From New Plymouth to Whangomomona, about 55 miles, with about 14 miles or so off road. We didn't set out that early since Guy needed a new inner tube. This was preceded by a cake from the New World supermarket. Then out along the road to Inglewood. Headwind all the way to Egmont village, basically a southerly made gusty by Mt Taranaki. Couldn't find a food shop in Inglewood so ate up most of what we had left from New Plymouth. Then headed out on the Ratara road, passed through various villages and then we reached the gravel section just after Pangenui. Itproved mostly impossible to cycle on the gravel so for the best part of the next 20 kms we walked. Steve flagged down a car at a point where the road divided, and the GPS was useful. Through Matau and on eventually to the 'lost highway', mostly accompanied by the stares of impressed and amazed beef cattle, plus the occasional barking dog - large but chained up or contained. The dog dazer was not required. We were briefly pursued by a piglet - not sure whether it was friendly or not but we believed the folk tail that they chew bike tyres so we didn't befriend it. Finally reached the main road and cycled up over the beautiful Whangomomona saddle (col) to reach Whangamomona. Pitched up in the local simple campsite / motorvan site in the dark. Along to the delightful old Whangamomona Hotel. Where we drank Tui IPA (ok, but Taylor's Landlord is better in that area) and Monteith's Black, which is pretty good. Ate their toasties because we've run out of food. Think we'll be back for breakfast. ...
From New Plymouth to Whangomomona, about 55 miles, with about 14 miles or so off road. We didn't set out that early since Guy needed a new inner tube. This was preceded by a cake from the New World supermarket. Then out along the road to Inglewood. Headwind all the way to Egmont village, basically a southerly made gusty by Mt Taranaki. Couldn't find a food shop in Inglewood so ate up most of what we had left from New Plymouth. Then headed out on the Ratara road, passed through various villages and then we reached the gravel section just after Pangenui. Itproved mostly impossible to cycle on the gravel so for the best part of the next 20 kms we walked. Steve flagged down a car at a point where the road divided, and the GPS was useful. Through Matau and on eventually to the 'lost highway', mostly accompanied by the stares of impressed and amazed beef cattle, plus the occasional barking dog - large but chained up or contained. The dog dazer was not required. We were briefly pursued by a piglet - not sure whether it was friendly or not but we believed the folk tail that they chew bike tyres so we didn't befriend it. Finally reached the main road and cycled up over the beautiful Whangomomona saddle (col) to reach Whangamomona. Pitched up in the local simple campsite / motorvan site in the dark. Along to the delightful old Whangamomona Hotel. Where we drank Tui IPA (ok, but Taylor's Landlord is better in that area) and Monteith's Black, which is pretty good. Ate their toasties because we've run out of food. Think we'll be back for breakfast. ...