Day 13 - Timber Trail…all of it😀

 I’m excited….today we tackle the Timber Trail.  It’s going to be a long day so an early start is essential.  The sun isn’t up much before 7am, so a 6am alarm clock was set.  

The start is less than 1km from the campground…we follow the sign and immediately we are in the forest…lush and dark - on a winding trail for the first 3km until the climbing starts.  The route gains 400m over 6.5km…which looks daunting looking at the elevation chart, but in reality it wasn’t too bad.  The trail is mostly in good condition, but the rains from last month have done some damage.  

This is what I read about the Timber Trail.  It’s a premier 85km 2-3day backcountry mountain biking trail.  It features 35 stunning suspension bridges and historic logging tramways.  It’s ideal for e-bikes and is often ridden over 2 days with a stay in the middle at either the Timber Lodge $$$ or camp Epic $$ - glamping…or at the campground.  

The total elevation gain for today was about 1000m, 83km long….all on trail with a loaded bicycle.  Anyone who stays at the lodge can have a shuttle carry their bags up, but at a cost of $250 per person, double occupancy this wasn’t in my budget!  

The steep downhills had a lots of washouts, so I was hard on the brakes as my loaded bike is fast going downhill.  The day was long….just over 12 hours of elapsed time.  My Garmin only credited me 8 hours, but that doesn’t include the time that I pushed my bike uphill, or walking it down the really steep hills.  

Photo checkpoint #9.  Ongarue Spirals

The Ongarue tram system is one of the least modified bush tram systems.  Up until the late 1940’s, such tramlines were the main method of transporting timber out of logging sites.  The Ongarue Spiral is an engineering marvel.  The tunnel, hand hewn through pumice and ignimbrite rock, completes a fantastic circle that provided a cunning solution to developing a gradient shallow enough for teams loaded with felled trees.  

Such a stunning trail…. I really wished that my bike wasn’t loaded, and that I had practiced some mountain biking before coming!  For all my mountain biking friends….if you find yourself on the north island, riding this trail is a must!!!  A real jewel.  

Day 12 - start of Timber trail

 What a great but challenging day!  Up at 0600 for a 7am departure.  Where we stayed there was a bike room, a huge sitting room and an amazing kitchen….fully stocked.  So much easier to have an early start when there isn’t a wet tent to dry out before packing it away!  

We were right by the lake…so beautiful.  The first 10km were on a mountain bike trail right by the river….i had to walk a lot of it because I’m so heavily loaded.  

Then there was about 15 km of pavement….then more trail that was really rough.  Once again pushed my bike a lot through this section.  Thankfully it was al nice day…and the trees provided a lot of nice shade.  

Photo checkpoint #8 Centre of the north island

The geographical centre of the north island was first located in 1961 by John Wheeler, a land surveyor from Taupō.  A cairn marks the spot.  He created a roughly one meter long map of the North Island on some rigid cardboard, accounting for the curvature of the earth.  The point where it perfectly balanced on a pin was defined to be the geographic centre.  

After this was another 10 km of gravel road.  Three people were helicoptered from this area two days ago…so I was being extra careful.  Eventually I made it to the campground where Elizabeth and I rented bunks inside for another early start tomorrow morning.  We need to make it roughly 100km to where there is both lodging and food.  

Day 11 - Mangakino

Eleven days already, and it feels like I’m making some progress towards the South Island, still a long way to go.  

This morning we headed off around 0830, after a long chat with other at the same lodge….they are amazed at what we are doing….maybe they know something I don’t know. 😀😀😀

Today was another great day, the clouds prevented it from getting too hot.  The entire day was on the road, but most of them were quiet which is really nice.  The day started off cycling by farms….note cattle, a few lambs and so much pasture.  Very lush and green.  

About half way I came to a dam, similar to the one at Arapuni where we stayed last night. On Lake Maraetai which is where we are staying tonight, there are 5 hydroelectric dams.  

The small town of Mangakino has everything we need, a store, two restaurants and a comfortable place to sleep.  We took our time and still made the hotel with plenty of time.  

The day was gorgeous - the weather was perfect and the views incredible.  While we were at the store, we noticed about 12 children, out on their bikes…having fun.  Laughing and playing together….so nice to see 😀

Tomorrow’s track is more remote….there are 8 or so riders in town all aiming for the same place so hopefully we will all watch out for each other.   Yesterday a few people were choppered off the track ….ill have to be careful in that area tomorrow.  We had a good dinner, and we have enough food with us for the next few days.  More than enough actually…I’ll have to figure out how to carry it all.   The SPOT tracker should work, but I’m not sure about the GPS.  

Day 10 - Arapuni

 I had a bit of a sleep in this morning as I’ve planned a shorter day today.  A bit too gruelling to do the two days as one, as the next days after that are gruelling and isolated…long legs without any services.  

Photo Checkpoint #8 is lake Karapiro….they are having a rowing competition here this weekend and it’s a huge event.  Many trucks hauling multiple boats….so many vehicles parked and I saw a lot of boats on the water as I was taking my photo.  

I was cycling on a path through the city, and once out of the city I was on paved roads that were fairly quiet.  Lots of rolling hills….very green.  I didn’t see as many cows today, the past few days we passed through many working dairy farms, but today I was on the road.  The trees are huge, and lots of flowers in the ditches.  Some look familiar like the colourful hydrangeas we see in Vancouver….some pink Lilly like flowers I’ve seen in Southern California.  Some flowers like at home…but I have yet to see any dandelions!!!  Or any creeping bell flowers!  If they aren’t here now, they will never come as bio security at the airports ensured that all my gear such as my tent and shoes were free of any seeds, plants or soil.  They did find two maple leaves in my tent during the screening!  My last trip was to Quebec to see the leaves 😂😂😂

Tonight I’m in a nice little backpackers motel.  Two rooms with 4 bunks, and a couple of rooms with a double bed.  Looks like it was full last night, but tonight just me and Elizabeth are staying here….i stayed with Elizabeth and her parents in Auckland.  Nice to see a familiar face.  The other couple that I met a few days ago have decided to abandon the event, we met for breakfast this morning….and she very much encouraged me to continue.  

Tomorrow will be a slightly longer day… but not too bad.  I’m looking forward to it.  Thanks for the texts, emails and comments, and thanks to everyone who is checking in on Ted😀

Day 9 - Cambridge

 I’m at km 700!!!  Whooop Whooop!!!  It’s not going as quickly as I had hoped….but when I was planning this trip and I looked at the trail, I only looked at the distance and didn’t pay enough attention to the hills….and they are massive here.  

I forgot to mention….yesterday I saw two male cyclists…wearing only sunscreen 😳.   They had a nice even tan, unlike me 😂😂-and no I’m not considering it….i don’t have enough sunscreen in my tube!  

I got up at 0700 this morning and quickly packed up…my tent was still quite wet from the dew so my plan was to air it out as soon as I arrived at the campground.  Off I went into town in search of a good hardy breakfast….then I was off.  More than half of today’s ride was on the rail trail.  It is such an amazing trail…very well up kept and the bridges over the small streams and rivers are next level.  I’m sure they would support the weight of a vehicle they are so well constructed.  

The remainder of today was on paved roads….most were quiet with few vehicles which is nice….especially going uphill as I’m going so slow that it’s hard to stay straight, and going downhill because I’m usually going so fast that I need a bit more room….and well on the flats because I’m sometimes distracted that I veer  off a bit….so really the less traffic the better!!!!  

The endpoint for today is the town of Cambridge, and they are hosting a rowing competition this weekend so I was very lucky to have a campsite for tonight.  I booked the last site last night.  So glad I was lucky.  Next door to me are two other TA riders, they took a rest day today.  

The next day is huge, 80 km with over 1000m of gain, the boys are going to do it in one shot, but I’m going to split it up in two.  We are headed into a remote area, with long distances….massive climbs and minimal service.  I need to prepare a bit…do a bit of figuring out…and buy some extra food.   I’ll have lots of time tomorrow to plan.  

Oh….i didn’t get to hobbit town….it is 70km away.  It looks like the route used to go by it, but this year it’s changed, and I’m not sure why.  I’ll save it for my next trip 😀😀😀

The scenery is rolling hills…and lots of cows!!!  Loving it here.  

Day 8 - Paeroa

 I had a great day today….a fairly early start….lots of dew so everything was still wet when I packed up.  A few couple cookies and juice for breakfast and off I went.  The first 25km were in a road which was right by the water….some spectacular views 😀

Then I got onto a rail trail which was great…no vehicles, and flat but it is slower than the road.  The rail trail lasted for 73km.  I met up with a few cyclists, one couple who are also doing the TA, and a local who was out to meet a few people.  As nice as the trail is….there was no shade for most of the day, so it was really hot.  I have a thin yellow shirt with a hood that prevents me from burning…and I often pull up the hood under my helmet….which is a sight!  Someone said that I look biblical!!!  Hahaha!  Just trying to prevent any sunburns.  

Photo checkpoint #7 - Waikato cows.  In the past decade, the placid bovine has surpassed the sheep as the icon of New Zealand’s economy.  4.5 million cows!  Dairying makes up 1/3 of the country’s exports.  Most of the cows that we see are black and white, but around here many are brown and white, and some seem to be a mixture the top is brown and white, the bottom is black and white.  

I’ve run into another Canadian cyclist - from Edmonton!  Just lives a few km from us!  He rides with the Edmonton cycling and touring club, so we may meet again.  😀

Day 7 - Orere Point

 Hello….i had a very fun and relaxing day.  It helped that the wind has finally calmed down, and so have the hills!  Apparently New Zealand is the hilliest place in the world….i did not fact checked this, just going by experience 😀😀

I said goodbye to my gracious hosts Della, Dave and Elizabeth - headed back to the bike shop with a few questions and some breakfast across the street.  I sat for a long time just enjoying FaceTime with Ted.  The shop was on the was to Mount Eden, photo checkpoint #5.

The 196m high Mayngawhau is the highest volcano in Auckland, New Zealand’s largest city.  Māori named this crater ‘Te Ipu-a-Mataaho’ - the bowl of Mataaho.  This is where Mataaho, god of secrets hidden within the earth, is said to have lived.  When his wife left him and took his clothes with her, the goddess Mahuta brought fires upon the earth to keep him warm.  These fires became the other volcanos in the Auckland area. 

From the top was a great view of Auckland and both the Pacific Ocean and the Tasman sea.  I cycled to the top, then once there was an elevated wooden path around the top….about 500m.  I started going around, then realized there were a few steps down, then a few more….then lots more.  I didn’t really think it through - so I ended up going all the way around, with about 20 sets of 4-5 steps that I bumped my bike down while trying not to lose my balance!!!  What I sight I must have been.  

This was an extra long detour after a leisurely breakfast.  So off I went through the city on bike paths out to the wharf to catch the ferry across to Pine Harbour.  I ran into two other TA participants and we had a nice visit on our way over.  I stopped for a leisurely lunch overlooking the Pacific Ocean.  It is so blue.  And beautiful.  And amazing.   I didn’t want to leave….but I did have to make some tracks.  It was almost 3 pm, and the only accommodations were back about 7 km, or forward 45km.  So off I went.  

I was by the ocean for a bit, then back inland.  I was passing by a house, surrounded by pots of flowers and two men standing outside.  The shouted out hello, and an offer of carrot cake and coffee…..yummy.  So I stopped for a brief visit and cake before continuing on.  

This camping spot is about 2.5km off the track, but the next camping spot is another 25km farther, and with darkness about 90 min away I decided to stay here instead of continuing on to the hot springs.  This is when I started to regret my leisurely breakfast and lunch.  😀😀😀

This camping place is nice, but there are several TA members at the hot springs.  My plan is to get going really early, and maybe I’ll catch up to a few and have some company tomorrow.