Keep Cycling - The Hauraki Rail Trail

We took off at 8.00am this morning. We wanted to make sure that our 64kms round trip to Thames wouldn't see us arriving back to Paeroa in the dark! To our surprise, the trail took us off-road all the way on fine, evenly spread gravel. Cycling was a breeze! The trail to Thames began just across the road from the motel. It took us through farm land with more herds of bucolic bovines, roaming chickens, the odd rabbit and stacked, plastic-wrapped, cylinders of recently cut hay. We manoeuvered through narrow openings to cross minor roads to rejoin the trail on the other side. We crossed 68 cattle grids (34 each way). Most were made of metal bars, which we could cycle over without dismounting. We crossed 46 bridges (23 each way). They crossed rivers, streams and drains.  Most had a short but steep run up from the flat trail and a nice run down on the other side. We were pleased to have the assistance...

Today's ride was a totally different experience compared to yesterday. Apart from a few road crossings, the trail took us through peaceful farm land with fields of placid, munching cattle, myriad bird life - and 48 cattle grids (and that's only one way! We had to cross them again on the way back!) Some of the grids were cut off with bungees, which we had to replace as we went through. There were innumerable bridges - over streams, drains and underground stock routes. Eventually Mt Te Aroha came into view and, several kms later, we arrived in Te Aroha. We cycled to the old railway station and into town. This quirky drinking fountain, which wasn't working, is a dachund who not only provides drinking water from the top of his head, but, at the same time, pees it from a prominent penis at the other end! We enjoyed a delicious lunch at Ironique Cafe then made o...

We were a little nervous riding our e bikes on gravel to begin with.   We'd only experienced it once before on hired bikes on the Otago Rail Trail.  After a km or two we'd adjusted to the bumping, though the noise took a little longer.       From the motel, we joined the trail, following the Waihou River to the Criterion Bridge which we crossed on an attached walkway.  On the other side, we rode through the sturdy, open flood gates that protect the town from the occasional Ohinemuri overflow. From there the trail took us through shady avenues and bush clad hills.  We crossed many small bridges and cattle grids. To be exact, Del rode over the grids, while I dismounted and tentatively tiptoed across! Eventually we arrived at the Karangahake Rail Bridge and its 1.1km tunnel. At first the relative darkness caused temporary blindness, especi...