I have never really gone out of my way to buy my own cereal
yet whenever we had Rice Krispies I always enjoyed it. There was always
something about the way they tasted with a fresh pouring of milk, so what
better way to start the day then a couple bowls of Rice Krispies and a cup of
tea. After a couple quick goodbyes to some new friends and some hastily
sandwiching making; we were on the road and set to do our journey of 63km. As
far as accommodation for our night tonight, Harihari had little to nothing to offer
so we were in store for another night in the tent. We were slightly playing with the idea of
going even further than Harihari depending on what kind of time we would be
making.
My
elevation research for today should us climbing just over 100m for the entire
day so Brian and I started the day doing little sprints and generally making
great time. After just 2 hours on New Zealand’s beautiful roads, a couple of
mirror lakes and few thousand sheep later we arrived at our first stop of the
day Whataroa. Whataroa is about as small a town as they come having just a pub,
gas station, and general store so we quickly ate our prepared sandwiches and a
banana and hit the road already half way to our overnight destination, or so we
thought. Just as we were leaving we saw a sign with a map and decided to do a
quick study of the upcoming route, after a little consideration we decided that
since we were making such great time and there were little to no hills on this
route we would tack another 45km and head to Ross where we were hoping we had a
couchsurfing opportunity.
Back on
the road we continued trucking and making excellent time snaking our way
through the emerald green fields the mountains shadow looming over us. It was
sometime later that I would throw my hat at superstition and proclaim that we
had not really had a true hill today <<<< Stupid Tanner. Well like
I had asked for it another 2km down the road we entered into Mt. Hercules
Scenic Reserve which unlike normal mountain passes that take you up and around
this beast of a road took you right up and over. It was so steep that despite
our best efforts we were forced to dismount and push our sorry little asses up
the hill all the way to the top. With yet another downhill road through the
Jurassic forest we were spit out just 5km from Harihari.
We had
covered 60km in just 4 hours and even though Mt. Hercules had shown us who was
boss, we were feeling strong and able for the last 45km push to our overnight
stay of Ross and hopefully our first views, from the bikes, of the Tasman Sea.
The ride was fairly simple from Harihari to Ross, or so the lady in Harihari
had told us. After clearing Harihari and its surrounding farms and pastures our
rad led into yet another ‘Scenic Reserve’, which I now have come to associate
directly with hills. For every stunning view and supreme silence that these
scenic reserves bring, our bodies were beginning to tell us they weren’t the
machines we so wanted to believe we were and every small hill and incline was
slowing us even more. Unlike the other scenic reserves, every time you thought
this was ready to spit you out to pasture with the sheep it kept on going
rainforest as far as my eyes could see. Finally after some 30km we were pushed
out onto this single lane bridge and the ocean was sending off its signature
salty calling card, we were close. Coming from growing up so close to the ocean
and having spent 8 months prior to this adventure in Sydney, Australia I have
kind of come to miss the ocean. A long hour later I finally got to see my old
friend again. The Tasman Sea stretching out to the horizon before it rolled out
of eye sight crashing its waves over the beautiful New Zealand coastline. I
gave a few fist bumps to the air and a couple shouts of joy t my reunion but
there was places to go and I would be able to walk the shore tomorrow.
Only
4km from our first ocean sighting lie the small gold mining town of Ross. Ross
reminds me a lot of Kitimat where basically everyone works for the local mining
company and then goes to the same pub after work. After having no luck with our
couchsurfing prospect we found ourselves a cool little cabin for twenty dollars
for the night with hot showers and kitchen to heat our canned beans up in.
103km today and I finish writing this entry by pen in a single light cabin my
life sure has changed a lot over the last little while. Tanner Out!
No comments:
Post a Comment