Day five Raetae to Omepere

Long day in terms of mileage. Left around 9.15am in the rain and cycled for the whole 90 odd km in the rain! First hour constant climb through gorge up to 383m then whizz down and cycle to ferry. Two dollars to cross meeting few tourists on route. Fish and chips for lunch at Rawene - cute wee place. Arrived at Omepere at 2.30pm!! Ended up at back packers - best decision. Great place and fanboy people. Went off to local four square bought dinner and bottle of red and made huge meal for four of us - hot salad with steak and avocado and kumera and great chat. Get to sleep in a real bed! Tomorrow Omepere to Dargaville through the kauri forest and gig at 3.45pm now least here I know things but different!

Oh almost forgot wired thing of the day was a fence lined with skins and heads of wild pigs along the way. Also the two German girls also knew the Dutch family! Small world!

Day Four 90mile beach to Raetae

After passing very lovely campsite 40km north of Kaitaia because I didn't feel I had done enough mileage I settled for campsite close to Kaitaia at the bottom of 90 mile beach. After the gorgeous doc campsites the 18 bucks for me and tent seemed expensive. Place ok but not a patch on the other ones. Still hot shower etc fab. Walk to the beach in the morning and easy cycle to Kaitaia next day. Really disappointed in library as not even poster out and with an announcement I was supposed to play to people who didn't know who I was and were busy looking for books.....so I didn't. Fortunately family sat down and as they were four generations back they invited me to their place for lunch, talk and old photographs. Lovely young Maori man heard I was a songwriter and wanted to chat so we all head up the road..... one story collected and fab time with all. Left around 3.30pm and just went 15 km to very basic doc campsite. Long drop toilet and that was it!! Felt a bit vulnerable there...