Day 7 Dargaville to Wellesford

So today goes down as the best first 40km ever - in that the first 40km were pure flat and my wee bike ( I really must get a name) and I sped through kumera country passing numerous cyclists out on their bikes for morning ride.

Just as well the start was easy as didn't leave till after 11am!! No commitments apart from cycling the 100km meant a late start! Gorgeous day celebrated at cloacal diary with a hokey pokey ice cream - tip top is the best and for two bucks for supposedly a single which is really a large double ya can't complain!

Unfortunately the next 35km was constant hills and really wanted to stop off at the kauri museum but needed at least half a day for it - another for Xmas time! At 75km into the cycle I met the main a1 motorway and my idyllic cycle came to a grinding halt as I had the constant noise of fast moving traffic ringing in my ears. Was sorry I wasn't going to manawhai heads but when I have more time.

However did find and stop off at fab Dutch cheese shop and ate samples and bought drink and few slithers for later. Took piccie of this neat organic cafe but was closed - another future return!!

Made it to Wellesford around 6pm to find there was no campsite nor back packers near. Went to motel but at a 100 bucks it was out of my budget. Told to try pub so did and they are obviously busy doing rooms up but the lovely landlady let me have my own dble room for 20 bucks - amazing!! Was like luxury after camping. Pelted down with rain but cozy in pub and met lovely german guy living in the area who plays the sax. All turned out well in the end - wee accom panic at start!!

Oh and I am over a quarter of the way through having now clicked up 561km!!

Day 6 omapere to dargaville

I was so reluctant to leave the loveliness of the globetrekkers back packers I had stayed in last night at Omapere - a wee treasure of a find. Finally set off just after 9am and was warned that there was a large hill to start the day... Sure enough!!

In fact it was really a constant climb through into the Kauri forest. Stopped off to see the largest of them all Tane Mahuta and caught up with the three lovely young Germans who had travelled there by van just after me. Met some tourists on the walk who asked questions about what I was doing and took photos of my website.

Really wanted to spend more time in the forest and to go to the visitor centre but knew I'd come back with my bro and nieces in a couple of months. I cycled here years ago and stayed in the forest and remember waking up to the most incredible dawn chorus - have a recording of it at my parents in the uk.

Was little concerned for time so pushed on. Whole day series of hills until some flat nearing dargaville. Somehow I made it there just after 2pm and went to the library got changed, relaxed had cuppa of tea. Met lovely lady at the gig who was going to do some story hunting for me and a promise to head to museum when I return in summer - lots of potential stories here. The reporters who came also putting word out so that's cool. Lovely staff and had nice time albeit small numbers but the all at work at 3:45pm!

Went to campsite - wind picked up and yet another German lad who had been listening at the library rushed over to help - I like that - what a sweety. He was here kumera picking with another friend. Must be hard work.