Day 8 of TA - I’m on a boat !
Distance: 86 km
Elevation gain: 780 metres
From Auckland city to Miranda Springs (in the Firth of Thames)
About 4.5hrs riding time, and 7hrs elapsed from 7:30am to 2:30pm
Includes a ferry trip.
Up early this morning after a productive rest day. I resupplied my cycling gels, had my bike serviced, got cash out and generally relaxed with a bit of walking around Mt Eden. Not a lot of sight-seeing though.
I got rolling early and today's first leg was navigating the busy Auckland city streets from Mt Eden to the ferry terminal downtown. Easier said than done. There are old cyclists, there are bold cyclists, but not too many old and bold cyclists. I took the safer option on footpaths instead of roads, until there were dedicated cycle-ways. But when on the cycle-ways I was a hazard to other cyclists given my 'wide load' and slow speed. After a few wrong turns I made it to the ferry terminal and topped up my "AT" card (like a go-card in Bris-vegas) so it had sufficient funds for the ferry trip to Pine Harbour.
The ferry terminal is a busy hub in Auckland city, with very large ferries coming and going, much like Circular Quay in Sydney. But when the Pine Harbour ferry arrived at pier 3 I was a bit deflated. It was a dumpy little thing, bobbing like a cork on the ocean. This was going to be a rough ride and I suddenly had concerns about getting sea-sick on this little vessel.
There were plenty of commuters departing, but only 3 of us were getting on for the trip out of the city. At least there was room for my bike at the back (stern for you nautical folk). The ferry didn't wait around and we were off across the harbour. Slow and steady wins the race as they say. We laboured out of the terminal precinct, rolling around in the wash of the bigger ferries, and me starting to feel ill 🤢 . The captain must have put orders to the engine room for "all ahead full" because all of sudden our speed picked up and we were up on the plane cruising at over 60km/h. This little baby had some kick!! It was a smooth ride for the rest of the trip as we raced across the water and arrived at Pine Harbour after about 45 minutes.
The second leg today (20km) took me from Pine Harbour via road to the town of Clevedon. This was mostly flat and followed the coastline. The tide was in and there was no breeze so the harbour looked beautiful.
The final leg was 55km along road and a rail-trail from Clevedon to my destination tonight at Miranda Springs Holiday Park. This was one of the best legs of my trip so far. It was cool and the route was mostly flat (after a few big climbs). The Hauraki Rail Trail was awesome - along the coast, flat, fast and so pretty by the ocean.
The only downside today was getting hit in the back of the head by an angry magpie. There have been several magpie attacks over the past week but I've been lucky in the past to see the bird's shadow zeroing in on me and have been able to swing one arm wildly in the air to repel the attack. Well my luck ran out today. I was zooming along - probably doing over 30km/h down a gentle hill when Whack! in the back of the head. Because I was at speed I just held on and hoped there wasn't another blow. Maybe because of my speed the bird decided that I had been dealt with - who knows?
Elevation gain: 780 metres
From Auckland city to Miranda Springs (in the Firth of Thames)
About 4.5hrs riding time, and 7hrs elapsed from 7:30am to 2:30pm
Includes a ferry trip.
Up early this morning after a productive rest day. I resupplied my cycling gels, had my bike serviced, got cash out and generally relaxed with a bit of walking around Mt Eden. Not a lot of sight-seeing though.
I got rolling early and today's first leg was navigating the busy Auckland city streets from Mt Eden to the ferry terminal downtown. Easier said than done. There are old cyclists, there are bold cyclists, but not too many old and bold cyclists. I took the safer option on footpaths instead of roads, until there were dedicated cycle-ways. But when on the cycle-ways I was a hazard to other cyclists given my 'wide load' and slow speed. After a few wrong turns I made it to the ferry terminal and topped up my "AT" card (like a go-card in Bris-vegas) so it had sufficient funds for the ferry trip to Pine Harbour.
The ferry terminal is a busy hub in Auckland city, with very large ferries coming and going, much like Circular Quay in Sydney. But when the Pine Harbour ferry arrived at pier 3 I was a bit deflated. It was a dumpy little thing, bobbing like a cork on the ocean. This was going to be a rough ride and I suddenly had concerns about getting sea-sick on this little vessel.
There were plenty of commuters departing, but only 3 of us were getting on for the trip out of the city. At least there was room for my bike at the back (stern for you nautical folk). The ferry didn't wait around and we were off across the harbour. Slow and steady wins the race as they say. We laboured out of the terminal precinct, rolling around in the wash of the bigger ferries, and me starting to feel ill 🤢 . The captain must have put orders to the engine room for "all ahead full" because all of sudden our speed picked up and we were up on the plane cruising at over 60km/h. This little baby had some kick!! It was a smooth ride for the rest of the trip as we raced across the water and arrived at Pine Harbour after about 45 minutes.
The second leg today (20km) took me from Pine Harbour via road to the town of Clevedon. This was mostly flat and followed the coastline. The tide was in and there was no breeze so the harbour looked beautiful.
The final leg was 55km along road and a rail-trail from Clevedon to my destination tonight at Miranda Springs Holiday Park. This was one of the best legs of my trip so far. It was cool and the route was mostly flat (after a few big climbs). The Hauraki Rail Trail was awesome - along the coast, flat, fast and so pretty by the ocean.
The only downside today was getting hit in the back of the head by an angry magpie. There have been several magpie attacks over the past week but I've been lucky in the past to see the bird's shadow zeroing in on me and have been able to swing one arm wildly in the air to repel the attack. Well my luck ran out today. I was zooming along - probably doing over 30km/h down a gentle hill when Whack! in the back of the head. Because I was at speed I just held on and hoped there wasn't another blow. Maybe because of my speed the bird decided that I had been dealt with - who knows?
To finish off today I went for a swim in the hot pool at the Miranda Springs Holiday Park. It was very relaxing. I hope it helps my muscles.
Today's theme song is by AC/DC - Jailbreak
Freedom, he was chasin / Spotlights, sirens / Rifles firing / But he made it out / With a bullet in his back
Because I got hit with a magpie in the back today. Stupid Bird!!
Today's theme song is by AC/DC - Jailbreak
Freedom, he was chasin / Spotlights, sirens / Rifles firing / But he made it out / With a bullet in his back
Because I got hit with a magpie in the back today. Stupid Bird!!
I'm on a boat, heading out of Auckland
My route today, ferry from Auckland to Pine Harbour, then to Clevedon and around the coast to Miranda Springs
The Firth of Thames (name of the bay) is called the shorebird coast and there is a big bird to celebrate.
The Pink Shop at Kaiaua is a famous spot - or a tourist trap...take your pick. The coffee was good and I had a great chat with a local motorcyclist about car, motorhome and tourist drivers. Your perspective changes when you are on a bike.
Superb you got to experience a nice rail trail! Nice hat tip to the Lonely Island song, but it didn't make the song of the day...
ReplyDeleteWe have biked from Waitakaruru to Miranda and back, definitely more pleasant than biking in Akld ! A lot of our friends stay in their motorhomes at Miranda Hot Springs campground. The hotpools are definitely a bonus for sore muscles! Hope the next stage is pleasant biking!
ReplyDeleteIt sure must have been a relief to get out into the country again, and associated wild life. Do you need some zip tie as helmet spikes? I gather that tomorrow you will be in Te Aroha which I remind you is my birth town as also for David and Chris. Stephanie claims Dannevirke.If you do a little detour to 13 Churchill Ave you will see my grand mothers house.The land was all sub dived i guess in 80's so the tennis ,crocket lawns and gardens and poplar tree plantation etc. became house lots
ReplyDeleteHave a great ride and grab a Lemon and Paeroa as you go thru that town.
Trains-(trails), planes, and automobiles. And boats. And bikes. Ticking off all the modes.
ReplyDelete