Tour of the Northland...second half

Starting from Opononi on Saturday, on the way to Dargaville

Not Tane Mahuta, the tallest Kauri..but still impressive.

 Not sure what this bird is but it looked like a small stork..as on the two dollar coin?

 Masseurs and the queue!

Dargaville HQ..the Boat Club

The last day was very foggy so I followed the main road instead of causing more traffic problems to the race..they turned up Tangowhahine valley and down the Mangakahia to Maungatapere before the finish time being taken at Maunu before finishing at Whangarei.

A very happy and relieved Pirate..and he was presented with a bottle of bubbly and a cycling top for being the first..and only..80+....but at least he was in the top 4 of the 70+, out of about 9 starters.

Tour pictures...so far...

Practice...

 Trying the first 25km of tomorrow's first stage...as far as Hokianga

 And some Rimu trees

Travelling North

Yesterday we headed North, in welcome rain, and our first stop was at Tarariki pottery outside Paeroa.
A place to find peace and inspiration, coffee and fresh figs, talk on many things.
It was good to meet Mike O'Donnell again and see that he is doing his own work again as well as inspiring others.

I soaked my navigation stone in the spring once more..and my feet too this time.  It has brought me back twice already.. here's hoping....

We have arrived at Whangarei now, back in a top ten camp, after a night at a basic but good cabin in a camp at Ramarama. It was sad to see how many have to live permanently in campsites like these, but they provide a good service for them as well as for a large number of campervans. Two nights here, getting ready to roll on the 21st on the Four Day Tour of the Northland..him riding, me driving.  

The computer hasn't put all the images where I wanted them...but at least they are all there!

Lily....and organising

Unless you know otherwise...it looks like a lily!
We have moved to Opal Springs campsite near Matamata..I would have liked to stay in Te Aroha, but this is a learning experience I suppose!!
We are one in a small terrace of cabins.. amongst all sorts of cabins and sites..a bit short on facilities, but it will do for two nights.
We drove over to Cambridge to see a friend...and found that he is in Wellington for the weekend!! Meanwhile we met his brother, a great mate of pirates ,and his family .Wife, toddler and Bump..and the news that their parents have bought the nextdoor house!
More visits earmarked for next time!

We also booked our accommodation up to the morning of the 26th... Whangarei and the Northland Tour here we come...with two nights there before and after the tour so hopefully we may see sights and people....
We had the definite feeling that we were booking the last beds available in the overnight stops on the Tour...but not surprising as there will be at least 300 riders plus support and organisation. It also sounds as if some people have booked accommodation a year ago, possibly as they rode the last one!!
At least that is one worry sorted.