A quick arrival into Waihi Beach

The quick arrival into Waihi Beach was aided by a very 2km steep decline into the beachside village.  Fabulous, but its the only way out of Waihi Beach so I am trying not to think about the exit on Thursday.  It's gunna be a drag!  

So morning in Karangahake Gorge looked a tad dismal.  Grey skies, everything looking a tad damp as light rain over night.  But it was expected, so raincoat on and away we go!

We crossed back over the river and headed back to the tunnel.  It had very low lighting so turned on my bike light.  There were little rivers on both side of the track, but was nicely surprised when I popped out the other end of the tunnel to be greeted by sunshine - almost total blue skies!  How?  but who cares, pedal onwards.

it turned out to be a beautiful day for cycling, tho wind a tad gusty at times.  The trail followed alongside the Ohinemuri River, which was rushing inland.  I had to track it in Maps to see that it joins the Waihou River, which then flows north into the sea at Thames. 

it evoked memories of cycling alongside rivers in Japan, bush on both sides of the river as it bounced over its rocky bed.  But soon we were back into farming country, with herds of black and white cows munching on knee-high green grass.  

As in Karangahake, Waikino was littered by decaying evidence of the gold mining carried out over a 100 years ago.  It seems everything was just abandoned when it became unprofitable.  Now it helps in the tourist industry.

The Goldmine train was at Waikino station about to leave, but I hadn't planned on catching it today, so went into the cafe for cake and coffee.  

Back on the trail again, I was expecting a hilly section, but thankfully only a few sharp short ridges.  we soon arrived into Waihi, where I stopped in a windy park for a quick lunch snack.  Bought some food at New World (Coles) before heading off on Highway 2 to the Waihi Beach turnoff.  The instant serenity once leaving the highway was amazing!

This section is not part of the rail trail, but I thought a couple of days by the beach would be nice.  So after my quick arrival, I checked into my basic cabin and after a nice hot shower and a bit of lay down, I strolled down to the end of the street and stepped onto the fine sand of Waihi Beach.  

It was calmer than I had expected, as the blue pacific ocean stretched out before me!  there was only a gentle roll of waves coming into the shore, but the sky was blue, the air almost warm and the sand was easy to walk upon.  There were large black-backed sea gulls - or are they Pacific Gulls - pecking at some shells that had been rolled up onto the beach.  A silver gull tried to compete but these are so much smaller and didn't stand a chance.

so all good in Aotearao!  

Karangahake Railway tunnel

The Gorge

Ohinemuri Falls

Typical NZ caravan

the old Victoria battery

Barnacle Geese!

Waihi Beach

Pacific Gulls

Short cycle to Karangahake Gorge

 The weather report reckoned there would be rain in the afternoon, so I gathered up all my gear and by 9am, Hennie and me were rolling out of Te Aroha, hoping to get to Karangahake before that rain. (it hasn't arrived yet, so maybe tomorrow we'll get wet!)

The surface of the rail trail was a little looser than yesterday, so I had to pay attention a little more than before.  But the scenery continued the green paddocks and milk cow theme of the past couple of days.  The wind tried to annoy me, but thankfully a lot of the farmers plant wind breaks, so a lot of the trail to Paeroa was quite sheltered.

After an easy 23km we arrived at Paeroa before midday, allowing me one more coffee!  We crossed over  the bridge spanning the Ohinemuri river, bought coffee, then headed off back over the river and onto the Rail Trail, heading off to the East Coast.

We were apprehended by Nan, asking me if I was accepting donations.  It took me a moment to realise she had seen my Great Cycle Challenge t-shirt and wanted to donate to thefundraiser.  I thanked her for the $10 and we headed off in different directions.  

Quickly it became obvious this section of the trail was quite different from the farmlands.  The Ohinemuri River was seriously rippling along, while the pathway was quite high above the river.  But it was still quite flat, which made an easy ride, especially as the wind was now assisting us along.

Before long we arrived at the bridge over the river that led straight into the tunnel.  After a bit of stuffing around I did find the Riverside Accom and although we were really early, my room was available and soon I was having a nice hot shower and luckily there was access to a washing machine and it was soon churning away too.  Bonus!  

After all that, I look a little walk down to the river and checked out the suspension bridge and the old gold mining area.  Very scenic!  but I didn't take my camera, so I used my phone instead - see those images on Instagram...

Cycling along the Hauraki Rail Trail - Day 1

 Today was the beginning of my Hauraki Rail Trail adventure.  The sun was shining, there was blue sky, with a good share of clouds, so a perfect day for cycling.

Rolling out of Matamata, my first stop was the historic buildings around the Firth Tower.  I didn't take time to explore inside the buildings, just a quick walk around the gardens.

My plan was to ride out to the Wairere Falls before actually joining the Rail Trail.  Apparently the lookout was just 15mins up the track, so I could easily do that and then get onto with the further 30kms ahead to Te Aroha.  As I approached the turn off, I spied the waterfall spilling down from the very top of the ridge on the Kaimai range.  Wow!  well, I guess the lookout is at the bottom of the Falls.

I arrived at the car park, locked Hennie to the fence and confidently headed up the narrow track.  After 15 mins, there was no sign of a waterfall, though a small creek rippled down alongside the track.  Maybe just around the corner.  Or the next corner!  The track was quite steep, muddy in places, but continued ever upwards, clambering over moss covered rocks, dodging trip hazards, but still no sign of waterfalls.  There was one bridge over a bubbling creek, quite pretty but definitely not a waterfall.  After an hour of struggling ever upwards, I asked a couple who were coming down, how much further - the reply was about 20 - 30 mins!  Really!  Well being strong and stubborn, doesn't mean one has to be stupid.  I had already used up a lot of my time - and my energy - and I have seen a lot of waterfalls in my life.  It was time to quit and turn around.  So I turned back, cranky that I had spent too much time on this diversion.

Eventually I was back with Hennie and soon we were rolling northwards.  Thru green fields dotted with cows and sheep, an English scene with oak, birch, popular and weeping willows.  Starlings, sparrows and blackbirds competed with the Indian mynas.  I did hear lots of kingfishers though and saw the flitting flycatches, so some NZ touches.  Almost missed out on lunch as I arrived at Cafe 77 moments before they closed their doors at 3pm, but managed to get a spinach tart, a magnum and short black. 

Then onwards to Te Aroha! The Rail Trail was really pleasing.  I had been worried about the "cinder surface" but it was smooth and not loose, really easy to ride on.  The wind was a little annoying as it was rushing across the empty fields and hitting my left ear and eventually full in my face.  But soon Te Aroha appeared and the motel was just ahead.  Phew - arriving much later than planned, but after a hot shower and a shopping trip, scoring a cider and small cup of chips, life is not too bad!

Apart from the hiccup at the falls, the rest of the day had been quite pleasant and the Rail Trail well signed and very comfortable - so the days ahead are looking good!

Past Hobbiton and down the hill to Matamata

 Plans don't always go as planned!   I planned to ride down to Lake Karapiro and cross over to the eastern side and head off to Matamata, dodging highway traffic.  

Chilly start - 12C - a slight head wind chilled me even more, but it was a flat ride.  I had seen a sign something about the dam wall being closed, but  didn't take too much notice.  On arrival I found that the dam wall was the only way to cross the dam to the eastern side.  there was no option but to turn around and ride back to Cambridge!  yep, I was cranky!  but at least it was tail wind back to Cambridge.

followed by a mad dash along the main highway, with constant traffic and only a narrow shoulder, saw me fuming a little more!  Never realised I'd be happyy to see a Mobil petrol station, but today I was!  After a coffee and a slice of date bread, Hennie and I headed up the hills along Buckland Road, far away from all that traffic.  

Right into Footrot Flat country!  hills mostly devoid of trees, just lots of long green grass, with milk cows lounging around the paddocks and sheep munching grass, with little lambs playing!  There was a large herd of deer at the top of one climb, giving me a great excuse to stop and start and catch my breath...  yep there was a little bit of walking, but also some great downhills too.  

We stopped on the crest of a hill and I could see several buses coming and going along a side road.  A bit further on we passed the staging area for the Hobbiton tours.  Heaps of people either getting on or off of buses, or just milling around!  Too many people for me, so we continued on down the hill.

usually the last 10km of a ride is the toughest, but today we rolled easily into Matamata on the side road, straight and slightly wind assisted.  58km when I had expected 45km.  Maybe the downhills made up for the few walks up the steep pinches, or I'm getting back into the swing of cycling the open road.

Road to Hobbiton

Hennie reborn - riding to Cambridge

 Brief update as WiFi connection not good here!

Successfully caught train to Hamilton.

Rebuilt Hennie at railway station, then with a tad of wobbling managed to escape Hamilton.  Sorry didn't explore it at all!

Eventually the smell of cow shit meant I was out of city into the green grass of NZ!  And sooo green!

Milk cows and sheep in tiny paddocks - the grass knee deep!  Lush!

Weather kind, tho only a glimpse of a patch of blue and one icy cold sprinkle of rain!  No wind, so perfect for cycling!

Eventually found the River way path - smooth with ups and downs alongside the strong River Waikato.  

Confession!  I was pooped when I rolled into Cambridge - only 40kms but am soo unfit!

Found supermarket - and bike shop!  So Hennie can be checked tomorrow.  Found BnB - charming, cosy and so welcome!  

Early to bed for sure!

Hennie reborn! Leaving Hamilton Railway Station

Acacia Park - a nice place to pause out of the traffic

At last - a lovely bike path

At the top of a steep climb alongside the Waikato River
Very nice bike path!

The mighty Waikato River - ripping along

Cambridge

 A charming small town, boasting of several Melbourne Cup winners and Olympic Gold medals in cycling! 

But traffic on the main street nice and slow and courteous, stopping calmly for pedestrians to cross!

Streets are lined with boutiques, coffee shops n cafes.  So nice to see rather all the big glam names!

I found Lake Te Koo Utu, a crater lake right in town, so rode around the top side then sped - very fast!! - down to the gravel path at the lake's edge for a closer look.  Spring hasn't quite arrived with many of the large English trees still bare!  Tho one spectacular rhododendron was in bloom near a quaint rotunda.

Hennie had her chain aligned and gears sorted and tyres pumped, so hopefully no more hassles once we hit the road tomorrow!

Weather still overcast, chilly in morning but OK during day

So a bit longer day ahead tomorrow - hopefully I'll make it to Matamata not too exhausted!  May get a glimpse at Hobbiton, but am not paying exorbitant entry fee as Really?  

Checking out Auckland

 Only one day in Aucklnd, so went for a walk around.  First stop was at the Art Gallery, where I found out that there's a Frida Kahlo exhibition starting on Saturday, so will check that out when I get back here at the end of the trip.  

From there a bit of a stroll through the Albert Garden, but by then I was already getting sick of being in a city, so I went down to the wharf, bought a ticket to Hobsonville Point where I had seen there was a Coastal Walk.  

Felt like home being on a ferry!  soon as I got on the path, I saw 2 Tui!!  wow!!  the path sounded like I was in Europe as there are a lot of introduced birds, such as sparrows, black birds, starlings, thrush and goldfinches.  But the strange calls of the Tui really added a nice touch.  I saw a couple of fantails which are much more excited than our grey fantails, but very similar.  I even saw an Eastern Rosella, introduced from Oz. There was so much twittering, but those little birds are so hard to see.  

but the hours slip away and after a lunch late, I caught the ferry back to the centre and eventually found my way back to my hotel room.  

My feet are sore!  I would rather be cycling, but Hennie is still packed in her box, waiting for her trip on the train to Hamilton tomorrow.  Its an early start, so I have to get everything packed tonight!

getting excited about being out on the road with Hennie.  Its not as cold as I expected, but could be a wet day tomorrow. 

here's some photos!  it was such a grey overcast day, terrible for photography, so please excuse!