Day 11 Otorohonga to Taumarunui

Knew this was going to be a long day to make up for yesterday's shorty! Wee bit of hill to Te Kuiti and as was feeling rather down about lack of support for refuge centre on my wee page pulled in to a cafe for first time on trip and treated myself to large cup of tea and fudge cake!! Actually Te Kuiti is quite an upmarket wee place now - catering for the passing tourist trade. Headed towards Otorohonga but it's a long road with no towns at all but would have to say its the best stretch of cycling road I've ever experienced and bliss when the trucks finally turned off towards New Plymouth and I was able to enjoy the country in relative peace - only spooking some cows on the way!!

For some reason the last 25km just seemed to last an eternity my bum getting some relief as I stand up on the bike and call out in pain to the ever listening cattle...

Stopped a lot taking piccies and going over lots of things in my mind. Came across some road repairing gangs with a trio of lovelies happy for a piccie -3 thanks Hemi, CJ and Matt for the pose!! Had the best downhill at one point getting to 54km an hour - I do relish those moments ... Especially when it's dry and no traffic - in my case the boys had stopped the traffic to let me through and I could enjoy the ride to the full!

Finally made it to campground a few km beyond Taumarunui - lovely lady here who insisted on taking piccie of me and popping up on her facetbook to help raise awareness. Great place with its herb garden ready to add to your dinner. Great kitchen dining area and gorgeous outside fire... Now bed as tomorrow it's full on hills in the national park!

Finally my body. Is starting to reshape itself from a middle age woman to the cycling nutter thAt I'm turning into!!