Day 22 of TA - Roll out the Orange Carpet
Saturday 25th October
Distance: 110 km
Elevation gain: 866 metres
From Masterton (via Martinborough and the Remutaka rail trail) to Upper Hutt
About 9:30hrs elapsed from 8:00am to 5:30pm
I was up before the alarm but it was a rough night. The wind continued to blow all night and there was one particular blast that I could hear building in the distance like a freight train before it smashed into my little tent. Being the first time of packing up the tent this trip there was a bit of inefficiency. I eventually got going at 8am and grabbed a quick breakfast from the local dairy - banana and iced coffee. Today's stretch goal was to make it all the way to Wellington. That would be a big 150km day. Turns out it was a bit far.
The first 50km leg was fast and flat from Masterton to Martinborough. Until the final 10km when the wind picked up and the trail headed northwest. The wind is just as strong as yesterday - I think the meteorologists got it wrong when they forecast lighter winds today. I rolled into Martinborough at 11am and had an early lunch break.
About noon the fellow TA riders Olaf and Alison arrived and we discussed options - the easy option was to stay at Martinborough, or the second, harder option was to push ourselves and attempt the Remutaka rail trail over the mountains and into the Hutt valley on our way to Wellington. This was 55km from Martinborough over the mountains and down to the Hutt Valley. We checked the map, wind direction and wind speed and decided to push ahead. And pushing it was…directly into brutal headwinds or crosswinds. More than once the crosswinds blew me sideways enough to have to unclip to save crashing.
Once we reached the start of the Remutaka rail trail it got a bit easier. Even though it was climbing into the mountains there was shelter from the wind. It was a steady 7km climb with 3 tunnels and one swing bridge. There were lots of riders on the trail - but these were local day trippers and didn't have the weight that we were lugging.
We took a break at the 353m summit but it was very cold. Chocolate and jackets were both applied to keep us warm. It was then time to descend and the track from the summit was awesome - smooth and fast flowing into the valley floor and Hutt river.
The final 5km leg followed the Hutt river on a cycle trail to our rest for tonight at Wellington's Kiwi Holiday Park. Still 40km from Wellington but the rain had started and it was 5:30, going on 6pm. Time for a feed and sleep. Sunday's ride will be a gentle roll into Wellington. No need for an early start. Sleep-in-Sunday!!
Today's theme song is by the Hoodoo Gurus - 1000 Miles Away
By my calculations, I've cycled just over 1000 miles from my start in Cape Reinga. Over halfway!! And just under 1000 miles until Bluff.
Tent all packed up - eventually. There was a re-learning curve to get this done efficiently. And a big day ahead.
Pushing the bike across the Siberia Crossing Bridge. It had quite a sag in the middle and was steep getting on and off.
Photo control point 14 - Remutaka Summit Tunnel. We needed bike lights to get through safely.
Roll out the Orange carpet. The track down from the Remutaka Summit was often covered with orange pine needles and felt like a special orange carpet welcoming me to Wellington. Not quite a VIP…
Distance: 110 km
Elevation gain: 866 metres
From Masterton (via Martinborough and the Remutaka rail trail) to Upper Hutt
About 9:30hrs elapsed from 8:00am to 5:30pm
I was up before the alarm but it was a rough night. The wind continued to blow all night and there was one particular blast that I could hear building in the distance like a freight train before it smashed into my little tent. Being the first time of packing up the tent this trip there was a bit of inefficiency. I eventually got going at 8am and grabbed a quick breakfast from the local dairy - banana and iced coffee. Today's stretch goal was to make it all the way to Wellington. That would be a big 150km day. Turns out it was a bit far.
The first 50km leg was fast and flat from Masterton to Martinborough. Until the final 10km when the wind picked up and the trail headed northwest. The wind is just as strong as yesterday - I think the meteorologists got it wrong when they forecast lighter winds today. I rolled into Martinborough at 11am and had an early lunch break.
About noon the fellow TA riders Olaf and Alison arrived and we discussed options - the easy option was to stay at Martinborough, or the second, harder option was to push ourselves and attempt the Remutaka rail trail over the mountains and into the Hutt valley on our way to Wellington. This was 55km from Martinborough over the mountains and down to the Hutt Valley. We checked the map, wind direction and wind speed and decided to push ahead. And pushing it was…directly into brutal headwinds or crosswinds. More than once the crosswinds blew me sideways enough to have to unclip to save crashing.
Once we reached the start of the Remutaka rail trail it got a bit easier. Even though it was climbing into the mountains there was shelter from the wind. It was a steady 7km climb with 3 tunnels and one swing bridge. There were lots of riders on the trail - but these were local day trippers and didn't have the weight that we were lugging.
We took a break at the 353m summit but it was very cold. Chocolate and jackets were both applied to keep us warm. It was then time to descend and the track from the summit was awesome - smooth and fast flowing into the valley floor and Hutt river.
The final 5km leg followed the Hutt river on a cycle trail to our rest for tonight at Wellington's Kiwi Holiday Park. Still 40km from Wellington but the rain had started and it was 5:30, going on 6pm. Time for a feed and sleep. Sunday's ride will be a gentle roll into Wellington. No need for an early start. Sleep-in-Sunday!!
Today's theme song is by the Hoodoo Gurus - 1000 Miles Away
By my calculations, I've cycled just over 1000 miles from my start in Cape Reinga. Over halfway!! And just under 1000 miles until Bluff.
Tent all packed up - eventually. There was a re-learning curve to get this done efficiently. And a big day ahead.
Pushing the bike across the Siberia Crossing Bridge. It had quite a sag in the middle and was steep getting on and off.
Photo control point 14 - Remutaka Summit Tunnel. We needed bike lights to get through safely.
Roll out the Orange carpet. The track down from the Remutaka Summit was often covered with orange pine needles and felt like a special orange carpet welcoming me to Wellington. Not quite a VIP…
Some solid distance on that ride. You're on track for some good RnR in Wellington.
ReplyDeleteWhat can I say. You have a heap of determination and to do that leg,the fuel levels must have been all but exhausted. Yes enjoy you Sunday sleepin.We had a flat in Pine St U. H.about '63 and used to walk home for lunch most days. One flat mate enjoyed driving in the hills at night somedays to try and eradicate possums, not much succsess. Enjoy what Wellington and the Hutt valley have to offer.
ReplyDeleteBrutal! We have done a bit in the Remutukas, got a bit lost to be fair, but found someone with knowledge to put us back on track! Bits of the track were a bit testing for me so any downhill was most welcome! Enjoy the trip into Wellington and enjoy a bit of r n r maybe! You certainly have been tested on this trip and doing fantastic!
ReplyDeleteTwo huge days in the saddle. Enjoy the rest time before Rob, the wind break, arrives for the south island.
ReplyDeleteIf you'd ridden 1km south and went over the bridge into Totora Park you could have crashed at my In-Laws :)
ReplyDelete