Give me seven hours in the rain in a conoe with my best mates any day!

Hello readers! Sorry I have been away for so long. Life on the road is busy. Since we last spoke I have bike three more legs of my trip and taken a bus for one other. I am currently in Taupo. A beautiful lakeside town of no more than 25,000 residents, although the population almost doubles during summer holiday months due to tourist traffic.

Since my still seemingly unbelievable first day of biking I have managed to saddle up and make a total of 350 km or so bike (roughly 200 miles). The first week of my cycling travels were plagued with rain that left me stuck indoors and bored at times. I did have a few opportunities to wander around Thames but I did not wander far because my body would not allow it, I was still pretty sore from biking. The Corromandel Peninsula was gorgeous and I hope I can go back some time to do some of its great hikes and get some camping in there. The backpackers I stayed at was a small, warm, B&B style place that I would definately stay at again. I stayed three nights and rested up for my next leg of biking and saw an opportunity to get on the road without the chance of it pouring rain on me so took off. The trip through the Corromandel was quite intense for the first 15 km. A 500 meter climb was rather grueling and I found myself pushing my bike up the hills rather than peddling up them. Once at the top and the big hills behind me the going down was amazing with fast paced down slopes and scenic views and I could not resist a photo opportunity. At the 30 km mark i found myself faced with a 250 meter climb and light rain. It was a bit slow going up but I managed to make my 60 km day to Whangamata in 6 hours with only 2 hours of rain. Not so bad.

My stay in Whangamata was average. The backpackers was unexciting and could not go out due to heavy rain. I did have half a day of sun and was able go out and see the beach and watch the surf. I did happen to meet 3 Germans and a Chilean who convinced me to go out to beach at night and do some stargazing while drinking tequila. The stargazing was a good idea but the tequila, not so much. The stars were amazing and I can honestly say that I have never seen the stars sparkle the the way they did on the beach. All in all it was a decent stay but I was ready to move on.

The next leg to Mt Maunganui was a decent stretch of hill climb for the first 30 km, and then slow rolling hills for the final 60 km to make for a 90 km trip. The weather was warm and sunny but the day was long. I think it might have had something to do with all the tequila the night before. My stay in the Mount was my favorite thus far. It was a busy backpackers close to the beach in a relatively small surf town. Sadly I have yet to surf. I spent 5 nights with some amazing people and did not want to leave. That is the sad part of traveling and meeting new people every 3 or 4 days. Each place can start to take on the feeling of home and the people you meet start to feel like family, especially when you are traveling alone. But I must press on and keep to the road.

The trip to Rotorua was pretty short, being only 70 km and pretty flat for the first 2/3 of the day. It still felt like a long day of biking and I could feel fatigue setting in earlier than I had expected. The stay in Rotorua was average as well. The backpackers felt more like a motel and did not have the social feel I had come to love in Mt Maunganui. I stayed 2 nights and was on my way.

Here is the shocking part of the entry! I have given up the bike trip for now! I took a bus from Rotorua to Taupo in order to skip 80 km of heavy hills so that I could get to my destination and really enjoy myself the way I want to. The biking is far too taxing and leaves me stiff and sore. I also have three serious issues with biking here in New Zealand. 1: the roads are not very smooth so it makes for a bumpy ride that is slower and harder. 2: the hills here are so intense at times and all over the place that at times I feel I am walking my bike more than I am riding it. 3: and last but not least, besides roads that aren't smooth and hills from hell, one of a cyclist's least favorite friends is the wind, especially a wind that no matter what direction you are headed is always in your face. So I have given up the biking for a bit to save my sanity and enjoy myself more thoroughly.

I am in Taupo at the moment and the view from my backpackers is amazing. It overlooks a lake with snow capped mountains and a volcanic peak behind it. Today was the first time the clouds were not covering the summits.

All in all I am having a amazing time meeting new people and seeing some pretty magical places, but I am excited for Robert Ed to arrive for the holidays so we can tear it up in the south island.

Until Next Time
-Matthew