Rotorua to Arapuni

 Ray and Judy in Rotorua are lovely hosts due sure and also a wealth of knowledge when it comes to cycling. After the phone call to the local gravel road expert we had the Leslie Road option over the Mamaku's confirmed and the route plotted. 

Another phone call to Peter was made who was a chap Ray put me on to as he had already done both the Kopiko and the TA. A visit was called for on our way out of Rotorua as Peter and Sue are moving South shortly to Rangiora and as it happens I have recently joined the North Canterbury Cycling Club as the club has exclusive access to the Ashley forest. Peter is about to join so it looks like there might be some joint adventures in to the forest.

Sue had just put some blueberry muffins in the oven and although they were still 20 minutes away I deemed it important to stop and enjoy another cup of tea and sample the muffins. Not only were they just the best muffins but I was sent on my way with some for the road. Thank you Peter and Sue. 

Ray was my guide through the city and rode well in to the Mamaku's with me before turning back. It was then a big long pull up the hill to the end of the road. After negotiating the tank trap (concrete abutments and trenches) there was about a km through the forest dodging the odd further trench before the trail opened out on to a gravel road. This was the much talked about but extremely hard to find "Leslie Road" route. From there on it was a simple mostly downhill gravel forestry road right to the barrier before the 10 km downhill on seal. I definitely chose the right way to ride the trail. 

I came across an interesting chap just heading in to the forest on a very old MTB loaded up with an assortment of gear along with 10kg of flour and bags of sugar.  He's living in the first he tells me and this was his first time out this year! Prefers his own company after having three wives he said...

It was a good run down in to Putararu other than about 1 km of new road that was still in the shingle phase to get over. 

Realised that today was my first "Pie" day which is probably a bit of a record as pies are normally the first thing ordered at cafés. After the pie, a cup of tea and a milkshake it was pop in to Countdown for some fresh fruit and a bottle of milk. 

Then it was a 13 km run on to the camp alongside Arapuni. There's quite a lot of others here just about all seniors in motorhomes and caravans bar another couple of cyclists who have just ridden in. 

For a freedom camping site with basic facilities i was pleasantly surprised to find the showers (yes showers) were of the hot water variety! I have a feeling though if one turns up in June they would be very much of the cold water variety. 

I haven't yet got my head around the weather patterns up here at all. At 7.00 AM it was persisting down by 8.30 it had stopped by 9.30 the Mountain was shrouded in rain and it looked even blacker where I was to be heading over the Mamaku's. Ray said the longer we leave heading off the less chance of rain. He was so right as although it looked like the rain was setting in, just as he predicted it cleared and has gotten progressively hotter through the day and I've definitely pitched the tent in the shade of a tree.