Thursday December 26, 2013

This would have been a perfect route today (if we had been going the other way).  The wind would have been at our back as it was it was a headwind, side wind but definitely not a behind wind (tail wind).  The first 30 kms was relatively flat and through a mix of agricultural lands (wineries, fruit orchards, cattle and sheep farms.  Not sure why they needed to put a giant wire sheep on top of a hill.  The next 30 kms was rolling hills and not a car to be seen.  I think we saw maybe a dozen cars on this road, it was a perfect route.

It was so perfect for cyclists that we saw over 100 cyclists, honest I am not exaggerating.  The first 2 came by us and we waved then we turned the corner and the first peloton came by with about 25 riders, then a couple of stragglers, then the next big peloton with another 30-40 riders and then the dribs and drabs following a couple here, a couple there, another smaller group of 15-20 riders and then the last few stragglers.  How I would have hated to be in that last few.

I think there must have been a couple of cycle groups joined together for a large team Boxing Day Ride.  Ralf and I looked on enviously as they had the wind behind them and were on skinny tires, and very light bikes and were moving fast.

The last few kilometres we were on State Highway 2, it is a very busy road, but it still had a good shoulder.  At one point coming into Waipukurau the road narrowed and had no shoulder but the municipality very kindly built a 2km concrete cycle path for us.  Thank you New Zealand.

Tonight we are staying in a lovely little camp site.  It has great kitchen facilities, all equipment provided and lovely hot showers.  It is also the cheapest place we have stayed at $30.00.