I felt a sense of excitement and anticipation as I attached my tent bag to the bike handle bars, clicked my bright yellow panniers onto the bike carrier, put the house key into the usual place, mounted my bike and rode down my driveway out onto Matangi Road only to be meet with a head-on blustery westerly wind. It wasn’t long before reality soon hit me physically and mentally; with a raised heart rate, laboured breathing and thoughts of “however am I going to cope riding every day and I already feel like this???” It’s been a while since I’ve ridden a fully loaded bike and my body was telling me that – oh fun times ahead!!
After many hours of dreaming, scrutinising maps trying to locate the remote back roads and planning, our adventure started this morning. Both Sari and I started with a bike ride: Sari cycling from her home in the Marlborough Sounds to catch the ferry from Picton to Wellington. I rode from my home in Matangi to Hamilton Railway Station to catch the 10.30am train to Ohakune via Volare Bread on Gallagher Drive for a morning coffee – not that I’m addicted, but it’s just the one coffee a day!!! Tomorrow Sari will travel by train to Ohakune and I will meet her at the train station to begin out much anticipated adventure.
It was in February/March 2018 when Sari and I had our last big adventure together and we both felt it was time for another, this time exploring parts of the North Island which I’ve always wanted to ride and explore, and parts Sari hasn’t seen.
We both enjoy riding the back roads whenever possible; mainly because we love the quiet and peacefulness these roads provide us (it’s one of our “happy places”), we get to tent which enables us to see and marvel at the big night sky with all its lights – magic!! Sari always manages to find very memorable and workable camp sites in the oddest of places. But the more obvious – there is always much less traffic.
Our proposed route. I should to have shown a map but …….
- Ohakune – Taihape
- Taihape to Napier via Gentle Annie
- Explore Napier’s cycle trails including Cape Kidnappers
- Napier – Wairoa
- Wairoa – Rotorua via Lake Waikaremoana
- Rotorua – Atamuri – Hamilton via Waikato River Trails
Nothing is set in concrete, we’re always open to detours (provided we have the time and energy) and open to people’s recommendations who we may meet along the way. It’s having that flexibility that both Sari and I enjoy and value. My neighbour has already suggested with visit Waipatiki Beach, north of Napier.
On a more personal note, one of my goals this time is to take time and enjoy the journey, not be so focused on the destination. I know when I’m physically and mentally tired I just want to get where we are going ASAP, I’m not stopping for anything. So, I’m going to really try and stop and take that side walk, visit that historical site, plusl take more photographs. I’ve put it ‘out there’ now, so I need to be accountable. I’ve always found it very easy to say something, quite another thing to put it into practice – time will tell!!
This train journey was quite stunning. The carriages are well designed with plenty of leg room, panoramic windows, glass shelves and skylights. It even has an open-air carriage enabling you to take that perfect photo. What I particularly enjoyed was the commentary you could listen to via headphones, only when we were travelling past historical sites/places of interest or interesting facts were to be told. The changes in the land use and landscape was quite striking, from lush green pastures of the Waikato to steep, rugged hill country used for sheep, beef farming in King Country. Then onto the High Plateau in Central North Island where we got glimpses of Mt Ruapehu, which was partly covered with snow. The train was full, and whenever I spoke to anyone they were from overseas. If you haven’t taken this journey, I would highly recommend it or if you have taken it I would love to hear your experience.
I’m writing this blog in an Airbnb backpacker’s type lodge here in Ohakune, it’s very clean and I get to meet and talk to other people from all around the world. I’m dressed in my thermals because of the cold wind, such a change from the past week in Hamilton. No fear of being too hot over the next few days, which always makes riding more pleasant. Having the wind on our backs could be asking a bit too much – but here’s hoping??
If anyone has a “must visit” place to see, please feel free to let me know via the comments section below. Till next time in Napier – take care our there, Goldcardgal 😊
PS: Some of you will know him, I’ve just spoken to John G (recently retired from Wintec) he and family have been exploring the Old Coach Road cycle trail. He was walking across the street to a café here in Ohakune and I thought I know that walk! So good to see you John 🙂
Hi Heather, Wow! What a super interesting blog. I wish I had your energy and spirit sometimes. However, which ever way you travel, it is the people and kindred spirits you meet en route that make it so special and memorable. You learn about things you have never thought of and see amazing sights at your leisure. Keep up the blog, I can see a best seller coming on for you.
Love and best wishes as always, Alison
Thanks Alison certainly with your comments. Trust you had a great birthday? 🙂
Meant to say certainly agree with your comments!
Hi there. you will be travelling through part of my home town and country when I lived with my godparents. Some wonderful memories of high country ranges, deep valleys and cold river swims. A great place to grow up with the freedom to roam and explore where we wanted. Freezing winters, hot dry summers. enjoy MJ
Thanks for your comments Margie. When I return we shall look at my map and you can tell me where you lived. It was stunning country side, both Sari and I loved the area. 🙂
I loved reading your blog Heather, such a ‘real’ start to your awesome adventure. The winds were strong at home but thankfully have eased now, not without tree limbs breaking and taking out power lines on our road (although not near us). Hopefully the winds were on your back once you left Ohakune. Hope the travels going smoothly and you’re enjoying the scenery as well as the experience. Go well
Thank you Karen 🙂
Keep up the commentary Heather,I’m coming along on the journey with you. Soooo. Cool!
Thank you Michaela 🙂
Great start Heather and Sari, I do so hope you have this wind at your back for at least some of the time. We have finished our first stint at Luck at Last Road, family home now for a week. We received a good report from the boss so all is well here.
Have fun and plenty of laughs. What great memories you both making, look forward to your next post, us couch potatoes can enjoy your hard work with our imaginations while you do the hard pushing.
Thank you Carly. Well done that you and Tony passed your farming sitting responsibilities!! We were blessed with tail winds – more will be in my blog!! 🙂
Great to hear the first day went well!! Your descriptions allow me to enjoy your journey alongside you.
Thank you Denise 🙂
Hi Heather, great to read your 1st blog. Sounds like a great trip. Have fun and stay safe. Looking forward to reading about your adventures.
Love Fran
Thank you Fran. Trust you had a relaxing time in the Sounds and caught plenty of fish?? 🙂
Hi Heather. I’m looking forward to following your blog of this adventure. I’ve just finished a similar but different ride with my cousin Rose. She rode from Upper Hutt to Te Aroha taking the Tour Aotearoa route backwards. I joined her from Palmerston North to Owhango (via Pohangina valley, Rangiwahia, Hunterville, Whanganui, up the old Whanganui river road to Pipriki, by boat to Whakahoro because the Mangapurua track was closed, then up the gravel road to Owhango.) Like you, I love the freedom and challenge of a self sufficient bike adventure, the back roads of NZ, the Northerner train ride to and from the start and finish points, the setting up of camp each night, the people you meet, the stories you hear and the uncertainty of what each day will bring. I rode the Tour Aotearoa last summer very slowly over 3 months- sometimes with Rose, some alone and some with my partner. I still think it’s the best thing I’ve ever done and didn’t want it to end. Ben telling me about you and your blog helped to inspire me and overcome my fears and just do it. So thank you.
All the best for the ride and let there be a tail wind. Raina Elley (friend of Margaret (Fran’s sister))
Thank you Raina and great to hear about your adventures, they sound very exciting. Perhaps if you are ever up in Hamilton I could show you some of our cycle-ways up here?? Please feel free to contact me. 🙂
Looking forward to the rest of your trip. Jan and Bill
Thank you Jan. Trust you had a memorable time with your family from England? 🙂
Great to see you are back for more adventures of the two wheel kind. Enjoy and may the wind always be on your back! Happy new year Heather.
Thank you Jacky, an update about the winds etc is in my next blog. How was your time at the beach? 🙂
Hey Heather, we are still at the beach – its been very windy here so not much swimming, hoping to do a bit of painting today and a swim is also on the cards. If you ever bike over to waihi beach there will always be a bed for you here. Im doing the Mountains to Sea with a group of 8 ladies in March so looking forward to that!
By crickey you don’t do things by half: good luck with all your adventures: happy trails: Cheers Neville
Thank you Neville. Remember we do travel slowly and so far I’ve pushed my bike up a few hills!! Trust you all well and enjoying the summer weather? 🙂