Thanks guys for your hospitality and a nice 2 day stay in Auckland.
After escaping the Sunday morning city traffic it wasn't long before I was out in the bush again, in the hills to the west of Auckland. I parked the car in a laybye and then got on the bike for the ride down to Piha, a beautiful black volcanic sand beach with loads of surfers out on the waves.
The climb back up was steep - over 10% average for 2.5 kms, then I dropped quickly down to sea level again and the beach at Karekare.
This beach was where the filmed The Piano and it was a bit of a walk through the sand dunes to get there, but if you can get a grand piano there then you can make it with a Gios bike! Fitting that the Cyclecross World Cup event on the sand dunes at Koksjilde was also happening today.
"The Piano" beach was well worth the walk and not only offered up the "panorama of the day" but also my first attempt at a 360 degree panorama, or Pianorama.
From there another steep climb up almost 400 metres on a great little quiet forest road, where I also spotted a little commercial outlet on the way up (with "honesty tin").
So after about 40 kms I was back at the car and ready to roll back through Auckland's suburbs then south via the scenic route to Hamilton where I'm overnighting with a friend John who I met a couple of years ago whilst following the Tour de France.
John took me to a local fresh fish shop where you buy your bit of fish then pass it over to the kitchen on the other side where they cook it as requested and make up the accompanying portion of chips. Great choice of fish and a good dinner.
After a long day and a couple of beers over dinner with John I'll make the most of a soft bed in my own room for the 3rd night in a row - as tomorrow I'm back on the backpackers run.
Inga kommentarer:
Skicka en kommentar