Auckland Adventures - Tour Aotearoa

Day 4

I woke around 7am, and promptly found my missing electronics bag -- it had fallen beneath my sleeping mattress and had stubbornly stayed hidden even though I'm sure I looked there at least three times the previous evening. What a relief

We headed out at about 8:30am -- we didn't want to get to Auckland at rush-hour so we deliberately left a bit later. It was hot already, and the steep climb out of Helensville was sweaty work. My backside was tender, but I was wearing two pairs of cycling shorts, which helped a lot.

Greg's bike was having problems with skipping gears, and it crunched all the way up the steep climb. Not good -- at least there's a bike shop not too far away.

After the first big climb, we had rolling hills all the way to Auckland. Following the route was easy as I'd ridden it at Christmas time.

We made good progress into the central city, where we stopped at Mt Eden Cycles. I bought a packet of Nuun, which are electrolyte tablets, while Greg got his bike serviced and bought a new stuff sack for his tent. He also left a bag of stuff he didn't want any more, including his big head lamp...he intended to buy a small bike light, but he forgot so he doesn't have a torch or front bike light any more.

I checked my dynamo battery and confirmed my suspicion: it wasn't charging. Great -- now I have no way of charging any of my electronics!

The bike shop couldn't help but they pointed me to a computer repair shop two doors down. The technician and I managed to show that the hub itself was working, as was my USB cable and battery -- the fault was in my cable or voltage converter. Grrr...they are all sealed up and impossible to repair.

We saw several other TA riders at the bike shop, including Richard Harding.

After we left the bike shop, I had a burrito from Pita Pit with Richard (fresh vegetables...yum!), while Greg had sushi and soup. We headed out and began the climb up to the top of Mount Eden, which is our fourth photo stop. Unfortunately, Greg's bike was even worse!

 After the photo stop we headed down the hill, through Cornwall Park and down into Onehunga. There we found another bike shop, where Greg got his bike serviced again while I went off and bought a USB wall charger and a milkshake. Fortunately they managed to fix Greg's bike, and it's working well now.


We headed through South Auckland, which was terrible. When I had ridden it at Christmas time there was hardly any traffic, but this time the traffic was diabolical. Near the airport we met up with Louise and Neville, a couple riding together, as well as Kay Haasma. They wanted me to guide them out of the city, so Greg and I slowed down so we could stay together.

 I managed to leave two of my food bags at the Kaipara Cruising Club, so I had no milk powder, Parmesan, sugar or oatmeal.  Annoying, but very easily done.  We all stopped at the Countdown supermarket near Auckland Airport for food, then continued on together. Kay struggled once we hit the hills, but I think everyone was tired by then.

After riding through Totara Park, we left the city behind and finally headed into the countryside. Why we began to climb again, Neville suggested that Greg and I go on as Kay was still finding it hard and the hills were coming up.  There were some nasty hills heading into the Hunuas, and I quickly ran out of my remaining water. I should have refilled my bottles at the supermarket.

We reached the top of a major hill, with a trig right beside the road, when Greg noticed someone sitting nearby and asked for some water. We had a good chat with them, and I really enjoyed the water.

From there, it was only a few km down the hill and into Hunua Village. We stopped at the local store, and saw that, of all things they had an Indian restaurant next door!  We decided to eat dinner at the restaurant while we charged our devices and figured out where to stay for the night.

Kay, Neville and Louise turned up, as did Richard Harding, and Louise managed to arrange for us to stay at the nearby YMCA camp. It was perfect -- showers, toilets, cabin beds, and a kitchen.

 There was even cellphone reception so I could call Ruth. I also got to speak with Anneke, which was wonderful as I'd been missing her.

Towel drying

The best thing was that someone on the TA Facebook forum said they had dynamo equipment for sale. I asked, and it looks like he may be able to make me up a cable and lend me a new battery so I can use my hub to charge things up! The challenge was to figure out where to get him to send it to...because it's Friday today the mail will be slower and unfortunately there are no convenient towns. The best option is Wanganui, maybe five days away. But that's a lot better than nothing, and I feel very very lucky.

Making repairs with duct tape

We only rode about 115 km today, but still climbed 1,400 metres. It was slower going through the city with all the traffic, and it was still a solid day.  It looks like we've reached the end of the good weather, with rain predicted for tomorrow night, so we're going to have an early start to get as far along as possible. Bring it on!

Exploring Auckland

View of Auckland City from Mt Victoria

Today Erik was riding with Nicki Squire, part of the Tour Aotearoa route from Parakai to Ardmore.  Another day for us, of about 6 hours of in-betweens, so we explored Auckland.

The jetty and landing for the ferry is quite far up the Kaipara river.

 There were a few sea gulls about.  They are much bigger than the gulls around our lakes.

Not much traffic from Hellensville to Albany.  We stayed off the highway, and enjoyed the country roads.  Lots of flax, and berries grow in this area.  There was a mall in Albany, which I knew would occupy a few hours, so the urchins could spend their Christmas money.  Anneke spent all of hers, Oscar was a lot more discerning.

 Throughout Auckland there was plenty of Pohutukawa in flower. 

Devonport for lunch.  Plenty of shade, and a playground.  Once the urchins got tired of the swings, we drove up Mt Victoria.  Anneke thought it weird that both Auckland and Wellington had a Mt Victoria.  I guess she was the Queen at the time of naming mountains?

Rangitoto Island looked magnificent

Not quite sure why the air extraction domes of the bunkers are painted as toadstools, cute though.

Plenty for the urchins to explore on top of Mt Victoria.  Relics left over from World War 2, and of course the city skyline.

There appeared to be many houses wrapped in plastic.  These buildings were being built or renovated.  Perhaps it is to stop the wind,  or prevent debris falling off the site.

Anneke wanted to know what Auckland ciy was like...so over the harbour bridge we went, and drove around the city centre, so Anneke and Oscar could experience the hills, the queues, the traffic, the giant billboards, all the noise, and how small the Skytower is when you are at the bottom of it.

After the concrete jungle, a quick car ride to Cornwall Park, and up "One Tree Hill".  Oscar wanted to walk up it, and Anneke didn't, so I dropped Anneke off at the top, and drove further down to a shaded park, so Oscar and I could walk up the last part.

Looking from One Tree Hill towards Mt Eden

Erik sent a text saying he was on Mt Eden, so we had to get the map out, and work out which hill it was.

Erik and Nikki's bikes at Mt Eden

The children waved, but I think Erik had left by then.  There is playground near the Observatory, so we spent the rest of the day there.  I enjoyed lying in the shade, watching the sun and the leaves.

We picked Erik up around 4pm, and drove home via Kaiaua, and had dinner at The Fez in Matamata.