PB's trip reports
April 2021 Coromandel Loop
3 day ride from Thames to Coville around the top & back via Coromandel Township
ReadOkataina Walkway Loop
A 50km loop from the Redwoods along the Okataina Walkway to Okataina Outdoor Centre then back along the main road.
ReadRemutaka Incline loop
Day trip from Lower Hutt down the Wainuiomata Valley and around the coast to the Wairarapa returning via the Remutaka incline in Jan 2020.
ReadThompson's Track
Saturday’s forecast is good for biking and Glenys has a meeting in Katikati in the BOP at a reasonable hour. The stars are lining up apart from my fitness that has slowly deteriorated from Easter. The fortnightly rides are not really enough!
ReadJan 2019
Warmer weather and holidays means that it is time for my annual bike trip. This year it has to be shorter due to a number of other life opportunities not the least my part in the ‘Iron Bic’s’ half ironman team. Cam suggested that we field a team to compete in the Tauranga race on Jan 12th. I needed to be back and recovered to complete the 90km bike section (Tyler 2 km swim & Cam 21km run). Rather than my usual 6-700km jaunt I cut it in half (301km) but still managed to cover some new ground.
ReadBike Jan '18 Day 6
I have decided to make this my last day. Glenys is going to be staying near The Mount and there is room for me. She has my bike rack and clean clothes and it will be nice to see her again. Because of our people filled lives we have to be intentional to get space, which she is doing. Steve is heading into Ohope this morning, so this time I deal to the pride and accept a lift to the top of the hill above Whakatane.
ReadBike Jan '18 Day 5
Breakfast is meusli and protien powder, again. I think I will be giving the drum of it away to Cam when I get back. Thankfully a shorter day today, and it starts out a bit easier with a nice ride along a river valley to Motu, where I actually lose altitude. Sheep & beef farms surround me and I even have to ride through a large flock of sheep heading to the shearing shed.
ReadBike Jan '18 Day 4
The ride out of town took me past a roadside fruit & vege shop. Bananas are easy on the stomach and fresh peaches make any day better, so it is stock up time. My first planned stop is Eastwood Hills Arboretum 30km on. It is easy riding along the valleys as I gradually climb west from the coast. It is hot again so I park my bike pay the entry and buy a ginger beer. My energy levels are not good and I’m tiring easily so I take my time wandering the shaded paths looking at trees. Douglas Cook, the man who started this place in 1910 has left the largest collect of Northern hemisphere trees & shrubs in the Southern hemisphere. He also surprised some of the locals as he liked to garden naked. I made the second biggest mistake of this trip here. Just before I departed, a trip to a flushing toilet was in order. It was here that I inadvertently left my tub of butt cream. When one is spending a lot of time in the saddle this stuff is gold, suffice to say I was now a lot poorer.
ReadBike Jan '18 Day 3
The day dawned fine and clear but somewhat cool. As it was a lot of downhill initially a light fleece was needed. The road follows down the river valley for about 40km to Frasertown, I’m in and out of the morning sun so with the climbs to get around the bends in the winding river I’m running hot and cold. I’m also feeling a bit tired from the hills yesterday and not being able to eat what my body needs.
ReadBike Jan '18 Day 2
A good sleep revived me for a big day. Breakfast of coffee and muesli premixed with protein powder. That strawberry flavour would repeat until my next meal. Coat or not was the big question this morning, rain was threatening but I tend to overheat with it on. No, leave it off but handy. By the time I hit the first hill drizzle had joined me, so it was on with the coat.
ReadBike Jan '18 Day 1
With the Christmas part of the break dealt with and the new year in the bag it was time for my annual bike epic. The plan was to cross over to the East via Lake Waikeremoana, up to Gisborne then back over the Kaimais via Thompson’s track home. It was an ambitious plan of around 900 km, mostly on tar seal but a good amount of gravel and even some mountain biking. The full trip was not realised due to eating issues and an accident, but I’ll get to all that later.
Read