Day 4 To Dargaville - No, too far, Kauri Park Holiday camp

Our original plan had been to ride to Dargaville - 106Km with 1200m climb - but we have doubts if I am up to this and Sau Keng's batteries might not make the distance either. Kauri Park holiday camp is about 2/3 as far and a much safer target. Still a decent ride too. The hill just south of Omapere is advertised as "a sharp 100m climb" and later the road climbs to 400m, drops to 100 and climbs back to 350. I'm nervous.

First view of the sand dunes across the harbor from Opanoni

This morning there is no wind, overcast with just a few spits of rain - this is perfect for riding :-)

A few 'small' hills on the way to Opononi test us. Not too bad. We tried to spot Sau Keng's old friend Mort's bach but failed, ride back and look again? No, carry on. Omapere was comes up quickly and we stop for lunch.

Beach at Omapere

No more putting it off, we start and quickly begin the climb. I drop down the gears eventually to the bottom gear I thought was so low I would never use - and crawled my way to the top - very happy to be here and amazing views out to the ocean, across to the sand dunes, up the Hokianga harbour... (Looking at the altitude graph in Strava it is weird how insignificant this climb looks - it's the slope that matters)

View from top of Omapere hill

The clouds are gone but thankfully there is little wind and the road is very quiet - it it lovely riding. We are following up a river, I'm hoping we go a long way up the valley and gain altitude before the steep climb begins - but no, the road starts up the side of the valley and is clearly climbing. Thankfully not as steeply as the Omapere climb, I crawl up using gears 2 and 3 stopping a couple of times for photos - not to rest - truely! Finally at the top, feeling pretty good. Downhill for a way then we stop to pay respects to Tane Mahuta.

Tane Mahuta. Majestic

Another climb and a downhill glide that seems to go forever, much longer than the uphill grind :-) Sau Keng agrees and we both felt the same on some of the hills yesterday too. It's a good deal! The glide takes us past many more trees, it's a wonderful forest.

Finally we reach a bridge and the downhill glide is over, we start climbing again. I think we are following a ridge, each corner looks like it might be the end of the climb - but no and no and no... for a long time. Finally at the top we find Mahuta lodge, this would have been a nice place to stay but did not come up in our searches.

Finally top of climb two

Our planned route takes us onto a gravel back road... Sau Keng is getting used to traffic - she is "complaining" that the traffic is preferable to this. To be fair this road has a lot of loose stone and heavy cambers - and traffic on the highway has been very respectful to us. Dark clouds are building in the distance - an afternoon thunderstorm perhaps? A couple more climbs, we are back on sealed roads and finally at Kauri Park Holiday Camp. I'm tired, but could keep going. Sau Keng is onto her last battery, she might make Dargaville. I'm glad we are stopping here.

Our cabin is very nice, spacious and well equipped. Quite a few campers although far from full. A very nice swimming hole though the eels might put some people off going in the water.

Sau Keng books our accommodation in Dargaville, this is a lot harder than expected - everything is coming up as unavailable. We start looking further afield and eventually find a place 4km out of town. I clean and lubricate the bike chains - a mucky job then dinner. Sau Keng has concocted a pasta, canned fish and broccoli dish. Not bad though the chilli she out in attacks my cracked lips. Both of us a have sore lips as we did not think to protect them on the first couple of days. We remember now!

I'm feeling much more enthusiastic about the ride tonight - thank goodness!

Statistics

Distance 76.07 km

Time 5:59:38

Climb 1,329 m