122 Km / 76 Miles
After a few (horribly muggy) days in Auckland, I was more than ready to get out of the city and hit the road on my bike. My first day was going to take me to the base of the Coromandel! The first ride day always seems to be a long day, and is definitely a kick up the butt and a welcome back to the road 🙂
I left the backpackers place super early at 7.30am, and with grey clouds looming and a muggy feeling in the air I was ready to peddle my way out of the city! Heading down the Great Southern Road for a good while before hitting Papakura and then heading east into Hunua Ranges Regional Park. I had decided to break the day up with a hike in the middle of it. I knew the rain was coming and figured that I’d rather time the hike in the rain rather than cycle in the rain!
All morning the roads were dry, and pretty flat other than a big hill when entering the Hunua Park where the hill was steep and I was glad for the short downhill to the trail head of my hike for the day – Wairoa Loop Track. The Loop Track was suppose to take me 2-3 hours, but half the track was closed which meant I could only go up to the lookout, which was okay, as it was nice to be off the bike and stretching my legs for a bit.
The Hike was nice and easy, but pretty muddy. And the rain came, and it got me soaked! Still happier to be hiking in the rain and not biking – I don’t fully trust my bike on a wet road! I finished hiking around 2pm and knew I still had another few hours ride so I had to get a move on. I was staying with my first Warmshowers host this evening and I hate to arrive at a place too late! My aim was 5-6pm!
My watch recorded that the next 50km from Hunua to Kopu were my ‘fastest 50km’ After the first few Km’s getting out of the park there was a nice big down hill and then it was relatively flat the rest of the way. Then low and behold good old Google maps tells me to go down a ‘road’ that definitely isn’t there.. It’s a grass patch, that might have used to be a footpath but was now all fenced off and had no access to the public. Thanks google for now giving me another 5km to go – luckily the rain was holding off now and the ride was flat. I stopped for a quick snack here before heading towards Miranda and then Thames!
I arrive in Kopu at 5.45pm, so I was doing okay on time, and with just another few Km to go till my place for the night I was pretty happy. Exhausted but happy with the ride today. It had been a long but good day on the bike. I had realised by the end of the day I was less nervous about traffic and the roads, especially after Tasmania, and the accident I had almost a month previously. I had finally got my mind over that, and put more faith back in myself and my bike. Realising that I was doing everything right my end, and that I had to accept again that you can only do so much, and the rest was up to every one else.
Coming into Kopu, you could see the beautiful mountains that were the Coromandel Park! I was excited to spend the next few days biking around the coast, through the park and hiking up to the Pinnacle!!
My Warmshowers place for the night was wonderful. I was greeted by the hosts, and given a wonderful dinner, and sat up with them for a few hours having great conversations, mostly about the Te Araroa trail which Sue was hiking in parts and getting ready for her south Island adventure later in the year. I set my tent up there in their yard and had a great night of sleep!
Day 1 was a success! Excited for better weather tomorrow and hitting the Coromandel! I don’t really have a plan for the next few days, or the next week/s really. I’m a little apprehensive about this, but also excited. glad to have my tent with me and not have to worry about accomodation. This cycle tour will be a little different to the other two. Less of a plan but still as much of an adventure and seeing a country on my favourite mode of transport!
“unless it’s mad, passionate or extraordinary love, it’s a waste of your time. There are too many mediocre things in life. LOVE shouldn’t be one of them.”