Saturday December 28, 2013

What a difference a day makes.  The day started of with a little cloud cover but not cold.  I did put my windbreaker on just to be on the safe side, but soon took it off.  The first 30ks were flat with a couple of small bumps and we motored, it was great.

We got to the Tui Brewery in Mangatainoka and stopped to chat to a couple in a 1989 Red Corvette (right-handside drive).  I indicated that I didn’t know Corvette made right-hand side drive vehicles. No they don’t this guy had converted it.  Really nice couple who gave us their address and invited us to stay with them if we are going through Cambridge on the way back up the north Island.

We carried on to Pahiatua and stopped for an early lunch.  Lovely sandwich and a cup of tea.  After that I got a little bored with the straight, flat road – no pleasing me is there?  We arrived in Eketahuna at a little after 1:00pm.  Found the campsite which is owned by the Council and managed by a very nice couple.  $12.00 for the night and all the facilities we need, hot showers, a clean well equipped kitchen and a flat area to park the tent. Once we had got set up we took a walk into Town, along the Cliff.

I think there were some Hobbits hiding along the trail.

I needed to get connected to the internet so that I could contact our warm showers host for tomorrow night in Masterton.  He is away, but we can meet his neighbor who will give us the key to the house.  Have you heard anything like that in your life.  We have also exchanged cards with another camper Desarae who has invited us to stay when we are coming up the west coast on our way back to Auckland.

Our plan was to take the train from Masterton into Wellington and then get the ferry over to the South Island.  We need to book the ferry, but first we need to know when we will be in Wellington.  The train is not running from Masterton, due to track repairs.  They are putting on buses instead and bicycles are not allowed.  The Rimutaka Hill is a steep narrow road and is not recommended, although touring cyclists do it.  So we have a couple of choices, cycle to Featherstone and see if the train is running, cycle over the Rimutaka or cycle the Rimutaki Rail Trail, the old mountain railway and includes tunnels, bridges, cuttings and embankments.  We will know tomorrow what we are going to do.