Bridge to Nowhere 1988

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This little story was published in September 1988 in issue one of Mountainbike New Zealand (a magazine that Paul put out for a few years). The photos are all water damaged (do not adjust your screen). Text by Simon Kennett , photos by Paul Kennett

Mangaparua Road road end By Paul Kennett

At two a.m. three brothers hopped off the Northerner at Ohakune and found a dry patch under a large tree to sleep.

We rose with the sun and had the road riding to the start of the Mangapurua Track out of the way by noon.

The track is the remains of a road which once ran through the rugged Mangapurua Valley, across the 'Bridge to Nowhere', and on to the Whanganui River. Back in the 1930's the valley was home to 45 farming families and a school. But the land refused to be tamed, and slowly they left. In the 40's the road was officially closed due to slips, and the valley has now been deserted for decades.

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