Day 14 Mangakino to Ongarue

We are out of bed in the dark and leave Mangakino at 7:15. It is a beautiful day, but quite cold. I'm wearing an extra layer. ... We just climbed a hill - my extra layer has to come off before I melt. ... Now I'm on the cold side of comfortable. We are on SH30, after SH29 Sau Keng is very wary of state highways - but this road, today, is okay - not a lot of traffic. Since we left Mangakino we have been climbing - sometimes gently, sometimes steeply, sometimes subtly with the road looking level but feeling otherwise. I feel weak and a bit demoralised - and select a lower gear and keep pedaling. For the first time this trip Sau Keng repeatedly leaves me far behind and has to wait while I catch up.

Looking back towards Mangakino

Near Mangakino. Note slope of road

We seem to be at the top, it has taken a long time to get here. The road seems to be trending down and is taking us through some lovely old forest with magnificent rimu and totara trees. I really enjoy this, Sau Keng not so much "Yes, big trees" she says when I enthuse. We pass a sign '5km to the Pouakani totara' - We will have to go another time - I'm lacking energy, SauKeng would lack interest, and there might be walking needed. I've finally got to the hot side of comfortable, it's taken a long time.

We have been descending steadily for a long time and Bennydale is close. Wow! A massive downhill takes us into town. I did not feel we had climbed so much but I am not arguing - that was fun. Bennydale is our lunch stop and we are very happy to be here despite our long downhill rest. We thought there was no food available - but here is Jilly's coffee caravan and a cafe further on. The caravan is closest - and cute. Jilly makes us a nice coffee and lets us use her table to eat the food we brought from Mangakino. After attending to a couple of trucks that stop for diesel, she comes over and we have a good chat. Recommended!

5km on we turn off SH30 onto the back road going to Ongarue, where we will stay tonight. People are felling pine trees here - lots of big neat machinery - I'd like to stay and watch but we keep riding - into a sharp climb.

Down we go again - sad as I know another, bigger climb is coming - I'd rather keep the height. We are riding up a valley, following the main trunk line... At least until the road turns to climb and the railway disappears into a tunnel. Can I go that way? If they close the main trunk line it will make a great cycle trail! This is the big climb I saw on the contour map, it gets steeper at the end. Down to a low, low gear and crawl up. These climbs feel easier, less painful, than the more gentle, but long, climbs out of Mangakino. Maybe they are more honest.

We are at the top. Yay! Great views, and one more significant climb left, not so big. We have a lovely, long downhill run and now we are following a river again, again beside the main trunk line, but this time heading downstream.

Town inhabitant

We get to a tiny town, turn a corner, "Bang!" Loud and sharp, a nail gun? SauKeng pulls up in front of me with a very flat tyre. "I noticed this one" she says. I unload, tip the trike over and remove the tyre. The tube is ripped apart for 15cm. The trye is fine. I've never seen this happen before - how did it? Maybe it hit something which twisted the tyre enough to lift it off the rim and then the tube, unsupported, blew? She was turning. Anyway we have two spare tubes and the trye seems okay. Soon we are on the way again.

We continue though a spectacular valley with limestone outcrops. The main trunk line is perfectly level, the road goes up and down the side of the valley. At least the downhill sections are much longer than the climbs. Finally we see Ongarue and glide down a hill to... no, past it. The railway is in-between. We have to go on 1km to get to the crossing then return. We are looking for 50 Ongarue village Rd. Here is 52, why can't we find 50? We ride to the end of the road, give up and consult Google. 50 is opposite 52!, not on the same side of the road?

Blackfern cottage is very nice, we have a cosy room facing the back yard and railway."Is there anyway to get food?" "No", Instant noodles for dinner.

Statistics

Distance: 85.3 km

Climbed: 1116 m

Time: 5:26