Mangakino to Piripiri

Climbing. Long Climbing. Climbing up hills is what today was all about. Not that we broke records in elevation but what defines today was the solid 15 – 16 km long hill that just steadily went upwards with little or no downwards. That first hill took us up about 5-600 meters.

It was a very wet fog that we rode out of Mangakino in at 7:30 this morning and took about an hour to clear once the sun began to do it’s job. It was that thick that the drips were falling off the peak of my helmet and it was reasonably cool with my fingers feeling the cold. Note to self – have my polyprop gloves handy for tomorrow.

We hit a little bit of gravel road however this soon finished with a Swingbridge leading in to the rest of our ride for the day. The best way to get over the swingbridge was to take the bags off the bike and walk it across on its backwheel then go back and get the gear. We were then at the start of the big uphill that began with a 4.4.km track to a gravel road. After about 40 km we got to the start of the “Timber Trail” bike track and were still climbing up that same hill.

Eventually we reached the summit at just under 1,000 meters and then began simply the best downhill – so there is always a plus with climbing hills.

Being a track designed for bikes meant it was easily rideable (no steps, stairs, or gnarly rocks to clamber over). It certainly took longer than one would think however we also managed quite a few stops en-route which all eat in to the time of the day.

We stopped at the Timber Trail Lodge thinking we would score another of their $15 pizza’s however as it was just after 5:00 PM the kitchen had switched to cooking the evening meals and Pizzas were off the menu. However they did still have their $4 peanut slabs so I helped their business with a purchase.

It was then off to our accommodation just down the road (not the DOC Campsite I used last time I was here but this time we had gone upmarket to Glamping at Camp Epic! Yay.

Well not quite. The online booking that I thought I had made for two tents actually turned out to be only for One! That’s two of our party of four accommodated. Bugger. Just as well we also have our tents. But then just as I was ever so nicely negotiating tents sites even though they were at capacity, Ken rides in and was being directed to his tent! A quick chat to Ken found out he had a spare bed in his tent and so I took that which only left Julie to pitch a tent! Good for me, tougher for Julie.

Over our dehydrated freeze dried dinner we held a committee meeting and decided to shorten tomorrow’s ride to only be to Tamranui. That’s cool, an easy day perhaps however it does mean some re-working of our booked accommodation over the next two nights.

Now just as I am writing this Ken pops up again and as it happens is going to the Blue Duck Station tomorrow night and has two riding mates who will take our booking. Yay.

And that’s how things work out on the trail – you need to go with the flow and adapt as things change and don’t take things too seriously – it all works out in the end. Or so it seems.