Bent On New Zealand

Friday, January 13, 2017

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.