Leader: John McLean
Day one – Opotiki to Motu
The sand dune ride alongside the ocean was a great trail, gently undulating.
We rode the Rahui valley. After the second bridge the climb started At the Merere summit we were protected by a shelter donated by Garth and Judy Barfoot..Down we went for a short reprieve before we cycled up to the Papamoa Summit. The higher we climbed the colder it got. We finally climbed the final summit.
We rode the Rahui valley. After the second bridge the climb started At the Merere summit we were protected by a shelter donated by Garth and Judy Barfoot..Down we went for a short reprieve before we cycled up to the Papamoa Summit. The higher we climbed the colder it got. We finally climbed the final summit.
After a speedy down hill ride to the Motu village was the wonderful welcome sight of the community centre, where we dined on a marvelous home cooked feast.
Helen’s van was a godsend for a health issue and a bike issue.
Day two Motu to Woodhill Arboretum
Shortly after starting out, we passed an ancient shop, now restored as a museum. Next we saw an amazing bridge to nowhere which is the last remaining evidence of a once busy railway.
Cyclone Bola had caused the river to change direction and left the bridge high and dry
The current road is built where the railway once ran, and so there was a gentle incline to Matawai, where the coffee was outstanding.
We continued on an easy mainly down hill run, the gravel being mostly a good riding surface.
We stopped at the Rere rock slide and also at Rere falls.
On arriving at EastWoodhill Arboretum, we enjoyed freshly baked afternoon tea, a walk amongst the trees, a lovely dinner, then relaxing in their extensive lounge and library areas.
Day 3 Woodhill Arboretum to Gisborne
First up was a guided tour of the Arboretum on vehicles, including the jeep, which shuddered to a halt several times on its final outing, before being replaced by a new electric vehicle. Forget walking
The carrot cake for morning tea was yum.
After serious warnings about the big bumps in the road and previous accidents, we set off quite sedately, until we realized it wasn’t as lethal as we had anticipated. We let loose. Group one got into team time trial position, and flashed past the oranges. The van was struggling to keep up, then parked in the quarry driveway, with numerous DASH trucks driving to and fro.
It was such a smooth, fast ride, blue sky, green grapes, fresh ploughed fields. The oranges arrived after half time. Much appreciated.
The bridge over the Waipaoa River had a cycle path. After crossing, to the right we found an unplanned diversion along the stopbank, all the way to the coast, then along the sea front to the holiday park. We had a taste of off-road along the bumpy dunes.
Queues for the washing machine! Some washers dominated the afternoon with ewash machines set at 90mins hot wash. The boys fixed that: 36mins warm. Their washing came out the same size.
Dinner at the Irish Pub, 31st, not a trick or treater in sight
Day 4 Rest day in Gisborne
Lovely Sleep in. Then on with the bike maintenance masterclass: disputes over the number of revolutions after oiling. Tomorrow expect some erratic cycling as contestants attempt to prove their theories.
Then an urgency to venture out and consume our rest day coffee and cake.
For the rest of the morning, nine ageing kids on bikes enjoying the freedom of cycling in a gang, darting in and out of traffic, a sense of random directionlessness discovering murals re conservation vs the destruction of the planet. Seven riders climbed Kaiti hill above the port. Five riders came down. . Six riders had lunch: sushi or the best pies in Gisborne. The afternoon was squandered: swimming, snoring, secret shopping Finished the day with a delicious Thai dinner. Namaste
Day 5 Gisborne to Tidal Waters Resort (10 Km south of Tolaga Bay)
Coffee after just 7kms at Zephyr vegan cafe. Stunning coastal scenery, rolling hills, getting hot, almost expiring on the hills. Light traffic. Inspiration was weekends to avoid logging trucks.
Brilliant accommodation at Tidal Waters, afternoon swim at Waihou Bay beach, BBQ dinner.
Day 6 Tolaga Bay to Te Puia Springs
Dramatic change in the weather:
Cold start, squally showers, strong tail wind, yeehah .Impromptu talk from Tolaga Bay local so generous with his time to impart knowledge of his proud history: Captain Cook had a lengthy stay bartering kumara. Missionaries and their influence, and the longest wharf for exporting, now suffering damage from slash washed down and damaging the wharf piles
Stopped at the Tolaga Bay Black Market Cafe and enjoyed delicious coffee and their scrumptious chocolate brownie.
Onward to Tokomaru Bay, pushed along by the wind, but slowed by steep hills. On the ride to Tokomaru wharf we were in awe of past commercial activities which had made this a thriving region, in contrast to the current desolation
Prince Tui Teka lies in the urupa there.
Te Puia Springs was a welcome site after we’d spent time touring off route. Soaking in hot pools, a substantial meal in the bar, great conversation with Maria the publican, and Karaoke were all enjoyed.
Day 7 Te Puia Springs to Hicks Bay
A fresh start from Te Puia Springs: pies etc for breakfast including pork belly pie, paringa pie, paua pie.
Both groups, following the same GPS map, had different interpretations, unbeknown to each other, until reaching the first 10 km stop at 15km. Phones going wild.
Nec minute, well after quite a long break- change of drivers. After attempting to start the car, with all the advice offered, the key was missing. Phones going wilder.
Ruatoria pie shop was not selling to us. Therefore a 15 min wait until pies were delivered to the grocery nearby.
Torturous ride up the next rough slipping gravel hill, followed by a gentle ride by a wide braided river to Tikitiki.
Off to Tikitiki church- we could see huge dedication to its building, but also to the loss of their young men in World War 1
Two ‘lovely’ hills were announced, but proved to be a challenge.
Then the downhill runs: strong wind, and eventually sea, turquoise and teal below.
Of interest to us in Te Araroa were a 4square with everything, the world’s oldest pohutukawa tree (350+ years), and the area school with roofs covered with solar panels because, being the end of the electricity network, it was often without power.
A cruel finish to the day was the climb up to the motel.
Dinner was ordered at the motel restaurant. Somehow John was in the early group to order, but despite looking up expectantly each time a fish platter arrived, was the last to be served.
John was talking about starting a choir for ACTA after the previous night’s Karaoke, lol.
Day 8 Rest Day
A lovely bright day dawned. The sea was a stunning blue when seen from a height, and every hue of blue when seen from the bridge over the Awatere River (which we’d crossed the day before, commenting on its width, clear water and braiding).
None of us had a rest day.
Some of us cycled to Hicks Bay. We cruised downhill, but after 1.7km red umbrellas were spotted. A cafe at last. Hicks Bay has quite a settlement, and an historic wharf and freezing works. 9.5km took us to the end of the road around the bay. The return 9.5 km included another coffee stop.
Some of us cycled to the lighthouse at East Cape. Yesterday’s cruel ascent became a fast fun descent. The road out to the lighthouse was mostly sealed, and a tail wind blew us along. We experienced the converse on our return. And yes, the grader we saw yesterday had been through to ensure plenty of loose stones on the gravel sections around the bluffs.
Great dinner was enjoyed prepared by Bob to perfection on tables set up in the garden with a magnificent view of Hicks Bay and beyond
Day 9 Hicks Bay to Te Kaha
We were up ready to go by 7.50.
Hills were manageable, still horses grazing, we passed Cape Runaway and found ourselves in the Bay of Plenty, the grey sea and grey sky merged, in the distance White Island appeared dark grey and smoking, large fields with maize or corn sprouting, kiwifruit starting up frames, a kereru flapping, out on a peninsular a little white church with a black steeple.
At Waihou Bay our large number surprised the shopkeeper. Their chicken special (a thigh, a drum stick and chips) proved very popular at the time. Subsequently, over the next 20km, they proved unpopular to varying degrees.
We enjoyed a lunchtime sound of waves lapping very gently under the wharf and the view of recreational fishing boats negotiating the channel and being winched out onto trailers pulled by tractors.
We arrived at Maungaroa Marae in good time. We settled into the wharenui, then settled into a dinner of succulent corn beef and veg, followed by speeches thanking John, followed by ginger cake and cream.
Day 10 Te Kaha to Opotiki
We woke from a good sleep in the wharenui, their kitchen was open to make our breakfasts and lunches, we wheeled bikes out of storage in the dining hall, the van was packed, and we were all set to go before 8am.
The morning started overcast, with absolutely no wind, but a light drizzle set in about morning tea. Fragrances: oranges in an orchard, honeysuckle galore, privot- hopefully no asthmatics amongst us. Colours: green vegetation, white blackberry, manuka and kanuka flowers, some lovely blue convolvulus, and the rest of our world was grey. No horizon. Just grey. Enjoyed by those of us who are sun conscious.
The route took us good gradients from one bay (or river) to the next: up, around, and down the bluffs.
That was until before lunch, when we crossed a mountain range.
Lunch was only 20km from our final destination. Margaret rode out to meet us: her second attempt of the day.
Back in the friendly and helpful Opotiki campground, we unpacked, said our farewells, then all drove off in different directions.
Thanks John for a wonderful tour.