Muriwai. About an hours ride from my home and one of Auckland's iconic and most popular beaches is located on the West Coast just north of Auckland. It's a black sand beach, derived from the iron content of the old surrounding volcanoes. It is a popular place to swim (although very dangerous), to fish and has some terrific nature walks. It also has its own Gannet colony for those that love birds. It is also a great place to have a bit of fun on bikes! At low tied you can drive on the beach, (4Wd access) only north of the entrance though and there is a posted speed limit. You can go as far as South Head forest which is about 60km's up. A few hours either side of low tied is the best. Judging by some of the rusting engine blocks and chassis that I saw not every one adheres to this advice.
So on Sunday afternoon in fine but balmy temperatures (12 Celsius, 53 F ) Andy and I decided to head off and have a bit of fun and do a bit of exploring. I had once ventured as far as the entrance but that was when the GS was only a few days old and with the standard road tires on. This time I was a wee bit more prepared. ( and of course wiser, cough, cough). The entrance onto the beach is about 70 meters long and the sand is thick and powdery. Had to really floor it to get on and the bike was going all over the place, I half expected at any minute for the front to dig in and off I go...but it didn't and in a few moments I had a grin from ear to ear as we began riding at a controlled speed along the beach. What a blast!
Stopped for a few pics, mainly trying to get Andy in the frame practicing his wheelies....he was doing quite well which is more than I was doing with the camera. A few people out and about fishing, a few kids on dirt bikes and people out walking. A sunny day and only a mild breeze. Man I love wee jaunts like this. Sunday afternoon riding up and down a near deserted beach. Heaven.
All to soon our time for play was up and we headed back down the beach, my exiting wasn't as successful as my entrance and the front gave way plopping me onto the sand like some rejected lover....honestly my bike is a bitch some times. I mean it is just sand so no damage is done except that my foot was stuck and Andy all ready having disappeared over the horizon I had to wait for a guy in a 4wd to come and lift the bike off me ( don't get me started on how that conversation went) ....no sooner said than done though and I managed to get the rest of the way out with incident. Whats a bit of off roading with out the odd off.
A stop at the wash world just down the road was in order as the Black iron sand and mixture of salt water can corrode you bike quicker than a Hollywood marriage....or should that be divorce.
Thanks for reading another one of Rogeys Gravel Rash Adventures. A few more pics here if interested
Thanks for reading another one of Rogeys Gravel Rash Adventures. A few more pics here if interested
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Awesome, Rog! Isn't the Beemer too heavy for the sandy surface?
ReplyDeleteNice action shot of Andy. He seems to know exactly what he's doing.
Sonja: Is the beemer heavy? ummm..only when you drop it! Momentum is very important, to slow and you are not drving through the sand enough. The faster the better.....some times though I lack the nerve.
DeleteOh dear oh dear oh dear.....
ReplyDeleteQuote "wiser". I hope you had your tongue in your cheek when you said that, you complete hooligan! Consorting with that nutter Andy rather gives the game away. It was Karma that trapped you under the bike :-).
Haven't been to Muriwai yet but will be addressing that shortly when Jennie and I use Keith's B&B at Karekare as a base for exploring the west coast.
Lovely photos mate but it would have been even better if you'd have thoughtfully provided one of you trapped under the bike. Next time maybe?
Geeoff; You guys will love exploring this part of Auckland. A true gem. I was more concerned about reducing further embaressment than taking photos when I fell off. But I am sure there will be plenty of other oppurtunities!
DeleteIf your bike is going to nap, it might as well be on soft sand. No better place for falling over. Nice of the 4wd operator to lift it off you.
ReplyDeleteSure looks like you had fun though. Makes me want to try a dual sport.
It is certainly fun, and will help your riding skills no doubt...., get some thing nice and small though to start.
DeleteRoger
ReplyDeleteGreat post! It looks like it was a lot of fun! I have Ben in the same position with my bike having a narcolepsy attack at the end of my driveway, on mine was on concrete, would personally prefer sand! I had to wait for help too because my ankle was wedge under the bike & curb. Yup it was embarrassing, particularly when a passerby stood gawking and finally asked if I needed help.
I am sure we as bikers have all had "moments" we would like to for get, but they make for a great conversation later. Since I have brought the GS I have gotten use to being embarrassed.
DeleteYou can keep the beach to yourself! I don't wanna have to pick up over 200kgs of V-Strom!. Sand is something I don't really want to have to deal with...
ReplyDeleteHarden up man....I thought they bred them tough down your ways. I am not that keen on it either but it is a great challenge!
DeleteThis hard enough for ya: https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-HupasrkXbzo/TiJsTDjpVpI/AAAAAAAARSg/ONXMMbH3TM0/s800/P7170126.JPG
DeleteI want to see how you got o there..............not bad though.
DeleteMaybe you could change the name from Rogeys gravel rash adventures to Rogeys sand in my underpants adventures.
ReplyDeleteLook here my poor deluded Ozzie cousin.....stick to the seal, it is safer for you precious types! :) You could of course put knobblies on that "thing" of yours and show us the out back. Then we would see who has red dirt in there pants!! PS Go Queensland.
DeleteNow thats truely a low blow below the belt. Queensland..... Rog I thought you of all people had more gumption than to go for those low down, dirty, no good, hillbilly hick queenslanders.
DeleteOh geez sorry mate, it is only because half of New Zealand live there. (Turned into a heart break for the blues in the end didn't it?)
DeleteRoger:
ReplyDeleteMy Strom never leaves paved roads. I don't think I could lift it by myself. But I would have no problems at all using YOUR GS in the Sand, as it has already been "Sand" tested
bob
Riding the Wet Coast
My Flickr // My YouTube
Thanks Bob, sand tested and trusted! You have to give these things a go at least once.
DeleteSecond to last picture...CUTE!! And you are looking dapper as well. ;)
ReplyDeleteNo pics of the rusted out hulks?
I'm glad you are having some fun. The day looked great.
I know... I am quite the model some times.
DeleteHey Rogee, Andy here. Awesome day mate, perfect in fact.
ReplyDeleteCouldnt agree more mate.
DeleteYou are so lucky being able to ride on the beach, here in NJ would be a guarantee ticket if not a trip to jail :-(
ReplyDeleteNice pictures, I like to see the bike dirty ;-)
Have you ridden the G650GS two-up? Just curious how the thumper would handle my wife and I.
ReplyDelete