Day 3 of TA - The mountains of the Kauri Forest

Distance: 76 km
Elevation gain: 1,330 metres
From the town of Rawene to the Kauri Holiday Park at Kaihu
About 5hrs riding time, but 7hrs elapsed with plenty of breaks from 8:00am to 3:00pm 

Weather was a major factor today, with a low descending on the North Island late yesterday and forecast to deliver plenty of rain today.  I was very tempted to stay at Rawene given the 40+ mm of rain that was forecast for today!  

However as I got up this morning there was only cloudy skies and no rain.  OK, time to get moving.  My morning packing routine has not yet found its groove and there was a bit of stuffing gear into sacks rather than any order.  Because of the big rainfall totals in the forecast I even 'double bagged' my laptop in a dry sack before it went into the pannier bag.

I got moving at 8.00 and skirted the harbour towards the town of Omapere at the mouth of the Hokianga Harbour.  The rain started - lightly at first and then heavier.  I put on my red and yellow (lifesaving colours) wet weather jacket after a while, on one of my many stops.  

When I reached Omapere, after 25km, it was time for another break and I had a coffee and toasted sandwich.  I enjoyed the break and probably stayed too long…but the rain kept coming and I kept hoping it would stop.

The remaining 50km today were the toughest.  Climb, valley, climb, valley, climb into the Kauri Forest.   The biggest climb today was 370m. It just went on and on.  Luckily the gradient wasn't so steep to force me into walking.  My strategy was to ride slowly and keep my heat rate down, and when my heart rate did rise above 160bpm I would take a break.
 
I reached the photo control point 3, the Tane Mahuta, one of NZ's largest trees around 1pm (and the 45km mark) and then the sun came out and the rain stayed away for the rest of the day.  There were some super fast downhill sections to go with the climbs.  With the wet, twisty roads it was challenging.

Finally rolled into the Kauri Holiday Park and grabbed a motel style room. With more rain forecast I'm not prepared to put up the tent.  In fact I'm starting to question the merits of carrying all this camping gear - tent, cooking gear, sleeping mat and sleeping bag.  Maybe once the weather fines up the tent will get a run?

Today's theme song is by The Cruel Sea - Big Stick
My heart is a muscle and it pumps blood like a big old black steam train.
These are big days on the bike and I'm working hard.  The heart rate maxed out above 170 today getting up the steep sections of the track.

One of my stops early in the day - this time out of the rain, in a shed for the school kids to wait for the bus.

The mouth of the Hokianga Harbour, and stormy clouds laden with rain.

As usual, the photo never does justice to the steepness of the road.

Photo control point 3, the Tane Mahuta, an absolutely enormous tree, 

My room for tonight at the Kauri Holiday Park at Kaihu.