Whakaki > Putorino
November 07, 2012
Today is one of the most difficult day. It’s cold, rainy, hilly and the road feels endless. There is nothing special around here. Only nature, roads, fields. Nothing to visit so I don’t want to spend much time. Initially I planned to spend 4 days to join Napier (Wiki) but 3 could be possible if I push myself a bit. I’ve rode 20 km onto the flat and this hill separates me from Waiora (Wiki), the next town. I know that already because a guy from a shop where I stopped yesterday told me everything about the road.
Without any surprise, that’s Wairoa :-)
They moved the old lighthouse to the city centre. Good decoration :-)
I’m pretty hungry now. I’m going to have a break around here. Let’s go!
The river bends like a ‘U’ and wraps around the town (which is on the left side here but we don’t see anything :-).
I’ve had one carrot, one sandwich, one banana and I’m now continuing the visit along the ‘U’.
Wouhaaa! This slope looks quite steep! I wish I could hop on the railway because it’s flat :-)
On the way up!
Phew! It took me 30 minutes to ride 3km… I was taking that picture when suddenly I hear a voice behind me: ‘Hey’. I look towards the sound but see nothing than the rocky wall protecting the road. I pan up from eye level to the hill side until I see a man standing approximately 30 meters above my head with a camera pointing at me. Okay… Am I famous or what? Is that man have been waiting for me that whole day to get a picture of a blurry cyclist? lol. After few seconds, the man drops his camera with a big smile and I recognize John from Ruatoria! He was the one who taught me how to carve bones. What a surprise! He explains that he is driving down south and stopped at the exact same spot to record that wonderful view. What a luck that we met here in the middle of nowhere, haha.
That was my last picture for today: the railway bridge. Pretty huge! There is nothing about it in my book unfortunately, what a pity!
Soon after, rain started for the rest of my trip. The next main necessity was to find a safe place where to camp tonight. I’ve done 50km so far and I’m tired but there is no place where I can stay around. I know there is a camp near Putorino (Wiki)but that would force me to push to at least 84km + 5 maybe to reach the free doc camp.
Keep on moving
I reached Putorino with little energy left. Having only one street to choose from I engaged on that little road for about 1km until it split itself into two ways. I asked a family which one I had to choose to reach the DOC camp. The guy told me to follow the right one until the end for 1,7km or 17km. He wasn’t sure but the difference is huge! 17km was not something I was willing to do today so I decided to come back in the center of the town which counts about 10 houses and planned to pitch my tent (under the rain) around the rugby field behind the main building. I didn’t have the time to find my spot that two boys came towards me. “Hello, we invite you to have a hot drink at our place if you want. You can also setup your tent in our garden”. Thank you guys for the invitation, let me pack my stuff and I will come very soon :-). Soon after, I was pitching my tent (still under the rain) in that family’s garden. I’m really tired now… Good night!
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Without any surprise, that’s Wairoa :-)
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They moved the old lighthouse to the city centre. Good decoration :-)
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I’m pretty hungry now. I’m going to have a break around here. Let’s go!
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The river bends like a ‘U’ and wraps around the town (which is on the left side here but we don’t see anything :-).
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Lunch time
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I’ve had one carrot, one sandwich, one banana and I’m now continuing the visit along the ‘U’.
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I’ve had one carrot, one sandwich, one banana and I’m now continuing the visit along the ‘U’.
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Leaving town
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Wouhaaa! This slope looks quite steep! I wish I could hop on the railway because it’s flat :-)
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Wouhaaa! This slope looks quite steep! I wish I could hop on the railway because it’s flat :-)
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On the way up!
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Phew! It took me 30 minutes to ride 3km… I was taking that picture when suddenly I hear a voice behind me: ‘Hey’. I look towards the sound but see nothing than the rocky wall protecting the road. I pan up from eye level to the hill side until I see a man standing approximately 30 meters above my head with a camera pointing at me. Okay… Am I famous or what? Is that man have been waiting for me that whole day to get a picture of a blurry cyclist? lol. After few seconds, the man drops his camera with a big smile and I recognize John from Ruatoria! He was the one who taught me how to carve bones. What a surprise! He explains that he is driving down south and stopped at the exact same spot to record that wonderful view. What a luck that we met here in the middle of nowhere, haha.
stack option: image
is full width: false
video link:
dialogue repeater: false
caption:
Phew! It took me 30 minutes to ride 3km… I was taking that picture when suddenly I hear a voice behind me: ‘Hey’. I look towards the sound but see nothing than the rocky wall protecting the road. I pan up from eye level to the hill side until I see a man standing approximately 30 meters above my head with a camera pointing at me. Okay… Am I famous or what? Is that man have been waiting for me that whole day to get a picture of a blurry cyclist? lol. After few seconds, the man drops his camera with a big smile and I recognize John from Ruatoria! He was the one who taught me how to carve bones. What a surprise! He explains that he is driving down south and stopped at the exact same spot to record that wonderful view. What a luck that we met here in the middle of nowhere, haha.
stack option: image
is full width: true
video link:
dialogue repeater: false
caption:
That was my last picture for today: the railway bridge. Pretty huge! There is nothing about it in my book unfortunately, what a pity!
Soon after, rain started for the rest of my trip. The next main necessity was to find a safe place where to camp tonight. I’ve done 50km so far and I’m tired but there is no place where I can stay around. I know there is a camp near Putorino (Wiki) but that would force me to push to at least 84km + 5 maybe to reach the free doc camp.
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