Out of The Shire

Matamata to Arapuni

42.9km

Today we got very wet and very cold, very, very quickly! More later...

As it was raining when we woke at 6:30 we rolled over and slept a bit more, so we didn't get away until 9:15. The rain had stopped by 8, but even if we'd left then I don't think we'd have dodged the later deluge. But as we left the b&b the sun was shining and the wind was slight, though the air was still a bit chill. So not much like the forecast. A quick one-two into downtown Matamata's Countdown (or should I say Woolworth's now?) to pick up breakfast for tomorrow, and then the dinner for tonight which I'd forgotten, and we were off to pay homage to the Hobbit-themed tourist office.

As we breezed South out of town, bright sunshine and puffy white clouds beckoned ahead. We made good time down the chosen back roads, almost no traffic, enjoying the neatly presented version of countryside beloved of the horse-racing fraternity and sisterhood. Have to think of diversity and inclusion these days. Unfortunately, on two counts, this soon came to an end as we turned West on SH29, after a prolonged pause for a gap in the traffic. The sunshine remained in the South: the dark grey skies were to the West! Actually the ride down SH29 was not toooo bad: a wide shoulder and only occasional trucks, but continuous fast traffic in both directions. You certainly felt the battering when an A-train milk tanker blasted past. We got a bit worried as vehicles appeared from ahead with wipers going, but all we experienced was a wet road. Then, as we approached the dreaded SH1 dogleg, it started to drizzle. Because the prior evidence was of a short shower we eschewed our waterproof tops. Big mistake!!

We trundled smugly past the long queue of vehicles waiting to turn right, hoping to hell that anyone wishing to turn left (there were none) checked their mirrors before diving down the shoulder, and turned left for less than 1km. The rain had picked up a bit more, and as we passed the sign 'Waikato River Trails Turn Right 200m' and I was thinking it might be a good idea to put on our rain jackets after we'd made the turn, there was a flash of lightning and rumble of thunder. Then the Apocalypse hit... Bitter, freezing gusts of howling wind thrashed the trees (and us), driving torrential horizontal rain, stinging our arms and legs. A shout to Marg to pull into a driveway and some shelter under a tree. Of course, as we pulled up in the gateway, a large truck and trailer appeared down the drive. We made ourselves as narrow as possible, but the driver pulled up alongside us. He asked if we wanted to shelter in his cab for a while. Incredibly, I said no! I suppose I didn't want to delay his journey. Marg might by now have forgiven me. As it was, as we wrestled our soaked bodies into our flailing jackets, the truck sat for quite a while waiting to turn across the traffic!

Shortly after it had gone a car pulled up opposite us, its driver waiting to make the right turn into the driveway. This time it was Marg's turn to refuse an offer of shelter, though on the more reasonable grounds that we were invited to ride a 'country kilometre' uphill to partake of a cuppa. Finally, the rain, and particularly the wind, abated somewhat and we very cautiously picked our way on foot across the highway. The ensuing onroad ride uphill and down dale in the rain, in sodden clothing, was bone chilling. As we arrived at the entrance to the WRT - after a brief detour to the HQ of Waikato River Adventures - the rain stopped, the sun came out, and everything (including us) started steaming. Everything (including us) was wrung out and spread in the sun to dry out. And so it remained for a good while, while we chatted with various other victims of the squall. We were all sent scurrying, us under the welcome trail shelter, others off in their respective vehicles as the heavens opened once again. We dug out our warm tops and huddled together against the elements.

As before, the instant the rain stopped a scorching sun reappeared and we grabbed our chance to head off down the trail proper (although it was basically the road shoulder for the first 5km). It eventually separated from the road, becoming an enchanting single-track through bush alongside the river. There is a long section of meandering boardwalk: stopping to take a photograph resulted in a slightly nerve-wracking restart... Just before we reached Arapuni there was another significant wind-burst, though thankfully little rain. We heard a loud creak and crash close by, and as we rounded a corner a walker coming toward us warned us of a branch down on the track ahead. We can't be sure that's what we heard, but it looked very fresh. If we'd been a minute or two further up the track..

At Arapuni we immediately repaired to the Rhubarb Cafe, where we met Wendy & Tony who'd shared the Kaipara crossing with us, and we became closely acquainted with an excellent Reuben sandwich. After we all got kicked out when the cafe closed at 4 we pedalled off to the backpackers, declining to walk the kilometre or so with our new friends. As ever at a BP, it becomes a social hub, where we've spent time with Mark (also from the Kaipara boat) and with Jeronimo (honest!), a young Mexican architect also cycling part of the TA.

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