Sublime to ridiculous...

...via a couple of hills
Clevedon to Miranda Hot Springs
63.1km
The problem with publishing what may be temporary instructions in a long-term document is that the user can never be sure if they still apply. Such was our dilemma leaving Clevedon (apart from wanting the stay forever at Karinya). On the one day between Auckland Anniversary holiday and a three-day closure of McNicoll and Otau Mountain Roads, would the log-trucks be taking a day off, or working flat-out while they could? At home we'd previously decided to take the weekday alternate route up the Ness Valley, and we stuck to that choice. A wise choice as it happens, as the Kennetts' recommendation to avoid OMR on weekdays is actually an official prohibition to cyclists by Auckland Council.
The day had a slightly inauspicious start when, after waking at 6 to get ahead of the forecast heat and later rain, one of us succumbed to a 'dicky tummy' and needed a little lie down while things settled somewhat. And before any aspersions are cast, no alcohol had been consumed. I blame the Countdown hot roast chicken in Auckland that we'd stretched to three meals after being in the hot cabinet for who knows how long before we acquired it... For anyone who may be concerned, things are back to normal today (Wednesday), a rest day at Miranda hot springs.
A brief pause at the Clevedon dairy, where we were ahead of the bread delivery, yielded a pack of wraps for lunch and we headed out on the highway the 5km to Ness Valley Road. The flat plains stretching East toward the Firth of Thames gave way to typical NZ rolling green spurs into the valley, the road undulating its way to the turn to Moumoukai Hill Road. En route I'd spotted a handsome old house high on the hillside; little did I'd know we'd right past it. The clue's in the name: the junction is the start of a 5km, continuous climb at about 12% AVERAGE, mostly on gravel, switching from one side of the ridge to the other at regular intervals, broken only by a pause at 4km to scrub bike and shoes on entry to the Hunua Ranges Regional Park. At least the locked gate meant we would see no general traffic for 44km, but we were passed by two Auckland Council vehicles at different points. The ride through the regenerating bush, mostly kanuka and ponga, which has only recently been opened to the public as the Hunua Traverse, was as spectacular as ever. Normally such a climb would be followed at some point by an exhilarating downhill but the uneven nature of the gravel (pun intended) demanded a degree of caution. After descending to the dam we were faced with another two wash stations in quick succession (there's road access to the campground between) before joining a short section of single-track to rejoin ARA road beyond another locked gate. 
And shortly after, another 2.5km 12% climb up Mangatangi Hill Road (the clue's etc...). We thought we'd stop for lunch at the summit where the guide promised views over the Manatangi Reservoir, but the bush must have grown up a lot since that was written. No view, no shade, no lunch yet. We continued on to the dam, through a fourth wash station, and onto a sealed road and seating for lunch.
The seal didn't last long, and it was another gravel downhill to the final exit from the park at an awkward pinch-point. The route reaches the coast at the South end of Kaiaua so we missed its metropolitan delights. The Hauraki Rail Trail took us South, against the wind, to the Shorebird Trust Centre for a brief marvel at the migratory mission of the Firth's transitory populations of godwits and red knots. And on to arrive at Miranda Holiday Park just before the office closed at 5 PM. It's 'advertised' as having food available, but at the end of the season the pickings in the shop were very slim. Maybe we should have detoured to the Pink Shop in Kaiaua after all.
So last night's dinner and today's brunch - we're taking a rest day today pending the opening of the temporary rail trail tomorrow - was pizza. Eaten alongside three other cyclists who arrived from Auckland just behind us. A Kiwi & two Aussies going as far as Greymouth, two of them also rode the TA brevet in '22. We had a great social evening.....

And this evening we've taken the shuttle van to the Bay View Hotel in Kaiaua for dinner...
https://www.relive.cc/view/vQvx5zmp5BO

Comments

  1. AndyFebruary 1, 2024 at 2:46 PM

    The guide said that the inland route was less scenic than the coastal route. I beg to differ as your photos look stunning. Mind you the coastal route missed out all the hills of the route you took (which weren't shown in the guide!). What, another rest day! My daily look for your blog has been interrupted yet again. From recollection you have a few days of reasonably flat riding until you get to Arapuni. Look out for the gypsy caravan.

    ReplyDelete
  2. JeannieFebruary 2, 2024 at 8:02 PM

    Look forward to riding that part as it wasn’t open when we did that section on the coast road .

    ReplyDelete

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