Today we covered what seemed like a massive distance, in absolutely perfect riding conditions. We left behind our damp and mildewed cabin at the Papamoa Holiday Park at roughly 9am and headed into the plaza to find some breakfast. The choices for dining in Papamoa are fairly limited, so it was at an American style diner we found sustenance. Now this may sound far fetched, but I can guarantee you there was not a single healthy option on their menu, and some patrons were feasting on cheese burgers and fries at this time of the morning.
After breakfast Myra got some new earplugs from the chemist, the alpine rider ones I gave her keep falling out and she is not happy with them, so she now has pair of squeegee yellow numbers. They seem to do a great job, maybe too great as communication between us has resorted to me having to yell for her to hear me while we are at highway speeds. Oh well, who needs talking anyway right?
So once this was all taken care off it was off on the road to our next stop, the Te Puia Springs Hotel. The Garmin tells us it is only 345kms away and it looked like nothing on paper, but boy it was a hard days riding.
The roads through this region are absolutely wonderful. The trip was about 5 hours riding time, and I can honestly say that for large periods of that we would maybe see one to three cars per half an hour coming the other way. There is pretty much nothing heading the same way as us. I had head that Gisborne is remote, but had no idea at how sparsely populated it is.
The coastal route is stunning; with so many gorgeous bays and inlets where families have pitched their tents and have the kids out in the glassy sea collecting kinner and mussels with snorkeling gear. It has really made me wonder if we need to start heading out this way instead of the Coromandel come camping time. The small towns we passed through, Matata, Paroa, Kutarere, Torero, Omaio, Waihau Bay and others, are blink and you miss it type arrangements. It is just so peaceful here, hardly a sound, and nothing that you would call built up.
The ride is awesome, huge long straights with high gear sweeping bends for a large part of it, until you get near Te Araroa where you turn south as you come upon some breathtaking cliffs that rise intimidating from the ground and soar skywards. Once you take the turn off you’re treated with some slower more challenging roads, plenty of signposted 25/35/45/55 corners for what seems an eternity as you climb through the hills. We were far past the comfortable ride length stage at this point though, with sore backsides and my throttle wrist not happy, so it was a shame we did not really get the most out of this section as we should.
When we came to Te Puia Springs we actually drove straight through it without realizing. This place is great; it has a general store, a fish and chip store, and the hotel. That’s all I’ve seen! We had to turn back when we realised there is no centre of town. As I said, we’re staying in the Te Puia Springs hotel, and it’s so cool here. We are the only guests in the whole hotel. It is a very old school type of establishment, a la The Shining type thing if you know what I mean. The people are fantastic and have been extremely friendly, cooking us a magnificent dinner of fresh of the boat Terakahi with chips and eggs and a side of home made coleslaw. This was after a soak in their natural Te Puia Springs hot spa, with apparently the most mineral rich spring water in the world! Right out back in their shed with the warm fuzzy inducing painted yellow door. For $90 a night, I’d thoroughly recommend you give this place a try if you ever come through this way.
Anyway, tomorrow is another long hike to Napier, so I’m hoping a good nights rest will rejuvenate my wrist for another lengthy ride. After that it’s two fairly short riding days so if we can just get through tomorrow fine we’ll be able to recoup over Christmas and Boxing Day.
