The Last Girl Guide …

Saturday, January 27th

So today is the last day of Ellen's near month-long stay in New Zealand. And the weather is perfect.

After waking up we soon start nursing our older - and then discover a few newer - overnight mozzie bites .. :o( :o( .. we then head back eastwards along the mainly coastal SH10 road to The Bay of Islands and pass straight through Paihia Township to the Opua-Okiata ferry; arriving at Opua just in time to ride straight on to the tail end of the ferry, without so-much as a stop. The Trannie is the very last vehicle to squeeze onto the busy vessel, which is skippered and conductor-attended by two very sunburned middle-aged Gestapo-type women - who you wouldn't want to meet in a dark alley - if ya get my drift! .. ;o)

Around five minutes is all it takes to cross the narrow stretch of water to Okiata, where most tourists would then typically turn left into Russell Township.

But we turn right and travel along the mostly coastal 'Russell Road', which offers a variety of twisting scenic tarsealed motorcycling.

We stop for a [eh-hem] 'breath of fresh air' .. and ...

.. simply admire and take-in the glorious views





Yunno, you can have just too much of a good thing sometimes. The 90-minute ride (including a couple of breaks) along the Russell Road to meet-up with the much busier southbound SH1 again involved full-on concentration, as the twisties just didn't stop coming. Corner after corner ~~> bend after bend ~~> turn after turn. I'm almost ashamed to say that it was good to get back onto SH1 just to travel for more than 250 metres in a straight line - Phew! What a relief!!

IMHO – The Russell Road is highly recommended for motorcyclists. It's very demanding; offers some great scenery; BUT watch-out for the loose gravel - of which there is plenty - AND the road kill. I've never seen so many dead opossums in a 66 km (41 mile) stretch of road before.

The last three days' riding around the Far North of Northland. colour-coded for your convenience. 700 km (435 miles) in total.

BLACK for Thu-25
RED for Fri-26
BLUE for Sat-27

Click-on this link for a more blown-up view that'll be easier to read. Hit the F11 function key, if you want to be a real smart-arse .. ;o)

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Later in the evening, back in Ruakaka, we pack the bike with all of Ellen's possessions, and an overnight bag for me; then make the 2-hour ride down to Auckland International Airport, where we say our goodbyes.

Her Air NZ flight takes off on time and I return to the very same nearby motel in which I stayed during my first night in Auckland back on Saturday, the 2nd of December last year. Nearly two months ago.

Now I face the prospect of the next two months ahead - riding around this fine but remote country again for a second time ... entirely on my own.

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We've just done the 'Beaten Track' all around New Zealand. I hope any reader of this blog-journal took at least a litle enjoyment from the adventure.

Now, for me, it'll soon be time to go 'Off the Beaten Track'.

So stay tuned, as I'll be back on the road again after a few restful days here in sunny Ruakaka.

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AND WHO'S GONNA DO ME WASHIN 'AN IRONING NOW ... AN' EVERFING - HUH?? .. JUST WHO, THAS-WOT I WANNA UNDERSTAND?? .. As I've just lost the best Girl Guide I know!! .. :o(

BTW - Does anyone know if they have a 'Bob-a-Job Week' down here in Kiwiland?