A cool if not cold start to the day, a gloves and jacket day as elevation certainly affects the mornings temperature.
If yesterday was all about climbing hills then today was about descending them. 42 km's of purpose built or old tramway adapted cycle trail which made for some good riding along some great native forest.
My criticism of myself and other travellers is that we always take the same route to get from A to B and generally don't deviate or stop to enjoy the journey. I have to put my hand up for dpng the same on my TA. Example being today there was a lot of historical sites we rode straight past. Note to self... come back and take several days to allow time to read the informative sign boards along the way.
Once off the Timber Trail there was 10 - 15 km of gravel before we hit seal that took us right in to the centre of Taumaranui on a day that had now become 30 degrees.
We managed to book our motel unit from the Café so rode around the corner to it.
It is well set up for riders with a very well appointed workshop and bike cleaning station. I took advantage of this and gave the bike a thorough clean and degrease and oiled the chain and also changed the front brake pads as these had worn out. Julie was a his help with her pliers and advice. Thanks Julie.
We went next door to the RSA for our meal which was a traditional roast pork for me. Sadly the rest of the commercial side of Taumaranui appears to be in an unstoppable decline and if it were a person it would be having suggested that it gets it affairs in order. The "VS" (vacant shop) cancer is now evident in well over half the properties and is beyond control as like a Ccancer it spreads to neighbouring properties.
There are not enough hours in the day I have decided as it's almost 10:00 PM and my roommate's are already asleep.
So that's where I'm heading myself.
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