Day 3 - Wed 19 Nov
Woke up at 6:45am - no alarm - so lucky!
SUNNY!! 8:30 start after fab shower - feeling very rested!!
The trip over the peninsular was spectacular. Amazing climb up over the mountains to the summit 4km from Coromandel. Descent down other side was fab then hit beach (only marred by resurfacing work in lots of places).
Possom count 3.4! She missed one - luckily so did I! Hooray.
Other side of the peninsula (by the way, lots of Fangorn type forests) seems milder. Stopped at 9:45am in Whitianga for coffee - at
Velocity. Very posh seafront houses here. Playground of the rich I think.
Had to stop 1.6km out of Coromandel as the views were absolutely fantastic! State Highway 25 (SH25) down to Katikati - superb riding. However, not too many corner speed signs at all. Possum count 11+.
Tairua looked lovely to visit again, though I wouldn't bother with Waihi.
Would ride this road over and over again!
Stopped at a
carvery cafe next to the Heritage Museum for latte and bacon and egg pie straight out of the oven - gorgeous!! Katikati jail in the garden opposite - a very inviting loo??
Bay of Plenty seems to sum it up.
Croatian man (1 of 5 brothers scattered across the world) chatted to us for a good 20 mins, while we were eating, drinking and smoking. Interesting life he's had - nice and friendly tho!
Scenery changes rapidly afterwards to MataMata-type rolling hills (rock, hence grass only on top). Impressive road drops at 10-15% - queue at one bridge because a car (unlucky, sad-looking Maori) was broken down and took a while to clear.
Shame we missed Tauranga, NOT, looked like a mini Auckland - all city and no soul.
We stopped at the i-site in Rotorua to drop off bags. Nice chat to a policeman outside, trying to convince us to come move to Rotorua - despite the mounting crimes he was telling us about. Louise was a star here - strode up to the i-site counter telling them that we were pushed for time but wanted to do/see this/that. We left 2 mins later with tickets for Te Puia to see the geysers - even though the Prince of Wales didn't want to play - and tickets for the traditional Maori greeting - Bill the Australian was our chief. Excellent few hours here, the only drawback was the coffee. At $4 for a small cup I expected more from it, but it tasted like it had been drawn out of a machine - not up to NZ normal standards by any stretch of the imagination!
Arrived in Taupo at about 7pm and found Caroline's place - the Lake Taupo Motor Inn. She has expanded loads - bought next door. Now has 32 units and a dining room.
Chance for a shower and got changed while Rik got booze, then we had a steak meal downstairs. Went back up and had a spa bath together, then sleep!
Mileage today - 375km
(233 miles)
Mileage total - 1064km
(661 miles)
