Gisborne back to Matawai

 A scorcher of a day for the uphill return journey. Didin't make the usual 6:00 AM start however still managed to get to the camp early afternoon.

The highlight of the day would be getting to chat again with Lou of Te Wera Station. She is an amazing person who has set up a gazebo with table and water container along with chilled fresh fruit and sweets for the cyclists passing by her gate. I had a chat with her yesterday and again today when she appeared at the gate with an ice block!!! She also offers accommodation and I would have loved to have stopped however this time it was just too early in the day for me to do so. Next time though I will definitely be stopping.

I'm back to my European habit of making a billy full of tea once I'm settled in with a shower and tent up. Unfortunately unlike the UK where I could buy 500 mills of milk which would do me for my tea and also museli in the morning, small town NZ doesn't have such. So I have gone the tube of sweetened condensed milk as an alternative (it would be even better if they sold it in an un-sweetened variety as well.

New Zealand is such a small place and when you take holidays like this youget to hear of other people you either know or they know of someone else whois also doing the ride. This was  the case today when Richard another of my Christchurch cycling buddies sent me a text to say friends of his were also on the route going West to East. As I'm now heading East to West I looked up where the they were and as it turned out I thought they may well be aiming for Matawai as well. They got a suprise when as he road in I said "John" is it? Right first time... LOL

The bike is running really well after Norm's tune up yesterday and just as well as I have a 20 km downhill trail to follow tomorrow.

On Friday night when I stopped here I had the lamb roast and couldn't get through it all. So today on the bike I was thinking I'll ask for simply roast lamb sandwhiches. Unfortunately that's not possible so I then changed to buying a loaf of bread, a packet of bacon and hald a dozen eggs. Bacon and egg sandwhiches for dinner, breakfast and lunch tomorrow and as it turns out all three meals for less than the roast! Okay, so I like bacon and egg sandwhiches! Maybe tomorrow will be a salad for dinner!

If you have read this far? Wow!

I'm happy to share the live tracking feature of my Garmin InReach tracking device and if you would like that link sent to you simply flick me a text.

 

Matawai to Wainui Beach Gisborne

Eight days and 793 km after leaving the Tasman at Cape Egmont I dipped my toes in the Pacific and can say "I've done the Kopiko"

Compared to yesterday today  was a breeze and we were at the beach bu 1:30 PM. siMckayla and Ads were there sitting at the beach in the shade and another couple Henry and Robyn who we criss crossed with over the days rode in just after myself, We were all very self congratulatory and pleased with our effort,

Then a guy rode in, I said let me take the photo for you and then he tells us he left on Wednesday, four days after us and was about to turn around and ride back to Matawai the 104 km we'd just ridden from! And some people say I'm mad!!!

Matawai is only probably 75 km from Gisborne by S H Way 2 yet it sits at about 600 metres so it's not suprising they get snow in winter and this morning in places you would say there was a frost! Yes at 6:00 AM it was cold on the bike.

I wasn't happy with my gears and so through a freind of Robyn's above who was at the beach I was put on to Norm Graham who works from his garage at home. Semi retired now buut been a cycle mechanic all his life - I phoned him and he said pop round. Ten minutes later he had my bike in his stand and the problem was getting sorted. Once finished and I said now how much? He said no payment! How good is that,

It's a bit like the farmer's along the way who leave fruit and water out for the riders.

I decided not to tent tonight and have gone all out and booked myself a bunk bed at the "Flying Nun Backpackers". Interesting. It was the old nunnery and very much reflects what one would expect it to be,

There's not a lot to hold me here much longer in Gisborne so I think I will backtrack tomorrow and aim for Rotorua over the next few days.

I've got wait till I receive the pic of the Pacific as I didn't take one myself!

Whakatane to Matawai

Six till six almost. Away before six and arrived at the Matawai Camp at about 5:45 PM. It was the longest ride for me on the Kopiko at about 130 km and 2,100 metres of climbing. For those used to driving over the Hilltop to Duvachelles I rode up to the Hilltop about four times (and in the heat it felt a bloody lot more)... 

Out of Whakatane we traveresed "Burma Road" which actually was a very rough farm track tht would take a skilled four wheel driver to navigate. The it was downa and on to Opotoki and after a breakfast stop there we decided to push on to Matawai. It was a nice riide out of Opotoki along the coast on the Dune bike trail and then we crossed S H Way 2 to begin the "Motu" trail. We soon hit the gravel road and for the next 48 km's (about 4 hours riding) we only ever saw four vehicles and one of those we saw twice! So it was great riding as far as traffic and gravel road was concerned - as for the hills well they are simply to be expected - knowing that though does not make then any easier.

It's very dry up here and there is not a lot of water to be found in the creeks or the ones where there is water it doesn't look that safe to drink, I found that I had used all my on board water up and was hoping that there would be sone to be found at Motu. Sure enough the Motu School had a tap I could get some water from to replenish my drink bottles.

Riding up through the bush was great and then when we emerged at about 700 metres of altitude we were in very high and steep grazing hill country bounded by bush.

We have been flip flopping along and running in to the same people on the trail - a lovely couple from Matamata and a group of four blokes from Auckland/Hamilton. We all ended up staying here for the night and making the most of what the little store had to offer before it shut for the night at 6:00 PM.

Serviced the bike as the chain was asking for some oil and got as much organised as one can for the last day tomorrow of the Kopiko - the ride in to Gisborne which although a good distance it won't have anything like the hills from today.

Waikite Valley to Whakatane

 Chris who never needs an alarm had to be woken by my two riding companions this morniing! It was 5:17 AM and they ended up having to shake my tent and call my name before I responded! Unheard of normally!!!

Anyhow after a very apolgetic start to the day, a very quick pack up while having breakfast were were underway a bit later than originally planned. 

First up was a reasonable hill and then we had the first of many downhills for the day.

Our route had us locate a very nice crater lake however as it was off the  official route we backtracked and continued on our way on a lovely cycle trail through the bush before popping out on the main highway to Murupara from Rotorua - after some more shingle roads we had a short ride on S H Way 2 before more gravel roads through the forestry.

I must add that a couple of days back we had a yearling stag come out on the road in front of us before quickly making an exit back in to the bush.

We road through Rerewhakitu (I did a short time on a farm there in 1973 miking cows) and then on East to Tekaha - Well Mongrel Mob red vests appeared to be the attire of choice for some and the dairy we stopped at was very busy with lots of folk comin and going - all the same after a quick ham roll and drink we carried on through Edgcombe to an ice cream stop at a berry farm before Whakatane.

Was pleased to get here and the consensus was that we hire a cabin for the night rather than putting up our tents (an extra $6).

I dropped my gear and headed straight in to town coz I had a tyre malfunction last night when I was trying to put more air in. I managed that however when removing the flexile pump attachement to the valve I managed to remove the valve and all the air from the tyre!!! As I'm running tubless tyres for the life of me I couldn't get them to rebead on the rims with just a small hand pump so Mckayla loaned me her spare tube and I was underway again. (I do carry my own spare tube but it was preferable to use hers on account of the valve situation).

Long story short the local bike shop took it in and made it tubless again so problem overcome.

Afetr a few days on the road you begin to miss fresh food and so the New World supemarket did well out of me and I'm dining on a fresh Italian salad and chilli beans for my dinner along with half a watermelon (small) and fresh fruit.

One doesn't have a lot of spare time on these journeys after sorting out, accommodation, washing (clothes and self) feeding oneself, servicing the bike and planning the route among other things.

And on that note I'll call it a blog for the day.

  

Mangakino to Waikite Valley Thermal Pools

 Another good start and we  rode  through to Whakamaru where we picked up the Kopiko route again and rode on throght to Atiamuri on the Waikato River Trail – a good purpose built cycle trail that is nicce to ride. Although supposedly running alongside the length of the lake there were quite a few ups and downs and zigs and zags which meant by the time we got to Artiamuri we had probably cllimbed 300 of our 1100 metres for the day. If the trail was not down by the Lake then it was alongside S H Way 30. After Artiamuri there was a short section of probably 2 km on the shoulder of S H Way 1 and the quicker we were off that the better. We then had some more gravel road and a couple of hills to get over.

After a couple of hours riding we began to see more and more riders going in the opposite direction and it was just as well we were clear of the River  Trail as quite a few of the bends did not allow for good visibility and it would have been a pain to have met someone coming the other way.

The day started in typical Waikato mist adjacent to the Lake and finished in perhaps 30 degrees – fortunately the campsite includes access to the thermal pools. As well as a shower, a swim, a soak in the hot pools it also allowed us to wash all our clothes – hand washing is only so good until there is the chance of a proper wash.

It seems strange that although Waikite is relatively close to Rotorua – there is no cell phone coverage or internet as a result.

Piropiro to Mangakino

 We carried on riding the next 40 km of the Timber Trail which is a great trail to ride - there was again quite a bit of climbing involved but of course .that meant that we had some really great downhill runs as well. Although not a great distance it did kind of take us all day.

Part way through we met "Bill" the fellow who has been building the trail since 2009! Here he was with his small tractor and digger smoothing out the trail and doing a fantastic job - what a man he is he works from 6:30 AM through to 6:30 PM with two 30 minute breaks and of course his chats with the likes of us. I didn't ask but I'm picking he's a volunteer  in his retirement years. He tells us he come sin for 10 days at a time then goes back to his wife etc.! Hats off to you Bill,

I can now say I have put my finger on the centre of the North Island as the pic below shows.

We are now beginning to encounter Kopiko Riders' going in the opposite direction which means at times we stop for a chat.

We needed to get supplies so made our way Mangakino and thought we would stop here the night. The Four Square shop had all we needed and right next door was the fish and chip shop. On the way in I remembered Rob and Ruth have friends with a house here and so a couple of phone calls later we had a great lawn to pitch our tents on with a view of the Lake and Golf Course. A thank you to Jim and Gay.

Ohura to Piropiro

 As there was no reception at Piropiro this note is a day later getting posted.

Another early start as we needed to be at the Timber Trail Lodge before 4:00 PM in order to be served pizza – the kitchen closes to casuals. As it was we were here by 2:00 PM and the Pizza was devoured and then a second one ordered half of which will become tomorrows food along with the oat cookies and brownie from Michelle’s at Ohura. Food or sourcing it for this leg of the journey was a wee bit problematic as there has been no store since Lepperton (New Plymouth) and the next will be Mangakino at the end of tomorrow’s ride.

The day was overcast and mild with a little light rain at the end of the day which was not a problem.

It was a good ride on quiet roads to get to the beginning of the Timber Trail and then we had 40 km of track which was mostly quite doable. The Timber Trail takes you through some wonderful country and like the West Coast a lot of historic sites along the way.

Our DOC Campsite is great, sheltered and we have our own shelter with table! Luxury…

Today I rode with my new friends Mckayla and Ads – two fun young women and keen outdoors and bikepacking girls who were at the Boat Club campsite on night one and again at the Pukeho Domain. We are all doing about the same distance each day and it’s nice to be in their company.

Pukeho Domain to Ohura

 I got my first taste ot taste of Taranaki Gravel Roads and I would have to say the roads I rode on today were not flash at all - In fact I had a motorbike following me unable to ride any faster and that was after I overtook him.

A super  hot day so the handle of lemon squash with the burger at the Wangamomina Pub was great after 40 km at 10:00 AM. The burger there became my lunch and I then set off  on S H Way 43 for about the next 50 km's probably 30 km's of which was the infamous shingle. 

It was interesting seeing the quite steep North Island hill country farms and clearly many are now more economic as forestry blocks.

The day just got hotter as it went on and I visited a random farmhouse to have my water bottles refilled. Was very pleased to roll in to Ohura after the 100 k, 1400 m of climb ride.

There's not much left of what was once a busy little rural town here in Ohura - however Michelle who runs the food caravan is a wonderful organiser, business person and host and she provides accommodation and when that is full she opens up the hall with mattresses on the floor so there is no need to pitch the tent tonight.

Cape Egmont to Pukeho Domain

 A 5:00 AM start to break camp and then ride the 5.0 KM to the other lighthouse where the Kopiko Aotearoa officially began at 6:23 AM - those who know me well know that I started pedalling at exactly 6:23 AM (funny I was the first one away at that time as others still appeared to be sorting their bikes.

It was good riding in to the sunrise and seeing the Mount come in to view.  The ride was progressively uphill for about the first three hours then we got to enjoy the great downhill all the way in to New Plymouth. The Te Hunui walkway takes you right through NP to the Coastal walkway which you then ride on to leave NP. I decided to pop in to "Mitchells" Bike shop as my gears were not sounding 100%. They sorted the problem quickly and probably just as well as my chain was on the wrong way round! Yes, I didn't know that was possible either so I shall remember next time I remove the chain to ensure it goes back on right way round.

Brunch was had while the bike was being looked at and then it was out of NP and further along the route. There was a rumour that there was a school and pool available for camping at about the 115 KM mark.

It is actually the Pukeho Domain (ex the old school site) and it is so cool, The locals keep the pool running and the trees make this the ideal campsite and there are picnic tables as well so that is a plus - will be able to sit down properly for my dinner - Chilli Beans and 2 minute noodles - that's all the store at Lepperton had on offer!

Off to enjoy the campsite some more.

New Plymouth to Cape Egmont Boating Club

 Hosted last night by Peter and Sharon my Warmshower hosts in New Plymouth. Great hospitality and importantly heaps of local knowledge about the Kopiko ride and also the Tour Aotearoa (TA).

Assembled bike and rode the 47 km's to the campground through Pukeiti and the edge of Egmont National Pary arriving at the Boating Club about 2:00 PM.  A nice easy day.

Was planning on the Club doing their famous fish and chips (but they are closed tonght) - bugger. Bit rough when you have to call on your emergency tucker before the event gets underway!

Also learnt that Kopiko starts at the "other" lighthouse 10 km down the coast not this one! Bugger.

Just as well I enjoy the early morning coz it's officially a 6:23 AM start.

Under Way - New Plymouth to Bluff via Gisborne and Cape Reinga

 Packed and ready to go.