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Toughing it on my bike for those doing it tough in Newtown

  • COVID-19 trumps travel

      23 March 2020
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    Hi, two days into our South Island leg of Tour Aotearoa, we've made the decision to return home to Wellington.

    We're going to head along Highway 63 via St Arnaud towards Blenheim.

    Best to stay safe and get home before travel restrictions get tighter, and also to do all we can to help keep virus transmission down. Not an easy choice but with things so changeable and the situation so important for people's safety this is the only choice.

    The Salvation Army Newtown Centre is is already under increasing pressure with COVID-19, particularly around helping those who are socially isolated and homeless in our part of the city, so if you're still feeling willing it would be great if you could make a contribution.

    Stay safe and well everyone. Look after yourselves and your loved ones. Follow all the advice from the Government and Health Authorities. Bless you.

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  • One third of the way there!

      15 March 2020
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    March 15: 1114 kms under my belt

    Just over one-third of the way to Bluff!! And one-third of my fundraising goal reached (counting a few donations made direct to The Salvation Army in Newtown). Thanks everyone!

    We've had some challenging days on our cycling tour brevet of NZ. Thursday leaving from Te Aroha we rode on the end of the Hauraki rail trail to Hobbiton's Matamata.

    After replacing my rear light that bounced off somewhere we pushed onto Arapuni. We were looking forward to riding the Waikato River Trail, but it was closed. We got into Mangakino 8pm under lights and pretty tired.

    Friday we resupplied in town and took on the challenging trip to Ongarue via the Timber Trail. We got to Ongarue exhausted at 10pm after 130kms, mostly on single track and climbing over 2000m, setting up camp by the side of road.

    Saturday, after two days without a shower I insisted we stay somewhere with a proper shower. So we decided a shorter ride to Whakahoro of 90kms, laying up at the beautiful Blue Duck lodge (via McDonald's at Taumarunui!)

    Sunday we were focused on getting to Whanganui so pulled out all the stops on some riding that was definitely adventurous and challenging!

    It was worth every bit of effort as this evening we're being hosted by the wonder Whanganui Salvation Army officers Paul and Susan Jarvis. We've had a hot meal, hot shower, and Susan has washed our clothes. Legends!

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  • 587 km down - just 2413 to go!

      11 March 2020
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    March 10 & 11: A huge day yesterday! We set out on charter boat from Pouto Point at 7 am and sailed along the big Kaipara Harbor to Hellensville. Easiest kms we've done so far. Great scenery and company with fellow TAers.

    Arriving in Hellensville at 10am we cycled off to Mount Eden via some great separated cycle ways and only managed to get lost a little bit.

    After a photo checkpoint at the top of the Mount we headed south via the coast. The route was pretty safe from traffic apart from Mark's close encounter with a bus. I've never seen such polite road rage as Mark speaking to the driver!

    Pushing on we met another fellow TAer in Clevedon who suggested we share a cabin in holiday park at Orere Top10. So, peddling hard and in the dark, we got there at 8.30. A long but satisfying day.

    Today, leaving Orere, we travelled round the beautiful Firth of Thames looking over at the Coromandel peninsula. Funny thing was when we stopped at Kaiaua's 'Pink Dairy' for refuelling and the shop keeper asked, "Are you Keith and Mark?" They'd been watching us on map progress and were expecting us.

    We're also met 77-year-old Aussie Paul doing the tour. What a legend! He told us how he cycled the Indian Pacific event and the Race to the Rock too.

    We then jumped onto the Hauraki rail trail for lots of kms to Te Aroha. Nice and flat. We met a farmer and his young daughter along the trail who bred prize cows and bulls. Which was nice. And suitably rural.

    More adventures tomorrow.

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  • Auckland in our sights ... almost

      9 March 2020
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    March 9: Pretty straightforward short ride today for Mark and I on our cycling Tour Aotearoa, with a little chapel (literally!) on the way!

    We shared a cabin and treated ourselves to a cooked breakfast in the camp kitchen. Mark had an air mattress failure the night before and had to purchase a new one at Dargaville Hunting & Fishing (ouch!).

    Then we headed off to Pouto Point on a road that started off sealed but finished off as a wide gravel logging road through pine forest and farmland.

    Some good climbs.

    We arrived at the Point and are staying at the community hall, which has been converted into a great little backpacker accommodation. We arrived early afternoon, but the special TA ferry is only sailing at 7 am tomorrow. However, it gave us good time to swap stories with fellow TAers, especially how Mark and I survived 90 Mile Beach ;-)

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  • Thanking God for Jessie!

      8 March 2020
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    8 March: Day 3 on our Tour Aotearoa started in Opononi with a climb overlooking spectacular views of Hokianga Harbour.

    Our first photo point was the massive kauri tree Tane Mahuta. Riding through the Forest you couldn't help but notice the effect Kauri dieback is having.

    From the forest to Dargaville was mainly rolling hills and gravel road through farmland. We stopped at this delightful cash-only cafe at Donnellys Junction set up just for Tour Aotearoa to fund raise for a small community set around abandoned rail yards.

    Then, close to Dargaville and towards end of the gravel, this young guy rode towards us on his broken-down bike. His name was Jessie and he asked if we're wanted our water bottles filled and some water melon and rock melon. What a legend!

    In Dargaville, Mark's friends from Whangarei surprised us and we enjoyed dinner with them. A great day!

    Tomorrow we're looking to rework our planning a little as we won't be able to do a planned ferry crossing until Tuesday morning, which means a shorter day on Monday and some extra effort to catch up with our schedule afterwards.

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  • Day 2 and we're back on schedule

      7 March 2020
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    March 7: Good day today. We had to delay our leaving due to tide times on 90 Mile Beach, which meant a sleep in!

    The 14km along to Ahipara was really pleasant with a gentle tail wind. After washing our bikes and refuelling at the Dairy we headed off to Broadwood on quiet country roads. Then over to Rawene on gravel roads.

    We caught a 10-minute ferry across the Hokianga harbor, then cycled onto Opononi where we inhaled burger and chips and pitched our tents at the holiday park.

    105 km all up! Back on track with Mark's spreadsheet of kms per day.

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  • Thar she blows!

      6 March 2020
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    Thursday 4 March: First day on the bike and it was a hard one. Head wind all the way along Ninety Mile Beach. Relentlessly hard slog!

    Mark and I ran out of beach with high tide coming in, so bailed out at Waipapakauri Village. The holiday park was closed for renovations but we are able to stay with a family that had an old caravan with power.

    Because they are on tank water they even shuttled us over to their parents' place for a hot shower using bore water. So much sand washed away.

    Thankful for great Kiwi hospitality.

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  • One sleep to go!

      5 March 2020
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    Thursday 5 March: Last day in Kaitaia before travelling up to Cape Reinga tomorrow morning.

    Had a great day with the Vemoa family. Spent most of it with Misikone Vemoa, one of the hard working Sallie officers up here in the Far North - probably the most isolated corps in NZ.

    Working around Kaitaia with Misi today, I also had the privilege of riding shotgun with him in the van to Kerikeri via coast road. Kerikeri is part of Misi's patch.

    While he attended to Salvation Army Family Store and Food Bank pickups. I had my bike tweaked at a bike mechanic. The mechanic says he does this for fun in his retirement. He even did the TA in 2018.

    On way home we stopped at Mangonui fish and chip (fush & chups) shop and ate while overlooking the stunning harbor. Beautiful country up here!

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  • On the road but not yet on the bike

      4 March 2020
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    Wednesday 4 March: Started my Tour Aotearoa cycling odyssey today.

    Almost at Cape Reinga and enjoying the wonderful hospitality of Misi and Sheree Vemoa and their delightful kids in Kaitaia. They are doing an awesome job for the Sallies in the far north of New Zealand. Great day travelling today!

    Thanks everyone for your support :-)

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