Putorino > Napier – Simply Cyling Around

Today I should arrive to Napier where I planned to stays few days. The least I can do is take a shower haha :-) There are different things to visit here. Hence, if I’m lucky I could find work as well :-) Here we go! There are vineyards everywhere around this city. French catholics missioners have planted the first vineyards in 1851 and imported Chardonnay, Sauvignon, Cabernet, Merlot and other grape varieties to the area.

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Initially, I wanted to have one day off around Putorino but the family with who I stayed last night recommended me to continue my way because if the rain keeps going the road could be closed… I didn’t want to get stuck there so I got back on the saddle.

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The lake Tutira (Wiki). The family’s mother, Catherine, told me that the road was mostly flat with a long easy hill before Napier but I haven’t experienced the same thing as she told me… I guess she has been driving on that road and never did it on a push bike :-)

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Phew! I’m about half way through that long easy hill. It is definitely steep and hard! I might reach the 350m altitude I think.

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I’ve reached the top! As always I’m surrounded by sheep :-)

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separator title: Zipping ~7km down hill!

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Hey, I’m on the coast again :-). The slope after the submit was good. I can Napier from here, I think…

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Hey, the coast again :-). That down hill part was so good. I can see Napier in the background from here, I think…

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Cold and rainy…

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A dash of color in that greyish atmosphere.

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Sheep… and cows of course!

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This road feels way more attractive than the state highway 2 but I’m not sure if that’s going to be a dead end or not. I’ve seen a guy a minute ago. I’ll go ask him.

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I was not recommended to use that quiet road along the sea shore but that guy told me that I will be able to get on something similar a bit further away. So for now, I’m back on the state highway 2. The first vineyards in sight. I’m definitively getting closer to Napier :-)

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On the other side of the road, the same view…

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Ah? This should be the road that guy told me about. Somewhere over there, there is an access to a concrete path following the beach until Napier. Pretty perfectly nice :-)

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Before continuing, I need some energy. A little sandwich is what I need. Hence, I have network on my phone! Finally! Time to answer your previous comments :-).

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Napier, I’m coming!

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Back on track. Napier, I’m coming!

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I’m now very close by the city center and indeed, that concrete path served me well.

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Look at his cycle way that I have just for myself. Very enjoyable.

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The harbor.

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The Napier sailing club.

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Zebra landscape.

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Kennedy street, the main road. There should be a campsite somewhere around here.

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Kennedy Park :-) I will stay here for at least one night to have a shower. After that I’m thinking of going back to the entrance of the city. I’ve seen lots of grass and toilets for free. Let’s see how is it here first.

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What?!! Are they crazy!! I will find anThis place is much better! On my way back on the palm trees avenue (Kennedy street) I saw a bicycle shop where I stopped to verify my chain. The guy announced me a good new and a bad one. Good, my chain is not finished yet. So I don’t have to change it now.
Really bad : My cassette (pignons arrières) is dead and I know why now. Since 800km maybe, I had a noise on my bike without knowing where it was coming from exactly. When I was in Whakatane, I asked to a guy in a bicycle shop and he just said “hm hm”. He didn’t want to verify. The cassette was unscrew and was moving during I was cycling. So I’ve ruined my chain and the cassette much faster than normal. Now I have to buy a new one and it coast between 125$ and 500$ gloups! So I’ve commanded one for 165$ + the tool to fix it in case it happens again (17$). But now I know, I’m learning and crying bouhouuhouu! During 8 days I spent almost nothing and I was so proud and suddenly… boom! 200$ :-$
So finally, about this picture… haha :-). I asked in the bicycle shop if they new a place where to camp. And after some call they found this place for 18$ a night. And like Kerikeri, I could work next week if I want. I have to figure out about it but I should be a good opportunity because I limit limit with my budget.other place.

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What?!! Are they crazy!! No way I’m staying here. Way too expensive for me!

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This place is much better! On my way back on the palm trees avenue (Kennedy street) I saw a bicycle shop where I stopped to verify my chain. The guy announced me a good new and a bad one. Good, my chain is not finished yet. So I don’t have to change it now.
Really bad : My cassette (pignons arrières) is dead and I know why now. Since 800km maybe, I had a noise on my bike without knowing where it was coming from exactly. When I was in Whakatane, I asked to a guy in a bicycle shop and he just said “hm hm”. He didn’t want to verify. The cassette was unscrew and was moving during I was cycling. So I’ve ruined my chain and the cassette much faster than normal. Now I have to buy a new one and it coast between 125$ and 500$ gloups! So I’ve commanded one for 165$ + the tool to fix it in case it happens again (17$). But now I know, I’m learning and crying bouhouuhouu! During 8 days I spent almost nothing and I was so proud and suddenly… boom! 200$ :-$
So finally, about this picture… haha :-). I asked in the bicycle shop if they new a place where to camp. And after some call they found this place for 18$ a night. And like Kerikeri, I could work next week if I want. I have to figure out about it but I should be a good opportunity because I limit limit with my budget.

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This place is much better! When I went back along Kennedy street I saw a bicycle shop. That was a good opportunity to check the state of my chain. The guy announced me a good new and a bad one:

The good news is: my chain is still ok so I don’t have to change it now.
The really bad news is: my cassette is beyond dead.

When he said that it made total sense. For the passed 800km maybe, I heard a noise on my bike without being able to point it out exactly. When I was in Whakatane, I asked a guy from a bicycle shop and he just said “hm hm”. He didn’t want to check further than that. The cassette was a bit loose which created that noise. In the end, I’ve worn out my chain and cassette much faster than normal. Now I must buy a new one. It costs between $125NZD and $500NZD! Wow! I was recommended one for $165NZD + the tool to tighten it in case this happens again ($17NZD). The shop will be able to do that for me tomorrow. Now I know, I’m learning as much as I am crying… For the passed 8 days I spent almost nothing. I was happy about it and then suddenly… Ouch! $182NZD are gone :-$.

End of the bicycle story! Let me come back to that picture… haha :-). I asked the staff of that bicycle shop if they knew any place where I could camp. After some calls they found this place for me at $18NZD per night. Another good news is that, like in Kerikeri, companies around here call from time to time to get workers. I might be working next week! I am going to think this through because my actual budget is rather limited these days. Let’s what happens!

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For the first time since nearly 5 months, I’m not the only one camping :-). Actually I already know 2 people here! Arnaud and Nataly. I met them in Kerikeri 4 months ago and here we are today, camping next to each other haha. There are so many different places in Napier but we managed to end up in the same spot, Wow! :-) Nataly could not get a job in Kerikeri so they moved to Tauranga (we were there at the same time as well but did not came across each other). Finally they decided to come to Napier because work is supposed to start soon.

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The garden is not big but a found a good spot right under the dryer :-)

Tomorrow, I’m going to visit Napier :-) Cool!

Also I will spend $182NZD for my bike, not cool! :-) See ya!