Day 21 of TA - Tenting
Friday 24th October
Distance: 114 km
Elevation gain: 1,200 metres (estimated as problems with GPS tracker)
From Palmerston North to Masterton (via Pahiatua and Eketahuna)
About 8:30hrs elapsed from 7:30am to 4pm
The bed at the Airbnb was awesome. So soft and comfy while the storm raged outside. However I still woke before the alarm and got moving. The original plan was for a 70km day from Palmerston North to Pahiatua and then finish in Eketahuna. However, last night I decided that I put a stretch goal of making it to Masterton tonight, adding another 40km. Nothing was locked in because I'd not booked any accommodation.
The wind was still blowing - 30km/hr and guests up to 50km/hr - but my route today was mostly southwards and the wind was a Northwesterly so there should be plenty of breeze on my back.
The first leg was 33km from Palmerston North to Pahiatua. This was the climbing leg today, up and over the mountain range (300m) that looks down on 'Palmy'. I made good progress and took plenty of breaks and was over the top feeling OK - cold, but OK. There was a lot of debris on the road from last night's storm and chainsaws rang out in the hills. The sun came out on the way down and there was some great gravel roads leading down to Pahiatua.
The second leg was 35km to Eketahuna where the giant Kiwi takes pride of place in the Main Street and is photo control point 13. The start was awesome, but the end was awful. A strong tailwind made for a great start but the trail turned into the wind and I had a terrible time cycling into massive headwinds. I arrived in Eketahuna a bit after 12:30pm and headed for a cafe and ran into Alison and Olaf from a few days ago. They were sheltering from the wind as well. We discussed plans for the rest of the day and we were both planning on continuing onto Masterton. We checked the map, checked the wind forecast and double checked (neither of us wanted the headwinds). They took off before me while I finished lunch and then I headed off around 1:30pm
The final 45km leg to Masterton was supposed to be mostly downhill and mostly southwards. It proved accurate and there were only a few stretches where I had to battle headwinds. Along the way I caught up to a German couple (Ursla and Hans) riding e-bikes. I followed them into Masterton and we could see Alison and Olaf off in the distance. This was a fast leg and I arrived feeling pretty good considering the distance today.
The fine weather forecast meant that I finally got the tent out of its bag (first time I've seen it since the 1st October). Tenting - I'm doing it. Staying in the Masterton caravan park. At least I can say that I used the tent during my trip of the North Island. I've carried the thing this far…
Today's theme song is by The Presets - My People
I'm here with all of my people / Locked up with all of my people / So let me hear you scream if you're with me!
I've found a few fellow crazy riders on the TA and we are all staying at the caravan park tonight. We are locked up in a mental way, enjoying the journey.
Top of the range behind Palmy. The wind turbines were going into overdrive.
The rolling hills - so beautiful with a blue cloudy sky. This was a great downhill section - so pretty.
If you look closely you can see 2 power poles knocked over due to the storm yesterday. I rode awfully close to the powerlines before I noticed something wasn't right.
Photo control point 13 - Giant Kiwi Statue in Eketahuna. It looks like it's trying to eat my bike !!
The tent is up! But notice the blue sky...I'm a fair weather kind of camper.
Distance: 114 km
Elevation gain: 1,200 metres (estimated as problems with GPS tracker)
From Palmerston North to Masterton (via Pahiatua and Eketahuna)
About 8:30hrs elapsed from 7:30am to 4pm
The bed at the Airbnb was awesome. So soft and comfy while the storm raged outside. However I still woke before the alarm and got moving. The original plan was for a 70km day from Palmerston North to Pahiatua and then finish in Eketahuna. However, last night I decided that I put a stretch goal of making it to Masterton tonight, adding another 40km. Nothing was locked in because I'd not booked any accommodation.
The wind was still blowing - 30km/hr and guests up to 50km/hr - but my route today was mostly southwards and the wind was a Northwesterly so there should be plenty of breeze on my back.
The first leg was 33km from Palmerston North to Pahiatua. This was the climbing leg today, up and over the mountain range (300m) that looks down on 'Palmy'. I made good progress and took plenty of breaks and was over the top feeling OK - cold, but OK. There was a lot of debris on the road from last night's storm and chainsaws rang out in the hills. The sun came out on the way down and there was some great gravel roads leading down to Pahiatua.
The second leg was 35km to Eketahuna where the giant Kiwi takes pride of place in the Main Street and is photo control point 13. The start was awesome, but the end was awful. A strong tailwind made for a great start but the trail turned into the wind and I had a terrible time cycling into massive headwinds. I arrived in Eketahuna a bit after 12:30pm and headed for a cafe and ran into Alison and Olaf from a few days ago. They were sheltering from the wind as well. We discussed plans for the rest of the day and we were both planning on continuing onto Masterton. We checked the map, checked the wind forecast and double checked (neither of us wanted the headwinds). They took off before me while I finished lunch and then I headed off around 1:30pm
The final 45km leg to Masterton was supposed to be mostly downhill and mostly southwards. It proved accurate and there were only a few stretches where I had to battle headwinds. Along the way I caught up to a German couple (Ursla and Hans) riding e-bikes. I followed them into Masterton and we could see Alison and Olaf off in the distance. This was a fast leg and I arrived feeling pretty good considering the distance today.
The fine weather forecast meant that I finally got the tent out of its bag (first time I've seen it since the 1st October). Tenting - I'm doing it. Staying in the Masterton caravan park. At least I can say that I used the tent during my trip of the North Island. I've carried the thing this far…
Today's theme song is by The Presets - My People
I'm here with all of my people / Locked up with all of my people / So let me hear you scream if you're with me!
I've found a few fellow crazy riders on the TA and we are all staying at the caravan park tonight. We are locked up in a mental way, enjoying the journey.
Top of the range behind Palmy. The wind turbines were going into overdrive.
The rolling hills - so beautiful with a blue cloudy sky. This was a great downhill section - so pretty.
If you look closely you can see 2 power poles knocked over due to the storm yesterday. I rode awfully close to the powerlines before I noticed something wasn't right.
Photo control point 13 - Giant Kiwi Statue in Eketahuna. It looks like it's trying to eat my bike !!
The tent is up! But notice the blue sky...I'm a fair weather kind of camper.
Wow! You captured beauty with that first hill shot… 😍W
ReplyDeleteTent is out! Big k's in the saddle, you will be well rested before Rob arrives! Great to see the tent out!
ReplyDeleteNice to have had a chat during your call today. It must feel good to be in your current situation with time on your side and be able to progress without stress. I think that the clime up and over into the Hutt Valley will test you,the down side is lots of braking. Have been seeing vids of the sth island storms. Glad you missed them.
ReplyDeleteThose rolling hills and blue sky. What a pic. Glad the tent is out. As for the kiwi, I'd say it's pretty big, but I was expecting more. I guess the big pineapple spoiled us.
ReplyDelete