Day 27 Going Home

We are going home today. It feels good, we are both looking forward to being home again with friends, family and having a routine. Taking the train back will be good, we will have a day to relax, enjoy the scenery and catch up this blog.

It's dark and we are riding to the station. Cool but not cold. Arrive at 7:10, nicely in time to check in. Where do we do that? In the station building, even though the train has its own platform on the side of the building. The station is a large space and our counter on the far side. Sau Keng slowly rides towards it - and is very brusquely told “riding is not allowed”. While queued, a much more friendly attendant gives us our tickets.

The freight car is at the front of the train. There are half a dozen bikes but plenty of room for the trike. I debate internally and put the handbrake on. It will stop the trike moving around. It might also stop the staff from being able to unload it in Auckland. We enter our wagon from the wrong end and slowly make our way past people to our seats. The train is not full and we have the table to ourselves.

The day improves as we travel north. Mostly we relax, watch the view, read on our phones, and take a few photos.

Sau Keng tries to work, but internet access is way too patchy. I get my blog text up to date and Sau Keng reviews it. I still need to add the photos - that needs the internet and so does Instagram so later, when we are home.

I go to the viewing car for the Rarimu spiral. It's a fun piece of track, the train goes slowly because of the tight turns and often you can see the track below us where the train will soon be.

We have a 5 minute stop in Hamilton. It looks nice out there so I step outside. Warm! We have not felt air like this for weeks. As we approach Auckland it's clear we will be late. We've arranged to meet Nicki for dinner so ring and warn her. The staff seem unconcerned. “We're not very late” Pressed, they estimate 10 minutes - unrealistically optimistic we reckon.

The train pulls in at 7:20. They have unloaded my bike, but with the brakes fixed, the trike's handbrake is very effective and the trike has not moved. I unlock it and wheel it out. Getting to the Oh Calcutta restaurant takes only a few minutes, so we are able to spend a half hour with Nicki and her friends and share some dinner. So nice to see her again.

We have to go home, our final ride of this trip. A quick change, we turn on our lights and are on our way, taking the same path as we did a month ago.

I'm feeling strong and do the climb to St Johns Rd standing on my pedals. Nice :-) Soon we are nearly home. Shervonne has asked for a 5 minute warning so I give her a call, maybe she is with a friend nearby.

We turn into Dalwhinnie parade and start up the hill. Two figures appear by our drive waving sparklers, Chariots of fire is playing, streamers across our driveway mark our finish line. What a lovely way to finish the ride.

Statistics

Distance: 21.6 km

Climbed: 217 m

Time: 1:35