Trudy had taken the initiative to organise a ferry from Pouto Point across the Kaipara Harbour in three days’ time. There was meant to be a scheduled ferry service for TA riders but the boat had broken down and was replaced by a mini-van service for those that didn’t want to ride the extra distance around the Kaipara Harbour. I was keen to get the ferry but it meant doing a couple of longer days than my initial thought of taking the first few days nice and quietly.
I did allow myself to sleep in a little so was behind the bulk of the riders. The weather was perfect and the roads quiet.
The road to Broadwood
Eventually I met a few others at Broadwood. The dairy had opened for us even though it was a Sunday and normally closed. My stomach was not yet used to the idea of processing lots of junk food, so I bought a few things and struggled to eat them sitting in the sun outside with the others. A local youth on a trail bike provided entertainment doing wheelies down the main street.
Broadwood Dairy
The route soon leaves the sealed road and winds its way on a gravel road above the Hokianga Harbour. It was quite hilly but I enjoyed it. I met Martin and Pete; two expat South Africans who I would bump into on and off for almost all of the rest of the TA.
At the lovely Kohukohu I got a pie and a coke for lunch and then decided to try and catch the 1pm ferry to Rawene. It was 12:50 and the ferry was 4km away so I had to rattle my dags. Pete and Martin decided they might as well get that ferry too, and in his haste Martin bungeed onto his carrier a pie he’d just bought. It didn't look good! We got to the ferry on time, but it had left slightly early. However, seeing us and another couple of cyclists it pulled back in to let us on. Just one of many nice things that would happen to me on this trip.
Kohukohu
I rode mostly by myself for the rest of the day. It was quite tiring but the weather was nice and I prefer hilly roads than flat straits. The scenery along the Hokianga and into the kauri forest buoyed my mood.
When I got to the Waipua Forest campground the news was good: the cafe was staying open and putting on lasagna for dinner. Even better they were open for a cooked breakfast first thing tomorrow morning.
