Day 8 Mangawhai to Warkworth

We had a relaxed start and were 'late' to Mangawhai yesterday so we are up early today and at 7:30 are on the road.

Mangawhai seems to be a commuter town now, or at least have a fair number of commuters are heaps of cars around. Not nice for us as the road mostly has no shoulder and sometimes the cars queue behind us - which makes Sau Keng particularly uncomfortable.

Peaceful Cemetery Rd

However after about 10km we turn off the main road onto Cemetery Rd and a different world. We have the small sealed road all to ourselves,

View from Cemetery Rd

We get to Tomarata, where we once came as a family to an Anzac day dawn parade. Our planned route is on Pakiri block road, which is gravel, but this road is sealed with a sign Pakiri 18km. We'll go this way. Around the corner the seal ends, never mind distance is about the same. There's a modest climb as we near the coast, the views are worth it.

Little Barrier Island in the distance

Hen and Chickens islands in the distance

The road follows the coase for a while then turns inland to meet Pakiri road, which is sealed, :-) and takes us to our first big climb. :-( Interesting, roadworks and a stop/go sign. They wave us through and we crawl up the hill, Sau Keng slightly faster than me. Eventually I reach the other end of the Stop/Go section. A truck and three cars are waiting, Sau Keng too on the side of the road. The truck driver suggests I get an e-bike as I passed - it sounded good natured. It felt bad to have made them wait so long and I am glad there were not more.

Colin, just out of the controlled road work area

5km on we turn onto Matakana valley road, which heads for the hills and our second and biggest climb (253m). It's steep too and I ride most of using my bottom gear - that I once though so low I would never use it. Got to the top without stopping - albeit slowly.

Colin crawling up the big steep hill

Downhill to Matakana, with some gorgeous views along the way, partly repays the effort.

Omaha beach

Sandspit and Kawau Island

We stop for a coffee at Matakana - a very 'yuppie' place. I ask the waiter for wter and am directed downstairs. The nearest stairs take me to the Matakana market and I see an interesting water feature. Misunderstanding or what? We have a look around the Matakana market - nice, but too "yuppie" for Sau Keng and me.

Café in Matakana markets area

"Water" - does he mean our water feature?

Only 8km to Warkworth, mostly flat and the breeze is behind us. It should be a nice end to then day but the road is busy taking away the fun and the shine off the day. Our accomodation is a fairly standard motel. The owner sees Sau Keng's crutches and upgrades us to a larger first floor room (many thanks) It's plain, but functional, and with planty of room. Comfortable.

We go out again on our bikes for dinner - to the town center less than 1km away. Sau Keng has chosen Aldo's Italian restaurant based on TripAdvisor reviews. This proves to be a very good choice - it is an excellent meal.

After eating we ride the track along the Mahurangi riverfront. So nice.

Statistics

Distance: 65.5km

Climbed: 934m

Time: 5:16