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14th Dec 2010 - A Hot and Humid Bike Ride From Hihi Down to Paihai

kaeo - from our lunch spotFrom Hihi Motor Camp to Paihia Youth Hostel - pretty much exactly 50 miles, and a shade under 80kms. A very hot and sweaty day. Not much sun but the northerly wind brought high humidity and very occasional drizzle. A ride where we occasionally glimpsed the sea but were rarely by it. We were basically on the State Highway 10 until the turning for Paihia. After the interesting town of Kaeo (interesting partly because we hadn't seen a food shop until then but also because of a museum packed with local history - this seems to have been the first area where missionaries set to preaching the gospel - methodists it would seem) there was a big climb and we went up and eventually down to the Kerikeri area, then on to Paihia. The last bit of road to Paihia was surprisingly bumpy and with some awkward cambers (45 degree shoulder to the road and a bumply surface). This place is very much the thrill seeking backpackers area - we could skydive, jet around on boats, fish, dive (including the last resting place of Greenpeace's Rainbow Warrior - sunk as a marine habitat after the French blew it up a while ago because they wanted to do nuclear tests without anyone getting in the way) kyak,and see various sites. I think we're going to go cycling. And in the dorm are two British lads, one from Denby Dale just near Huddersfield, onr was having a year out and planning college courses that avoid the upcoming hike in fees... how wise.

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