Leader: Marianne McNeil
Sunday 13th October – Matakohe to Mareretu
The ride started with marianne, Marlene, Maria and Warwick from lovely Matakohe Holiday Park. In Paparoa we met up with Sue, Matt and Warren who had arrived for the Sunday ride. From there we followed the alternative TA route to Maungaturoto and our morning coffee.
Our next stop was Piroa Falls, just a quick 400m walk off road. The Waipu Gorge road was so quiet now, compared to our ride with Sue when SH1 shut.
Our 5km along SH1 was uneventful, with traffic giving us a wide berth, using the wider than usual gap between the centre yellow lines.
Findlayson Brooke road, running the souther border of Mareretu Forest ( largest tract of native bush in the district) was theoretically closed, but evidently some farmer had been in to clear slips.
Golden Stairs was a bit of a hike up before a glorious descent, after which we rode in reverse the early morning’s ride.
78 km, lots of hills:1292m altitude gain, all in fine weather.
Monday 14th October – Matakohe to Ruawai
Marlene, Maria, Marianne, Warwick and Sue set out from the picturesque Matakohe Holiday Park, heading west, crossing SH12 to Oparakau Rd.
This led us through a serene green valley up to a trig. Then Access Rd was a quick down hill, and across flat green pasture until we hit SH12 again. We rode a wide bike margin from Ruawai College into the town for coffee.
From Ruawai we followed the alternative TA route back to Matakohe, except for one diversion where we continued to the end of the stop bank. On the way back we foraged from a huge loquat tree.
Weather treated us kindly except for one shower.
53.97km and 573m altitude gain
Tuesday 15th October – Matakohe to Tinopai
Following huge winds overnight a few of us didn’t even bother with cycle gear on rising. A look at weather forecast we decided a shorter ride was on. So heading down to Tinopai we took back roads where possible. Lunch was outside Tinopai hall. White horses were showing out from the wharf during our brief windblown visit. We had to abandon our bikes for the final bushcrash/slip on down to Sandy Bay. Thankfully the group, Sue, Warwick, Maria, Marlene and Marianne, agreed about adventure. The wind help blow us back out of Tinopai, until we turned off into more gravel roads to loop back onto the main road.
57.72km and 961m altitude gain
Wednesday 16th October – Matakohe to Maungaturoto via Pahi and Whakapirau
Only the 3 Ms were left for this ride so, because we hadn’t been able to organise a charter, we decided to chance just cycling to Pahi and finding a kind boatie. Success. After bikes were successfully beached at Whakapirau we rode to Mamaz Eats in Maungaturoto for delicious home made lunch before heading back via the alternative TA route to Matakohe. A lovely fine day and calm wind.
55.18km and 943m altitude gain