Day 5 of TA - Go the Broncos !

Distance: 38 km
Elevation gain: 675 metres
From the town of Matakohe to the town of Kaiwaka
About 2.5hrs riding time, and 3.5hrs elapsed from 9:00am to 12:30pm

Sunday morning, I'm determined to finish cycling around the Kaipara Harbour tomorrow (Monday, 6th October). This means reaching the town of Kaukapakapa by Monday night. From my current location of Matakohe to Kaukapakapa, it's approximately 125 kilometres through back roads (gravel surface) with numerous hills. Ideally, there would be a suitable place to stop halfway, but the accommodation options aren't laid out that way, especially considering the route takes me through back roads.

As a result of all that, today (Sunday) is a smaller day with only 38 kilometres to the town of Kaiwaka where there is a pub with accommodation in the back. However, tomorrow promises to be a big day, with nearly 90 kilometres and significant elevation gain. It might just be the toughest day of my trip so far.

Rain continued throughout the night, and squalls rolled through all day. Every 1 or 2 hours, there were short, sharp showers, but thankfully, there was no hail.

For morning tea, I stopped at the bakery in Maungaturoto. The cream bun was almost as good as those from Lowood Bakery (along the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail).

I regretted missing my sports gels today. They were my go-to energy source before challenging climbs. Thanks to Nick for gifting them to me. I'll need to restock my supplies in Auckland in a few days.

The last few km today were along Highway 1, and it was super busy with cars and trucks screaming past.  I'm not looking forward to another 10km of it tomorrow but I just need to make it to Te Hana when I take a right turn towards Port Albert.

I rolled into Kaiwaka around lunchtime and savoured a pie from La Nonna Italian Bakery. Now, it's time to relax, as tomorrow promises an early start for the big day.

Good luck to the Brisbane Broncos today in the NRL Grand Final !

Today's theme song is by Tame Impala - The Less I Know The Better
At this point, it's best I don't know too much about tomorrow.  My mind will be going into overdrive tonight thinking about it tonight and tomorrow.  The gravel roads and hills will be relentless. I think I counted 10 climbs above 100 metres. Yikes!

My plan for the next two days on the map below.  Sunday, Matakohe to Kaiwaka (38km).  Monday onto Kaukapakapa (90km)

I couldn't find any accommodation at Te Hana, Port Albert and the Honey Room B&B was nowhere to be found.

There is one pub in Kaukapakapa - hope they have a bed for me. Obviously the boat from Pouto Point to Helensville would have been a better option had it been running.

Solar farm outside Maungaturoto - but with all the cloudy days and rain I'm not sure how productive it is.

Someone with too much time on their hands in Kaiwaka. They made their house with a bird's head out front.  

My bike, parked outside Three Furlongs Bar, Grill and Hotel in Kiawaka.  The guest rooms were out back.  Cosy, but warm and out of the weather.