Wednesday 4th January
Benneydale – Taumarunui 65kms
Magic day. Left at 11am after rain, a chat to the locals,
coffee and packing. Hard to leave, even though it was an unusual place. Rode up
two big hills and it was cold at first. Stopped at a gorgeous Maori urupa
before the Tunnel Hill on the way to Waimiha. The weather cleared and what
followed was the most glorious and gorgeous undulating gorge. It was really
special and not somewhere we intended to end up! Had lunch on the side of the
road and carried on to Ongarue.
The terrain changed a bit after that but still lovely and
then re-joined the State Highway to
Taumarunui and carried on. Much busier but a good shoulder and considerate
traffic. Made fast progress after that, excited to be making Taumarunui and
also quite smooth going and downhill. Motivated by trying to get Hugh to the
model railway of the Raurimu Incline that he saw under construction when we
were last here, only to get there at 4.30pmto find it out of order!
Went to the supermarket and then the 4kms south to the camp.
Met some German cyclists and American Te Araroa walkers including a nice guy
from Tennysee. Really interesting and a lovely night with tortillas and fresh
garden herbs at the lovely Taumarunui campground. Lovely to be back there.
Thursday 5th January
Taumarunui – Raetihi 74kms
Lovely day again and got away around 9am. The climbs were gradual at first ad we made some good progress. After some more serious climbing we stopped at Owhango for coffee which was a lovely surprise and we had a custard square! Made the hills up to National Park - the Raurimu Spiral Hill being the test-piece - arriving around 3pm starving and worn out. Had lunch by the ski shop at National Park and then had a coffee to get in from outside.
Late by the time we got up to the Matatoke Viaduct which was spectacular and then finally over to the edge of the plateau and then a long and fabulous descent into Raetihi. Bought some groceries and went to the camp, arriving just on 7pm which was great. Lovely evening and had a bbq and enjoyed the sunset over the mountain. Slept soundly.
Friday 6th January
Raetihi – Whanganui 88 hilly kms
Started from the camp at 9am and went to the fabulous Angel Louise Café where we had visited before and had awesome coffee and wi-fi and food. Managed to book a backpackers in Whanganui and then decided to push out to Levin tomorrow. All required a bit of a creative approach to work out but hoping that goes well.
So we left Raetihi at 10am after a few games of tumbling monkeys which was fun at the camp and then coffee at the café. It was quite downhill and then the two steep descents and ascents and we assumed that was it until the big Bennyfield Hill at the end. How wrong we were! Lots of big ups and spectacular downs and undulations. Lots of roadworks, blind corners, wash-outs and bridges.
Met an English sailor at one rest area which was inspiring as he had cycled toured a lot but also sailed for two years and several trips before that. Good to connect with him.
Had lunch on a bridge and continued on long into the afternoon. The wind picked up and we ascended the Bennyfield Hill with a lot of determination and then rode across the very exposed ridge over the hill country and down the massive descent on the other side. Halfway down a double articulated truck and an Intercity bus passed us near a blind corner and then we heard a terrible engine braking and came around the corner to see the truck and a ute pulled over. I was sure that the truck had hit John and Hugh’s bike and I scooted along the inside of the pull-over, looking frantically for them. It took a while to sink in that they were not there and we came around the next corner where they were waiting for us.
So we were exhausted by the time we arrived in a blustery side wind to the end of the Whanganui River Valley meeting point. Still had 14 kms to go and made quite hard work of them. Rode right through Wanganui and arrived to the Hikurangi StayPlace – a backpackers converted where we stayed and it was 7.30ish but great to get there and collapse into our room, have a shower, have dinner and a drink and relax. Really needed sheets, towels, laundry and a good sleep. Hugh particularly had been a bit over-wrought during the day and needed some civilisation.
Saturday 7th January
Wanganui – Levin 106kms
Pretty motivated escape from Wanganui knowing that we were meeting Helen and Alejandro and the kids at the end of the day in Levin. Departed the lovely StayPlaceabout 9am and headed out and up the first hills. They were ok and we then came to a gorgeous rose garden in the middle of a corn-field with seats and mown lawns and gorgeous roses of every variety planted there by a rose supplier. Had a lovely stop for morning tea and continued on, the hills fairly gradual apart from climbs in and out of river valleys.
Cut out most of the climbing by about lunchtime when we descended into Bulls, having lunch outside the Visitors Centre and then a coffee at the café, which was good.
Got away again and made solid and flatter progress to Levin, except that there was a terribly strong side wind after the turn at Sansom and we struggled a bit across the highland there.Turned again finally and stopped at a honey shop at Waiareka and had some inside time and some real fruit icecream there which was very good.
Some steep undulations right at the end before Levin – tiny hills normally – but seemed hard at the end of a 106km day. Rode a long way round town into the camp, arriving about 6.30pm. Helen and Alejandro and the boys had just arrived too so it worked out really well and it was great to see them. Had some drinks and dinner and all slept in an 8 bunk cabin which was fun.
Levin – Pukerua Bay 65kms
Played with Felix and Max at the camp and then the Levin Playground before getting on the road around 9.30am. It was funny to see the Southend Bike shop where we bought our Pino bikes originally.
Bit of a climb over towards the Tararuas to Otaki and we stopped there and had a rest in a café. Went on through Paraparaumu and Waikanae before getting to Paekakariki about 4.30pm. had lunch on some grass just out of Paraparaumu and a second coffee at Paekakariki. Feeling pretty jaded by the traffic by then.
Rode up the final bit of coast on the cycleway to Pukerua bay and then climbed the hill to Helen and Alejandro’s house. Great to see their house – awesome spot and Sue and Jeremy came for dinner and we had a nice meal and wine. Lovely to see everyone and to be in Wellington.
Monday 9th January
Pukerua Bay to Petone by train!
Got up and hung out with Alejandro and the boys and went for a walk down the beach which was interesting and lovely. Packed up after a gourmet pesto spaghetti lunch and caught the train into town with the bikes. Relief to get them on as we had been warned by everyone not to try and bike into the city. Very hot and we biked down to Te Papa and looked at the Gallipoli exhibition with Sue and Jeremy, but had to leave to get the off-peak train by about 3pm. Once again, we had no problems getting the bikes on the train.
Arrived at Lee’s about 3.30pm and it was great to see her and the renovations to her house. Very impressed. Sue and Jeremy and Helen, Alejandro and the boys all came for dinner which was nice. Hugh played with the cats, Lola and Coco. Nice to be there.
Tuesday 10th January
Petone, Wellington to Blenheim by train, ferry and bike 30kms
Bit of a timetable to catch up with everyone but it all worked out well. Left Lee’s at 9.45am after a nice breakfast and catch-up and caught the 10am train to town. Met Liz and Griffin at Te Papa at 10.30am and had brunch at a nice café. Eddie called in from work as well so good to see them all.
Met Anna at midday at Te Papa and the kids were let loose at Te Papa while John and I had a tour of the Art Store for an hour which was really interesting. Good to see her.
Left Te Papa and biked to the ferry. On the ferry now – not the best. Looking forward to seeing Gordon, Sue and the girls tonight after biking to Blenheim and onward tomorrow to Donna’s. Restorative to rest and catch up with family and friends in Wellington and Blenheim.
Reached the half-way point a few days ago. 1640kms done now and on our way to the South Island which believe it or not is shorter.
No comments:
Post a Comment