Day 5 Miranda to Matamata - 72 miles, 186m

A long flat ride joining the newly created Thames-Paeroa-Matamata’Rail Track’. 

Leaving in the early morning for coffee at ?Bhagga Café

Similar to the UK, this old rail track has been converted into a long gravel bike trail.  

Heading east initially with breathtaking early morning light. 

Skirting wetlands and cattle grazing. 

Puncture from sharp gravel on Mark’s front tyre. 

Then rear tyre!

The shellbanks of Miranda host thousands of migratory birds from the Southpole.  

Coromandel in the distance. 

As we travelled south the land opened up to agriculture, cattle, sheep and the odd goat. 

Oh, not Bhagga Café 

Are these pied stilts?

Carolyn cheering us on...   

...representing the historic Kōpū Bridge society. 

A much smaller bridge on the trail, one of many!

Wild turkeys voting with their feet. 

One of many historic wooden houses. 

The road Paeroa (home of L&P) was long...

Sir Edmund Hilary haled from this area. 

The Refinery Café was brilliantly shabby-chic...

...with a large collection of vinyl. 

And a fine vegan bowl. 

Meanwhile, tourist info offered some basic bike stuff and free L&P for riders. 

Then on to Matamata, I sprung a leak again in my rear tyre. Pressure, wait, hold nascent sealant damming the puncture at lowest point of wheel...

...cows appreciating my wish that the tyre will stop squirting sealant everywhere. 

New front wheel holds out very well. 

Rear tyre has leaked four times today already ( see undercarriage of seat post bag splashed with sealant). 

I limp on into Matamata, desperately hoping not to have a flat. 

We arrive safely and have a beer and snacks. 

For the non-New Zealanders, what’s this?

Obviously a bottle opener  under a sandal. 

Snacks back in room. 

Gavin kindly did a laundry run for all!

Day 4 Auckland to Miranda - 66 miles, 938m

Having cycled 50km into Auckland from the ferry we arrived just before midnight. A bit of a lie in, breakfast with Kathy and friends and then sort better quality suntan cream (Invisible Zinc and some Australian ‘Marine Blue’); Compede for mega-chafing (don’t ask); borrowed a saddle from Mark to replace my backside nemesis; plus a trip to bike shop to replace tire (I wanted to replace my arse). 

Needless to say, the wheel is called ‘Rebel 26’ but is in fact 27.5 so had wrong tire ordered (leaving in 1 hr). Mount Eden Cycles were fab and restocked the 26” tire and I was ready to go with a new (potentially squirty - filled with sealant) tire. 

Required photo at top of Mount Eden... 

...and met up with old friends. 

Seth assisted with a new flat in my back tire - needed a ‘plug’... 

...and careful nurturing of white sealant as it attempted to form a tire coagulum at the leek.

Lots of waiting in the rain. Much cooler as Auckland experienced is first rainfall in over 50 days. 

The gravel tracks are slippier and there’s a greater risk of punctures. 

Then Seth’s bike sprung a leak. 

Leaving Auckland pretty late now, but only 100km to Miranda. 

Much needed rain will reverse this fire ban for the whole island. 

Fabulous sarnies at Hanua. 

I resisted the Snickers bar. Some  others were called ‘Sleepy’!

Rain gear left out to dry. 

Then a massive transient downpour. 

The final 40km into Miranda was mostly downhill, good tarmac and a tailwind. 

The sun came out, showing off the agapanthus. 

Disaster, 2km before the night accommodation and cycling alone...

...another rear wheel puncture in a an already ‘plugged’ tire. 

I re-plugged, added sealant and crawled in at 7pm. 

Friends had kindly sorted a veggie burger and beer. 

The perfect feast!

Day 1 Cape Reinga to Ahipara - 67 miles, 332m ascent (beach ride)

An initial drive to Cape Reinga with an early morning coffee stop (container café!).

Very exciting departure.

With an initial walk to the lighthouse. 

Fine views with... 

....the Tasmin Sea to the left and Pacific to the right. 

The weather-beaten pohutukawa that clings to the rocks at the tip of Te Rerenga Wairua, or Cape Reinga, is regarded as the gateway to the underworld, Te Hinenui o te Po. 

From there the spirits of the dead are said to begin their long journey back to Hawaiki. 

Bluff’s a long way. Might as well go to the South Pole.

 

Need a photo at key points on the Tour as ‘proof’

Giant Sand Dunes at Te Paki

 

Riding in and of water to get to 90 mile beach

Sometimes too soft to cycle. 

The beach was spectacular. 

Final adjustments before relentless exposure to sun and wind. One cyclist consumed over 4L for road 12 mile section plus the punishing 53 mile beach section. The email description from the organisers was “can be like the Sahara”.

Initially stunning...

...then relentless.

 

Stretching on and on...

...and on. 

Despite Factor 50 (and probably under application!) I arrived singed and dehydrated. My last 10km were very tough, slowing down massively towards the end. Having consumed my four bottles of water and cycling alone I felt somewhat faint and had to stop! Hope tomorrow is easier!