Bent On New Zealand: January 2017

Monday, January 16, 2017

Day 60 Sat 14/01/17 - Huntly Motor Camp to Manurewa Mew Lin's Home

Today Distance : 77.0 km Total: 3771.2 km

Today weather : 18 - 35C Sunny Hot

Time on Bike : 5 hr 51 min

Ave speed : 13.2 kmh Max : 49.8 kmh

Ave Climb : 2% Max :9%

Trip Altitude : 448 m Max : 262 m

Today spend : 15 nzd Total : 1313.4 nzd

On my last day of riding from Huntly to Manurewa,a distance of 70+ km. I am a little confused as I looked at the gps map,there are Expressway and Motorway on SH1,and there is no direct alternative smaller road to take. When I rode out and asked about biking on SH1 from the policeman, he said it's ok but there are sections that bike will not allowed and he reminded me to always look for signs. Feeling positive now as I follow SH1 and actually there is a wide shoulder lane even on Expressway. Had earlier sent a message to Mew Lin,my ex-schoolmate's house in Manurewa that I will be back in today afternoon,Weather is great with hot sun and no scenery to take pictures at all, even though it's my last day of riding,I am still feeling weak and not much strength to push hard, guess this is a sign of home sick after nearly 2 months of continuous cycling. No point of rushing to get back so I took my time for a nap by the roadside, once i laid down and I completely into deep sleep and had to be woken up by a policeman who stopped with his patrol car to find out what happen to a cyclist laying flat by the roadside. The policeman was very friendly and advised me be careful of bad ppl might steal your things.After this unintended sleep, I continued my ride with a long climb up to what the locals called Bombay Hill,stopping for a plate of Indian chicken fried rice for 9 nzd. From Bombay Hill I had to ride on an alternative road ( Great South Road) to Manurewa as SH1 now turns into a Motorway. Finally arriving in Manurewa by 6.30pm and officially ended my tour in NZ. My flight back to Malaysia is on 18th Jan,so I will have a good few days rest in a warm house.

Arriving Manurewa by 6.30pm and officially ended my tour in NZ

Surprised to see bike lane in Expressway to Auckland

This Bombay is not the other Bombay and famous for its steep hill

Indian Chicken fried rice for 9 nzd

After Bombay can't ride on Motorway, but there is alternative of this Great South Road

This is where I begin my tour and today completed with my final pedal successfully

Friday, January 13, 2017

Day 59 Fri 13/01/17 - Karapiro Picnic Area Camp to Huntly Motor Camp

Today Distance : 76.2 km Total: 3694.2 km

Today weather : 18 - 33C Morning rain and sunny afternoon

Time on Bike : 5 hr 07 min

Ave speed : 14.9 kmh Max : 45.0 kmh

Ave Climb : 3% Max :15%

Trip Altitude : 477 m Max : 254 m

Today spend : 26.4 nzd Total : 1298.4 nzd

Morning it started to rain when I just wanted to start the ride, anyway I decided to brave the rain with my rain coat on,luckily the rain didn't last long and it stop in Cambridge town and the sun started to shine. Did not entered the busy Hamilton town centro as I took the bypass road of SH1B, very quiet with less traffic especially the speedy trucks.Eventually the 1B merges back with SH1 in Taupiri with the Waikato River. Huntly is a bigger town before Auckland,there is one Motor camping,so I decided to look for it and stay a night with my tent for 15nzd with hot shower and kitchen facilities. Tomorrow will probably my last day of riding in Auckland.

Morning rain in Cambridge

Hautapu on SH1B

Gordonton village in SH1B

Taupiri

Huntly

Camp in Huntly motor camping ground 15 nzd

Motor Camp in Huntly

Park by the lakeside

Carps in the lake

Fishing by the lake

Anglers from Beijing gave me a fish

Free fish for my dinner

Day 58 Thu 12/01/17 - Tokoroa Jim Currie Reserve Camp to Karapiro Picnic Area Camp

Today Distance : 62.1 km Total: 3618 km

Today weather : 18 - 35C Sunny Super Hot

Time on Bike : 4 hr 17 min

Ave speed : 14.5 kmh Max : 53.5 kmh

Ave Climb : 3% Max :8%

Trip Altitude : 261 m Max : 284 m

Today spend : 0.9 nzd Total : 1272.0 nzd

Biggest joke today,how on earth I can lose my helmet as I woke up to discover that.Definitely not stolen, no stupid fool thief will just interested on my old helmet where I have more valuable things for him or her. I guess I must have misplaced or dropped in the Jim Currie Reserve when I first arrived yesterday. I did go round to find in the morning but to no vial,guess someone must have pickup and happily keeping it.Anyway I still have a head scuff and a face bandanna to wear. Not my usual practice to ride without helmet,but show must go on,just be extra careful on the road especially on a fast downhill.7km arriving in Tokoroa, nice town with lots of wood carving ,statue of pine man with a chainsaw, and with free WiFi from Spark hotspot.Big hills are over now and the ride on gradually down gradient as I moved closer to Hamilton, but a nice pinic area with a beautiful lakeview near Cambridge stops me from continuing the ride. Guess I will just have to ride pass Hamilton tomorrow.

Tokoroa wood craving

Pine Man of Tokoroa with a chainsaw

Tokoroa wood craving

This place no tent camping so moves on

Karapiro Picnic Area Camp

Waikato River in Karapiro

Karapiro Picnic Area Camp

My dinner

Day 57 Wed 11/01/17 - Taupo Rainbow Lodge Backpackers to Tokoroa Jim Currie Reserve Camp

Today Distance : 64.5 km Total: 3555.9 km

Today weather : 17 - 33C Sunny Hot

Time on Bike : 5 hr 42 min

Ave speed : 11.3 kmh Max : 64.3 kmh

Ave Climb : 3% Max :11%

Trip Altitude : 675 m Max : 303 m

Today spend : 49.3 nzd Total : 1271.1 nzd

Leaving Taupo Rainbow Backpackers by 10am after having a heavy breakfast,on the way to Wairakei,stopping over the lookout point view of the Lake Taupo before joining the busy SH1, this part of the road I had ridden before coming from Rotorua,some of the road scenery i still remembered passing thru',now I am riding on the way back,not to Rotorua but to Hamilton and finally ending in Auckland.Highlight for today is, one car stopping about 100m in front of me, and when I caught up,a native Maori man offer me 2 bottles of fruit drinks,a mango and lime,we had a little chat before I thank him again for his kindness.In a super hot day,the 2 free drinks really taste GOOD!!! Today's ride is mostly uphill but not that steep can easily managed. At about 5pm when approaching Tokoroa, I spotted a nice forest with wide grassy land and tall trees, it's a Jim Currie Reserve with a little small stream where I collected water for my cooking.

Morning breakfast in Rainbow Backpackers

The Love for cycling in Taupo

At the lookout point to Taupo

View of Taupo

Courtesy from a Maori driver

Road closed half for refurbished

This is where I lost my helmet

Free camping in Jim Currie Reserve

Tuesday, January 10, 2017

Day 56 Tue 10/01/17 - Tarawera Abandoned Campground to Taupo Rainbow Lodge Backpackers

Today Distance : 72.3 km Total: 3491.4 km

Today weather : 15 - 30C Sunny Hot

Time on Bike : 6 hr 26 min

Ave speed : 11.2 kmh Max : 57.0 kmh

Ave Climb : 3% Max :13%

Trip Altitude : 651 m Max : 320 m

Today spend : 51.6 nzd Total : 1221.8 nzd

Leaving Tarawera abandoned campground free stay,the weather is fine to continue my journey to Taupo. It seems that I had ridden the hardest climbs yesterday,and today's ride is just so much better in a high plateau with long gradual climbs. Arriving in Taupo for the 2nd time by 3.30pm. During the 1st visit, I free camped at the Boat Harbour, so this time around I wanted to stay in a Backpackers to recharge and do some updates on my blog. YHA was fully booked when I first inquire,so I went to Rainbow Lodge Backpackers just a stone throw away from YHA. I love the place and the cost is reasonable at 27 nzd well within my budget and is very near to Pak'N Save Supermarket.