Where Where and Nowhere

November 20, 2023

As green as it gets

Waiouru to unnamed riverside camp on the Taihape Napier Rd 75km 750 metres ascent

Yesterday’s ad hoc decision to stay at Waiouru, rather than push on to Taihape, turned out to be a good idea. Pushing on regardless isn’t always the best option.

This morning we realised stopping early yesterday had saved us riding an unnecessary extra 11 km on a busy highway in rain.

By 9am this morning we’d covered 1okm on the much quieter, drier morning highway and we’d turned left; and were cycling east on the scenic, quiet Spooners Hill Rd in the general direction of Hawkes Bay.

This was via a road which would include the famously steep “Gentle Annie” climb. The guide book say it’s is a four day ride from here to Napier on loaded bikes.

Much of the scenery today was outstandingly green, hilly grazing country interspersed with pine plantations and patches of native bush.

We also crossed several fast flowing rivers and streams. At one of these crossings, we met an Australian fisherman called Neil, from Boorowa. He’s a very dedicated trout fisherman who has been visiting New Zealand for many years. He also used to work at CSIRO Division of Entomology in Canberra; in Doug Waterhouse’s lab. Doug is famous for being the inventor of fly repellent compounds now sold as Aeroguard.

Rainfall increased throughout the day, and by days end we were fairly wet and too fatigued to take on the ‘Gentle Annie’ climb. Instead we chose a riverside campsite, and quickly cooked dehydrated rations in steady rain.

By 6:30 pm we were in our tents hoping for drier weather in the morning.

Good question. Where indeed? To Napier is the plan.

Extremely green country. It’s almost fluorescent.

Substantial rural buildings. A large dairy.

In the far distance, across the clear felled pine plantation on the road you might be able to spot Joel and Tony in their fluoro rain jackets.

A potential DOC campground is near this crossing. We chose to ride further.

Neil explaining the finer points of trout fishing to Joel

High pastures. Sheep and cattle country.

It’s steep, wild looking country down there

The long and winding road. Nothing but us and the occasional logging truck.

We are camped near the junction of two rivers

Today's ride: 75 km (47 miles)
Total: 272 km (169 miles)

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