1925, Page 1

A MOTOR-CYCLE TOUR.

PAEROA TO CHRISTCHURCH. • DESCRIPTION OF THE TRIP. No. 1. The following account of a motorcycle tour, made during the last Christmas holidays, has been contributed by Mr A. A. Jenidmson, assistant clerk to the Ohinemuri County Council, Paeroa. Mr Jenkinson, riding a Douglas motor-cycle, was accompanied on the trip by Mr Arthur Civtis, Old Te Arolia R; ad, Paeroa, riding an Indian machine: — “Reaving Paeroa at 11 a.m. on Christmas Eve, each with a suitcase strapped on to the machines, and with fine but overcast weather, we proceeded ’.through Te Aroha and Morrinsville to Hamilton. There had been no rain for some days prior to our leaving Paeroa, and the road was in good condition, but rather rough in places, especially the two miles of •day nan through Mo. umbo. Near Ruakura, on a piece of road that was very rough, the first ppill occurred through the Indian bike getting into a rut. No damage was done other than a bent handle-bar, which was easily straightened again. After stopping in Hamilton to replenish our petrol we continued on with the intention of reaching Te Kuiti, which is exactly 100 miles from Paeroa,: that night. The road south from Hamilton was in good order, and slightly undulating. We had a very pleasant run through the picturesque Waikato district, dotted here and there with miniature lakes’ and harvest operations were in full swing on many of the farms as we passed. The bright sunshine added to the picture and made the ride more pleasant. The roads being good, we soon left the miles behind us, and passed through the townships of Ohaupo, Te Awamutu, Kihikihi, and Otorohanga. Some five miles from Te Kuiti the road became very rough, and coa, lined so up a long hill, from the top of which we obtained a fine view of the town, picturesquely situated in a sort of basin at the foot of the hills. This was the end of pur first day's riding.

' Next day (Christmas Day) we left Te Kuiti by a road which,: althougfi very hilly and with some long climbis, had a very good surface, and about 30 miles on we entered the Awakino Valley, the road following the course of the Awakino River through beautiful bush scenery. Part of this road for about six miles was a perfect bog, but it is now an excellent metalled road. Mpkau was soon reached, but the road on both sides of this township, for about four miles on the Te Kuiti side and six miles on the New Plymouth side, was very bad for travelling, being covered with freshly put down , metal and clay. It w.ap here that the Indian machine, being heavy, was hard to keep ,011 the road in the clay, and several spills resulted. Alter travelling for about 12 miles Through beautiful scenery, especially at Tongaporutu, we came to Mount Messenger, a climb of two and a half miles and a descent of two miles; The bush scenery on the New Plymouth side was magnificent, but extreme care had to be taken as there are some very sharp corners on the road, with a drop of some hundreds of feet into a buph-clad gully. From here .good progress was, made, and the road fot the most part was uoud. waitara was reached about 6.30 p.m., and we found accommodation for the night. Next morning, knowing that we were only half a mile off Taranaki’s famous asphalt roads, an early stall was . made. Once on these roads, needless to say it did not take us long to cover the ten miles into New Plymouth. After staying in .this, town about three hours w.e proceeded on our tour via the coast road rpund Cape Egmont, parsing through the townships of Opuhake, Manaia, and smaller settlements to Hawera. This was a very fine run, the rqad being nearly all flat, and about half the distance covered was on asphalt. We stayed at Hawera that night, and next day we, only went from there to iWianganui, a distance. of 61 miles, as it was raining most of the day, and as we approached Wanganui the downpour increased. Between Hawera and Wanganui the road was good, although very hilly, about twenty miles being of asphalt.

The next day (Sunday) dawned a beautiful day, and after spending a little time in Wanganui we .continued on our journey. The roads were rather rough and hilly for the first five miles, but improved as we travelled onwards. We passed through the townships of Wahgaeha, Turakina, Bui Is, Foxton, Levin, and Otaki, and also crossed the Wanganui, Wangaehu. Manawatu, Rangitikei, and other smaller rivers, some of them, including the two last-named, being at that time, in flood. There was a good deal of traffic on the road this day, making plenty of dust, some of which we carried to Paekakariki, on the ,west coast, 33 miles from Wellington, where we stayed the night.

The journey next morning commenced by climbing Paekakariki Hill, during the process of which we hhd a magnificent view of the sea coast, with the white;crested rollers breaking in, and the Paekakariki township nestling at the foot of the hills. From here the road was good to Johnsonville, but for five miles from that township to the Hutt Road it was very rough;

On arrival at Wellington we immediately made inquiries about the steamers running to Picton or Nelson, and learned that the s.s. Wainui was leaving for Nelson at seven

that night, so we booked our. passages by her. Early that afternoon It commenced to rain, and continued to do so well into the night. We had hoped for it to be line for the early part of the trip across Cook Strait, but "£> were disappointed. Next morning the weather was quite line again, and we obtained a splendid view* of Nelson as we steamed clown alongside the Boulder Bank, We both landed on the South Island for the lir.st time at 6.54' a.m.

Leaving Nelson City at 10.30 o’clock the same morning, via the Rocks Road, we travelled south, passing enough beautiful country, and the pretty little townships of Stoke, Richmond, Brightwater, and Wakefield. M’ter travelling 23 miles south from Nelson to the township of Belgiovc the ascent of Spooner’s Range began. This is a live-mile climb, very steen in places, and several sharp turns., From the top of the range a fine view is to be had of the Waimea Plains anil

Tasman Bay. Having safely descended r .he range and forded two creeks, one of which was rather deep, and travelling some 20 miles farther on, we had a much worse climb, with hair-pin bends, over the Hope Saddle. The weather by- this time had become overcast, and steady rain commenced to Eal'. making the descent of the Hope Saddle rather precarious. Glenhope, the present terminus of the ra'iway from Nelson, marked the beginning of wonderful bush scenery running alongside the Buller River. After proceeding about 14 miles the rain ceased, and also at the same time I met with trouble with my machine for the first time. The driving chain came undone at the spring clip, and only half the link could be found. However, we surmounted the difficulty by tying a piece of rope on to the Douglas and my mate towed me for eight miles into Murchison, where we sp'.nt the night.

It is interesting to record that for some miles past Glenhope large railway construction works are in progress by the Public Works Depait-

whicl: is extending the .line towards .Mu>-chuon and the Inangahua Junction. When this line is completed it will pass through some beautiful bush scenery near the upper reaches of the Buller. River.

Next morning, after repairs to the chain had been effected, we left Murchison and proceeded over good roads and in fine weather through more beautiful bush and river secenery, and, still following the course of the Buller River, we crossed over a saddle called Devil’s,Terrace, and on into Inangahua Junction. At this point we turned to the left, almost at right angles to the Buller River. The road ib the right along the river leads to Westport. Reefton was reached early in the afternoon, but feeling cituer too tired or too lazy—l don't know which- - we spent the rest of the day in Reefton.

Arter travelling about fifteen miles mext morning, which was New Year-' Da-, we came to the Grey River, and following it, passing through Brunner and a number of rsmall townships, we came out on to the West Coast and Greymuiith. We received a good dusting going into Greymouth, as we had to pass dozens of motor-cars going to the Greymouth races, the racecourse being situated on the main north road

Aker lunch we left Groymouth and, passing over good roads and througli, pretty country, we followed tlie coast bo Eamara railway station, where the road branches, one road going to Chi isfchurch, via Otira, and the other to I-i< kitika and the glaciers. As we weie anxious to isce the Franz Josepn Glacier we took the latter read. Hokitika, a pretty little town right, on the sea-coast, was reached about midafternoon, and here we stayed the night.

Next morning we started early, intending to reach the Franz Joseph Glacier and returning the same day. This trip proved to be one of tlie finest experiences of our tour. Not only was the weather fine, but the sceaiery was magnificent. • Of the 94 miles between the glacier and Hokitika all but.' about 25 miles is through dense bush, The road was good and hard, but with many steep pinches and sharp bends. This trip is one of the finest that could be wished for, but until it is undertaken its grandeur cannot be realised or appreciated. We experienced a series of thrills of delight throughout the journey. Three beautiful lakes, named lanthe, Wahapo, and Mapourika, surrounded by dense bush round which the road tskirls, are passed. Many rivers are crossed, the larger of which, including the Waitaha, Big Wanganui, Little Wanganui, and Waitaroa, are all bridged, but many have still to be fordeci, some of them being fairly deep, and causing us a lot of fun getting through with our machines. The riverbeds in most instances are very rough, and one or twice the engines stalled in tlie middle of the stream, resulting in our getting wet feet and legs. At one river, just as the Indian was nearly across, the wheel hit a large stone, whicli wae hidden by the dirty water, a capsize resulting. No damage was clone to the machine, but the clothes in the peck received a good wetting. When about a mile from the Glacier Accommodation House the first glimpse of the bluetinted glacier itself was obtained, lying in a deep gully on the side of the Southern Alps, with Mt. Cook towering af?ove it.

(To be continued.)