rest day in Rotorua

The first three days on the road are now behind us. The bikes got put together on Sunday and we got all the necessary briefings, then out for dinner and a relatively early night for the 0700 breakfast.

Sun as we left Auckland, and the first hour or so was navigating out of town.

Then into rural country and a few hills...

...and down the coast of the Hauraki Gulf...

...and rolling hills and pastures...

 

...and of course Rae found some birds to take pictures of...

Paradise Shelduck

Pied Stilt

Great tailwind for the last 30 or 40 km into Miranda. Just short of 100 km by the time we got into camp for the first night in the tent. New Zealand being built on volcanic territory with some still active, hot springs seem to be quite plentiful and the campsite had its own hot pool which made for a nice relaxing soak.

Cloudy but dry in the evening, but on-and-off blowing drizzle in the morning so had to pack up a slightly wet tent. First part of the day was mostly good tailwind or slightly-from-behind crosswind through relatively flat agricultural land.

Then into the hills and then the rain started, on and off, but mostly on, not torrential but some good showers.

The birds probably don't object to it as much as us.

Pukeko with chick

130 kilometers today with several hill-climbs. But there is no such thing as a gradual slope here. We've made good use of our lowest gears. Travel is partly on highway where there is some shoulder but generally not a lot. As anywhere, most drivers are good but there are some who seem absolutely oblivious to cyclists and many of them seem to like to drive with one wheel on the shoulder.

25 km out of camp, we discovered that Ursula had lost a jacket and a vest off the rear rack - where? a bit uncertain but someplace since lunch about 40 km back. So Rae turned around and went back looking for it - fortunately they were only 10 km back, but it was all up and down steep hills so he was toast at the end of the day. Camp was on the outskirts of Tauranga and again we had a nice hot pool to relax in which Rae really needed. We managed to get a cabin to share with some others, so we had a dry room.

Next day was in the Bay of Plenty area, named because both the sea and the adjacent land offered plentiful food for the settlers. We learned from a very nice lady who had us in for a cup of tea that not very far away there is a Poverty Bay, also named for good reason. A lot of kiwi fruit comes from the area, also avocado.

 

Some wild turkey wandering the hillsides...

 Again a lot of hill-climbing as we went inland to Rotorua...

Lots of black swans here, this one feeding in parkland just off the highway.

A few showers during the day but much brighter and dry by the time we got to Rotorua. Again lots of steep hills and although it was just under 90 km for the day, Rae was feeling it and very glad for the rest day today to recuperate a bit. Rest days are in motels so we got the tent dried out last night.

And a really nice touch... the room has its own hot pool and this one really is hot so we've enjoyed that.

A final note... we thank you for your concern for us after the earthquake earlier in the week. The quake was on the east coast of the south island. We are still more than half-way up the north island so we didn't feel it and have not yet been affected by it. That said, Wellington, on the south end of the north island, has suffered significant damage and additionally, day before yesterday they were cut off by highway due to flooding (not related to the earthquake), and they are getting another severe storm today and tomorrow. After that, weather is looking up. So by the time we get to Wellington (10 days from now), we're expecting the situation to be more settled.

As far as continuing to the south island, we're aware that there has been some disruption to ferry service due to damage to terminals, but they are running again. And when we get to south island, we'll be on the west coast which we understand has not been affected. The quake was centred on Kaikoura on the east coast, and the situation there really is serious. The New Zealand Navy with help from the Australia and Canadian Navies, have been evacuating people by sea to Christchurch. As of today, they have managed to re-open a land route into the area, but restricted to military traffic. The coast highway they are saying has been totally destroyed.

All for now... out for dinner... pack up and off for four days of cycling before the next rest day in Napier.