Day 3 - January 13, 2023

Day 3:  Pukenui - Rawene

Day two on the bike and it's time to start preparing our hill legs for the journey ahead.....  The day promises stunning NZ bush and views of the Hokianga Harbour on a 10 minute ferry to Rawene. 

Friday the 13th, and nothing went wrong to cause the delay of this posting.  We were staying at pretty rustic accommodations tonight and there was no internet available.  

We started out the day by riding yesterday's last 12 km in reverse.  Yes, we had to ride that really bumpy access road again.  


At about 12 km we were back at the beach.


Pretty much the same as yesterday - crashing surf, wide, firm beach, and a bit of a headwind.  Yesterday was 50 km on the beach.  Today was 30 km and that was lots, thanks.





We turned inland at Shipwreck Bay, just before Tauroa Point.  We were supposed to meet the van & trailer around there, but it seems the trailer had a flat tire that needed attending to.  So - a brief stop in a cafe and then we continued on our way.  

The landscape was very stunning - bright green vegetation, rolling hills, and lovely valleys.  But then the rain started so I put my camera away.  


I really struggled on the bike today.  I was still pretty fatigued from yesterday's ride, plus the humidity and the extra weight of the mountain bike really got to me.  I find the positioning on a mountain bike quite fatiguing for me as well - particularly wrists, arms, and shoulders.  Hopefully this will improve as the ride goes on.  As well - my glute tendons were not happy going uphill so I walked many of the steeper and longer hills.  In the interest of trying not to kill myself so early in the ride I opted for a van ride in from lunch @ 80 km.  To my surprise I wasn't alone.  Five of us shuttled in.  Well almost - we got kicked out at the ferry and had to ride/walk the last few km.  





We're staying in a Holiday Park without many amenities - no free internet and no ensuite bathrooms.  We each have our own cabins, though.  I've cranked up the heat in mine to try to dry some things out.  


Another early start and big day tomorrow, so - time for a little physio and then off to bed.

Stats for the day:

Distance: 79.7 km

Elevation (Garmin):  2707' up, 2264' down

Elevation (RWGPS):  5636' up, 5423' down (I'll believe the Garmin again)

Weather:  It started out in the mid-teens C, but was incredibly humid and therefore felt much warmer.  It got up into the low 20's until the rain started about noon.  It then rained on & off for the rest of the day.  




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