As day
19 rang to a start, I was dreading getting out of me sleeping bag. My muscles
were still very sore from our ten hours of being on the road the day before and
the weather spelt, RAIN. Like every morning we quickly packed our bags and were
out the door, though today out to the rain. I am finding myself getting very
depressed in the morning viewing this last part of the journey more as a chore
than an adventure. Brian could sense this and tried to pick me up with his
positive attitude but between my aching muscles and the rain my stubborn self
was having none of it. Brian, having given it his best try, resorted to our
other tactic, when one of us was grouchy, took the lead and kept silent for the
next 10km so I could think to myself and slowly come into a more positive mood.
As the
rain began to lift and my muscles came into their game, Brian and I stopped
beside the massive rail bridge that was undergoing a tune up and facelift. Even
though we still how almost 80km to go, my mood was back up so we did as we
always do and jumped back on the bikes and put our feet to the pedals and
pushed. As we zoomed on through the stunning high altitude landscape we noticed
the kilometers falling behind us. Before long we had reached the small town of
National Park, known for being in the Tongariro National Park…, and stopped in
for some hot coffee to warm us from the cool alpine ride.
I’m not
sure if it was the lovely coffee or the stunning view set in front of us as we
set off from the small café, but I was feeling great and ready to take in more
of the stunning Tongariri Crossing. Gunning down the road, in front of us the
horizon was filled with soft mountain ranges and volcanoes. Being a former
geology student, this view was one of the best of the trip and it didn’t help
that it was easy riding either. After many photo stops and some hill rising we
reached the edge of the mountain plateau, a long winding road lay in front us
like ribbon on the earth. With high spirits and a now shining sun we once again
jumped on the bikes charging into the wilderness. In full tuck, reaching speeds
I hadn’t yet seen on a road bike, the mountains shrinking behind me, I found what
I had lost this morning.
With
one last climb and nothing but downhill left we pulled into a viewpoint and were
greeted to our first sight of the great Lake Taupo. Its immensity only second
to the rolling hills and sharp cliffs of the landscape that surrounded it.
After a bumpy downhill ride through some of New Zealands well-made roads
(sarcasm) we found ourselves at our hostel for the night in the lakeside town
of Turangi. Which, as you may have guessed, is where you now find me as always head on hand writing this entry
another day down hopefully a better morning tomorrow. Day 19 89km, through
sadness and rain to volcanoes and smiles.
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