Whanganui River Road Cruise

 It has been a long time since I was last up the Whanganui river so the opportunity to re-acquaint myself with it was not to be missed. With the Christmas holidays in full swing and the weather looking good a decision was made to head up the river to Raetihi for lunch and back down the Parpara's for the return journey home. We decided on an early 8:30 start at Memorial Park, a pickup at the Feilding Railway Station and stop over at the Ben Nevis car park at Turakina for a few more people on the way.

Our outward trip to Turakina via Feilding and Halcombe had us in Turakina just after 9:30. We were soon back on the road again with the arrival of Bruce S from Levin on his little Yamaha TDR 250. A quick count had fifteen of us heading for Whanganui via Fordell and it was here a stop was made to top up with petrol before we headed up the river. We were soon on our way again through Upokongaro to River road turnoff. We had a stop at the top of Tourist Hill for the chocolate box photo op as we looked up the river towards where we were about to go. The next many kays had us passing through a collage of fields, bush and river scenery as we headed up the river to our next stop at Jerusalem where we were able to stop and enjoy some of the tranquility of the settlement made famous by James K Baxter and the Sisters of Compassion.

It was here we meet a gentleman from Christchurch who had taken three months out from work to walk the Te Araroa trail and was a few days away from the halfway point, Palmerston North. He was really enjoying the journey and was looking forward to the rest of his walk. It was getting pretty warm at this stage and we were soon on our way again heading for Pipiriki with the cool air providing some relief. Some of us stopped at another chocolate box view and took a few more photos and all to soon we were making a right hand turn at Pipiriki and heading towards Raetihi for lunch. It was a good thirty minutes of bend swinging with caution through quite a few 30 km loose metal zones (they mustn't have had any more 30 km signs left at the depot!) through some lovely bush and farm backdrops into Raetihi.

The lineup of bikes on the main street looked impressive. Angel Louise is the usual cafe of choice when the crew are in the area but it looked as though they decided on a Christmas break so patronage was shifted to the Coach Caffe across the road. They did a great job feeding the troops and at very reasonable prices. A recommended stop. It was here we got to meet some of the locals with a certain gentleman taking quite a noticeably special shine to Bruce A. Congratulations, you have still got it! It was neat sitting outside watching some of the daily life of Raetihi go by as they went about their business. Definitely a different pace. As the tummies were filled and thirst quenched we got ourselves organised for the return trip south via the Paraparas with a top up at the local petrol station.

We were soon on our way enjoying some more bend swinging interspersed with a number of stop lights managing traffic through some major roadworks. The major slip that closed the Paraparas not so long ago still looked rather precarious and a reminder of the force of mother nature. The run into our next stop at Upokongaro was magic on the GSR with a great road surface and plenty of sign posted 'see through' corners. All to soon we pulled up at Upokongaro for a regroup before heading back home.

This was a wonderful day out with great people for company and fitting way to see out 2020. The Whanganui River road trip is one that some in our group have done many times. They keep coming back for good reason. There is something very special being able to follow by road a river for this sort of length through some magnificent countryside.  For some there is a strong spiritual connection whether it be the tangata whenua, (the local Maori), Sister Aubert and The Sisters of Compassion or James K Baxter, one of our country's greatest poets.  I am already looking forward to my next visit to this special place.

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