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Day 16 - 16th November 2012
Tokoroa to Huntly
144 kms
Tokoroa to Huntly
144 kms
Interesting New Zealand facts:
Baron Ernest Rutherford, the first person in the world to split the atom in 1919, was a
New Zealander.
Baron Ernest Rutherford, the first person in the world to split the atom in 1919, was a
New Zealander.
PREVIEW:-
I originally planned for this day to be a 118 km trip via Cambridge / Gordonton - now I have added another 18 kms and a rather steep hill!!! I hope my fellow cyclists will forgive me. But it is a women's prerogative to change their mind - and I reckon I have the best reasons out for doing so!!
My initial planning was all done through Bikely - basically accepting the shortest route, but on chatting with my long-time friends, Sandy and Jan Yarndley, and discussing how we could call in to see our horses that they agist - this new route was born! Sandy and Jan have always been generous supporters of the charities my adventures work for, so I am thrilled to make this change!
This altered route still has more downhill than uphill, but we will go along quieter country roads still through beautiful Waikato farmlands. Springtime here can be lovely – there should be a lot of foals around at this time of the year.
We will pass through the attractive "Rose" town - Te Awamutu - not sure if the roses will be out or not? Must be pretty close I think!
We'll call in to Breckon Farms (ex Yarndley Farms) and see the horses before continuing along the "back roads" on the western side of the Waikato River into Huntly – our stopping place for the night.
I originally planned for this day to be a 118 km trip via Cambridge / Gordonton - now I have added another 18 kms and a rather steep hill!!! I hope my fellow cyclists will forgive me. But it is a women's prerogative to change their mind - and I reckon I have the best reasons out for doing so!!
My initial planning was all done through Bikely - basically accepting the shortest route, but on chatting with my long-time friends, Sandy and Jan Yarndley, and discussing how we could call in to see our horses that they agist - this new route was born! Sandy and Jan have always been generous supporters of the charities my adventures work for, so I am thrilled to make this change!
This altered route still has more downhill than uphill, but we will go along quieter country roads still through beautiful Waikato farmlands. Springtime here can be lovely – there should be a lot of foals around at this time of the year.
We will pass through the attractive "Rose" town - Te Awamutu - not sure if the roses will be out or not? Must be pretty close I think!
We'll call in to Breckon Farms (ex Yarndley Farms) and see the horses before continuing along the "back roads" on the western side of the Waikato River into Huntly – our stopping place for the night.
REVIEW:-
Predicted 118 kms - actual = 144 kms - due to change of route through Te Awamutu.
Big day ahead of us and we were up and on the road by 8:00 am. Said our farewell to Pat's sister Claire who had travelled over from Whakatane the day before and stayed the night. It was wonderful that she did.
Pretty busy along State Highway 1 from Tokoroa to Putaruru - Friday I guess - but we made good time. Toilet stop and Post Office stop in Putaruru and a bit of a misunderstanding on where we were meeting caused a delay. We turned here to head for Te Awamutu - and what a much more pleasant road that was to cycle. The traffic was much reduced and rural Waikato is a treat! Took our next break at the Arapuni Dam - watched a couple of big trucks and buses negotiate the 2 one-lane bridges - amazing how they do that!!
Continuing through to Kihikihi there was a fair size hill to warm us up (and slow us down) and then more rolling countryside through great dairy farms. Checked in with our lunch destination - Sandy and Jan Yarndley's and got there about 1:00pm - 81 kms done for the morning.
What a welcome we received!! Marching girls, a saxophonist serenading us in, and the smiling faces of Sandy and Jan, daughter-in-law Jenny, several grand-children and 2 ladies from Zonta Hamilton. It was a sight to behold and I can't wait until we have time to get the pics transferred! Before too long we were joined by a newspaper reporter, and then treated to a wonderful luncheon which we ate overlooking Breckon Farms and the paddocks of mares and foals.
After lunch Sandy, Don, Annie, Pat and I piled into the car and drove across the farm to visit the horses we have interests in. The mares Pocketfullofposies, Pocketfullofdreams and their yearlings and the colt out of Spirit of Spring. Lovely seeing the paddocks of yearling colts and fillies - recently covered to start preparing for yearling sales in February 2013, mares that had foaled, mares due to foal. Many thanks to Brooke and her amazing Border Collie for showing the horses to us.
I could have stayed for much longer, but mindful of hitting our daily targets - and knowing we had a further 60 kms to go - we headed off again around 3:30. Down to the end of Ngaroto Rd into a howling head-wind was a battle - but turning on the road towards Ngaruawahia it became a side wind - and later in the ride almost a tail wind - which was extremely welcome!
What I noticed about this stretch of road was, from a cyclists point of view - they are so much smoother than any we have been on. Again - very welcome!!!! Much softer on the backside and not that constant shaking through the handlebars!
It was close on 7:00 pm when we reached our destination in Huntly - our longest riding day to date - 144 kms. We stayed in Huntly at Margie's cousin's place - many thanks Graeme and Jen and their neigbour Lorraine for their hospitality.
It had been a long day - one more long day tomorrow and then a really welcome rest day coming up!!
Predicted 118 kms - actual = 144 kms - due to change of route through Te Awamutu.
Big day ahead of us and we were up and on the road by 8:00 am. Said our farewell to Pat's sister Claire who had travelled over from Whakatane the day before and stayed the night. It was wonderful that she did.
Pretty busy along State Highway 1 from Tokoroa to Putaruru - Friday I guess - but we made good time. Toilet stop and Post Office stop in Putaruru and a bit of a misunderstanding on where we were meeting caused a delay. We turned here to head for Te Awamutu - and what a much more pleasant road that was to cycle. The traffic was much reduced and rural Waikato is a treat! Took our next break at the Arapuni Dam - watched a couple of big trucks and buses negotiate the 2 one-lane bridges - amazing how they do that!!
Continuing through to Kihikihi there was a fair size hill to warm us up (and slow us down) and then more rolling countryside through great dairy farms. Checked in with our lunch destination - Sandy and Jan Yarndley's and got there about 1:00pm - 81 kms done for the morning.
What a welcome we received!! Marching girls, a saxophonist serenading us in, and the smiling faces of Sandy and Jan, daughter-in-law Jenny, several grand-children and 2 ladies from Zonta Hamilton. It was a sight to behold and I can't wait until we have time to get the pics transferred! Before too long we were joined by a newspaper reporter, and then treated to a wonderful luncheon which we ate overlooking Breckon Farms and the paddocks of mares and foals.
After lunch Sandy, Don, Annie, Pat and I piled into the car and drove across the farm to visit the horses we have interests in. The mares Pocketfullofposies, Pocketfullofdreams and their yearlings and the colt out of Spirit of Spring. Lovely seeing the paddocks of yearling colts and fillies - recently covered to start preparing for yearling sales in February 2013, mares that had foaled, mares due to foal. Many thanks to Brooke and her amazing Border Collie for showing the horses to us.
I could have stayed for much longer, but mindful of hitting our daily targets - and knowing we had a further 60 kms to go - we headed off again around 3:30. Down to the end of Ngaroto Rd into a howling head-wind was a battle - but turning on the road towards Ngaruawahia it became a side wind - and later in the ride almost a tail wind - which was extremely welcome!
What I noticed about this stretch of road was, from a cyclists point of view - they are so much smoother than any we have been on. Again - very welcome!!!! Much softer on the backside and not that constant shaking through the handlebars!
It was close on 7:00 pm when we reached our destination in Huntly - our longest riding day to date - 144 kms. We stayed in Huntly at Margie's cousin's place - many thanks Graeme and Jen and their neigbour Lorraine for their hospitality.
It had been a long day - one more long day tomorrow and then a really welcome rest day coming up!!
PICTURES OF THE DAY:
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When the spirits are low, when the day appears dark, when work becomes monotonous, when hope hardly seems worth having, just mount a bicycle and go out for a spin down the road, without thought on anything but the ride you are taking.
Arthur Conan Doyle |
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