Sun of a beach!

Hukatere Lodge to Ahipara

33.5km

A leisurely start as low water was at 1:30pm, and the recommendation is to ride 3 before to 4 after. As it happens, neap tides meant there was a rideable strip before 10:30, but we didn't know that and so left at 10:15. If we gained an hour there, we'd have gained a couple of hours overall, but more of that later... Another reason to delay was a late shower had soaked the laundry we'd left out so we waited until it was dry(ish). The brisk Westerly had abated about 9 and when we hit the beach we found our groove at the anticipated 15-16kph. Just like I'd imagined it would be. What a difference a day makes!

As the first two butt breaks ticked past we were feeling good, and enjoying the ride (Andy). Morning tea at 15km was a leisurely affair, only 15km more to go, time for a snooze... But we did realise the wind was picking up from the South, and when we headed off it was at a slower pace. Nothing like yesterday, and with no 'range anxiety' we pedalled along in Eco at a comfortable pace. At about 23km we caught up with a guy we met at the lodge, who was hiking the Te Aroroa section from the Cape to Ahipara. We chinwagged with him long enough for our batteries to switch off. A little later Marg commented that she was finding it tough going, and would use Trail mode. She said that made no difference, which was weird. A bit later she noticed that the dreaded A013 error had returned. Uh-oh... A quick reboot cleared the error, praise be (choose your own god at this point!).

'Adult' humour warning: skip this bit if you're offended by very old, slightly smutty jokes. At the 20km break I picked a Norfolk Island pine that I thought was about 5km away. 'No, it's more like 2km' says SWMABR. 'If I'm right, what's in it for me?' I ask. 'Sand!' she says. [BTW, it was exactly 5km. Seems this year I've peaked early on being allowed to be right]

A bit further on we came across the camper, firmly bogged, ahead of the rising tide. We of course cycled over to take photos and half heartedly see if we could assist. Fortunately a good Samaritan with the right vehicle, the right kit and the right knowledge was already on scene. As the incoming tide swirled about both vehicles and the camper sank deeper into the mire, the white ute hoiked it out in one tug. Needless to say, I was suitably castigated for not crassly videoing the whole performance. Just as disaster was averted (though a lot of water drained from the camper, so maybe it was still a bit of a crisis for its owners) a Police patrol came cruising down the beach, and ignored the whole event.

The hardest part of the day was getting the bikes up through the soft sand onto the access road. Then a brief uphill, and on to our cabin at the Holiday Park.

https://www.relive.cc/view/vQvx5pzgn9O