Blokes.on.Bikes

Traffic jam

Whangamomina Pub

Gravel Roads

New Plymouth

Cape Egmont

Moki Tunnel

Steve on the Tuakau Bridge.

A whole new trip - and it is 2008

Hi - we have been a long time getting anything on here - we have ridden for a couple of weekends but this is our first longer trip here.
We decided to cycle the west coast of the North Island to Taranaki then inland, for a short break. We covered just over 700 km.

Day 1 Auckland - Port Waikato
A late and watery start - We stopped for a mirror and on to Pukekohe with a head wind. Lunch with Steve's parents and then back on the bikes - almost lost a wheel at Tuakau. Stayed at Waikatoa Surf lodge at Port Waikato and Liam cooked us an excellent dinner. Thanks.

Day 2 Port Waikato - Waingaro
After a great sleep on the bikes to Limestone Downs - a first of many gravel roads and up and down and up and down and up and down again. Had lunch at Nikau Cave Cafe in Waikaretu - an awesome platter and a great spot. Out to a flat tyre and then cattle on the road. A soak in the pools and an early night.

Day 3 Waingaro - Kawhia
The same flat tyre- and again till we found the piece of glass. A heavy dew so got the tent out at Te Mata while we ate lunch on the domain in the centre of the town. Then 32km of gravel with some great hills- A big thanks to Dave the TipTop man who we met as we came back onto the seal - great ice creams thank you. A wander around Kawhia and back to the tent.

Day 4 Kawhia - Marakopa
NO flat tyres. Pretty much up and down till we came to the bridge that had sunk - luckily you can still get bikes across. A great ride around the harbour then up to the Te Anga road - made yesterdays hills look a breeze. Had lunch out of teh rain in an old farm school bus stop and then on down into Marakopa. The old school ios the backpackers and had time for a walk on the beach.

Day 5 Marakopa - Mokau.
An uneventful ride through great scenery - a little gravel then out onto State Highway 3 at Awakino - Then there was a head wind and traffic. Took a cabin there and went for a stroll to the beach - met Scott and Brent - first people we met that we knew.

Day 6 Mokau - New Plymouth
Had a very slow start as Steve had a bad ankle but it did come right. On to Mt Messanger and all good bar 3 metal trucks that must have been racing home. Stopped on the top after the tunnel then after the initial steep decent a long downhill making up on time. Lunch at a brewery - well we used their table and bought a drink - non alcoholic - not wanting to be sleepy on the bikes. Cruised on into the city and the i centre was very helpful. Along the sea wall to a great camp at Belt Rd.

Day 7 Rest day in NP
Slept in -cycled the sea wall and went to the park. A picnic back by the sea and off to the museum - another early night after a shop and repack.

Day 8 NP - Oponaki
On the road by 7:50 and a great day - Rode through Oakura and stoppeed at Okato at "The Waiting Room" for a great coffee and carrot cake. Excellent side trip to the lighthouse and a gentle run to Oponaki. Got the tent up then wandered into town for a look and out to the lookout. It had been sunny and warm all day.

Day 9 Oponaki - Stratford
Uphill, Headwind and into Rain but not a bad day - Campsite is full of potplants - everywhere - even by the basins in the washrooms. Wandered into Stratford for a look around - some great colour in the trees.

Day 10 Stratford to Whangamomina
Wet wet wet - over 3 saddles but no big hills - the school is now the camp ground so walked around reading all the signs telling you of the history and what had been there - had a coffeee at the pub. Only people in the camp ground - what a surprise.

Day 11 Whangamomina - Taumaranui
A wet morning but 2 saddles then the Tangarakau gourge - metal and a bit sticky in the rain - over another hill and through the Moki tunnel then found a hall to stand by for lunch out of the rain. Then Tunnel hill - wow - we were both off pushing for a while. Stopped at :"Laurens Lavender" out of town for a coke, coffee and cake - what a difference that made to the last few km's. Out 4km to the motor camp but no cabins so back into town and a motel - what a luxury for the last night.

Day 12 Back to Auckland
All packed up and left bikes and trailers at the station - had a look around town then caught the Overlander to Middlemore. Off there and a gentle ride home in teh dark and damp but a grerat trip and planning the next one.

Sorry for the delay

It has been far too long since this was updated. Sorry to those who have been following it.
Well we are back in New Zealand now and the trip has been a truly amazing experience.
After leaving LA and Bruce & Denver we Bus/trained/bussed to Yosemite. A mini bus picked us up in Merced but we squeezed the trailers in - we were going to Yosemite - there was no question about that.

Sunday 22 - Wednesday 25
We explored and walked and rode around the park. Climbed to 2 waterfalls and the back of Half Dome. Our neighbours in the campground lost their dinner to bears but we were not so unlucky.Riding out on the Wednesday was a long downhill - cold hands. That night we stopped at the Mid Pines KOA.

Thursday 26 - Sunday 29
An almost flat ride to San Fransisco - I say almost flat as the last day there was a big climb. We had planned the route off Google maps and the name "Kirker Pass" should have told us it was a climb - Oh well you learn as you go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
One of there days was 50 miles 8 corners and all of them right angles.We took the BART for the last few miles into SF to avoid the freeway.Had an anouncement at the station where we took our bikes on the escalater OOOPS!!!!!!!!!

Monday 30 - Wednesday 1 November.
Did some more sightseening in SF and caught up with Jane and her family which was fantastic. Went to the Castro to watch Halloween. On the 1st we caught the night train to Eugene so had a night with Amtrak.We had to box the bikes for this leg and they stayed in their boxes then till Vancouver as the weather turned to rain. This was the first bad weather in 9 weeks.

Thursday 2 - Wednesday 8
A great time with Joanne & Christopher and Mary & Ken. It was so good to catch up and have time to look at pictures and chat but thanks as we also experienced.
Wine tasting - Beer sampling - Museums - Salmon - Riding the covered bridges - Indoor Kite flying - The Sprooce Goose - Mexican food - A school visit - Ben & Jerries - American Football - An open home with their friends.
Thank you.

Wednesday 8 - Thursday 9
Portland and thanks to Dave and Hank for picking us up and the wet trip to the waterfalls. The small glimpse of Portland was a taste of what we will come back to visit. The autumn colour was fantastic even in the rain. Thank you for your hospitality.

Friday 10 - Wed 15
Vancouver - shopping for gifts packing and saying goodbye to friends we had made. Then the long flight home to family - and it was soo good to see them all.

Pictures from Los Angeles.

Some of the wind turbines on the way to Palm Springs.

Palm Springs

Palm Springs - The view while lazing in the sun.

The Mammoth - which one???? The Page Museum.

Ventura Mission and Fountain.

An evening with Bruce on Hollywood Blvd and the star walk. We found Sean Connery.

The azalia water maze and some of the garden with the Getty Centre in the background.

The southern most point of the Getty Centre with Century City in the forground and downtown LA in the distance.

The Getty Centre - A museum of art and amazing gardens

California Dreaming Park. Unfortunately the roller coaster was not running but the tall tower is a vertical bungy - OH YES.

Disneyland. Which one is Mickey Mouse????????

Time in LA

Los Angeles Friday 20th

Well we are about to set off again - this time by train. We leave tomorrow for Yosemite then we will ride again back to San Francisco.

We have been out and about heaps in LA - highlights are the Getty Centre and of course Disneyland. And YES we did have a ride in the Tea Cups & Saucers. We have not been riding as the public transport has been really great. Earlier this week we had a couple of nights in Palm Springs and just had a relax down there. The scenery is very different and there was a huge wind farm on the way with 100's of windmills.

We have visited Universal Studios, the Ventura museum, Hollywood Boulivard, Venice Beach, The Tar Pits and Museum and tried a variety of different foods and takeaways.

One more

Roger and Mark from Canada. The picture would not pick up with the others. We met them again crossing the street in San Diago. Thanks for the photos that you have e-mailed us.

Fellow cyclists and others we met.

Richard and Thomas - the mad Pommy boys who thought we were mad for riding in the dark. Have a great trip and keep riding when you get home :-) and can afford a new bike.

Neville & Marta and kids. Thanks for the hospitality and great to meet another Kiwi. As usual we had people we knew in common.

Ryan - Riding North while the rest of us were going South.

Doug - Next time Doug we suggest you buy a BOB - then you wont need to throw your trailer away :-) Thanks for the inside knowledge on the trip.

Devra - A ride in a PT Cruser and a chance to see Los Osos - Thanks for being so friendly when we met at Fort Ross.

Kathie - Thanks for the hopitality, the food and all the inside knowledge on Steinbeck.

Peggy , Paulette & Cathie. We shared a couple of evenings - One with frogs and mozzies at Standish-Hickey.

Fellow KIWIS - we will catch up with you on our return - Marieka & Arnold and Brian.

Miriam & Thomas - Loved the fiat and VW badges on the front of your bikes. Hope your trip was as good as ours.

Josh & Ai - Heading for a wedding - We hope you got there on time without too many more flats.

Jen & Vic - Thanks for the tip about the mirrors - we got some in Victoria.

Ben & Clint - experimental cooks like us.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Pics

Destination - the Mexican border.

Oceanside Library-shame a sign said "no swimming, wading or bathing"

Santa Monica Pier

Houses on the beach north of Malibu

Point Mugu rest area a few of the missiles on show.

We made it...Yippee

Thursday 28th Sept

Went from Carpenteria to Leo Carillo ( just north of Malibu). Through Ventura and past an airbase and a display of old missiles and jet fighters.

Friday 29th Sept

A huge day...112 miles. Day started with a flat trailer tyre on the way from the campsite to the road. Fast trip through Malibu and on to the bike path at Santa Monica. At Venice Beach we met John, Roger and Julie. John, a local, guided us to Redondo Beach, the end of the bike path. Through the streets of LA to Huntington Beach-the hostel was closed. A push on to Doheny State Beach- to be told that the hiker/biker sites were closed. Riding by head light by now. Sent on to San Clemente State Beach- shame the directions they gave us were not off the road they sent us on. But we made it having gone to far and riding back. Great hot showers, best of the trip.

Saturday 30th Sept

A sleep in...as we had ridden half this day last night. Through Pendelton Army Camp looking out for stray Tanks. On to San Eiljo but not allowed to check in before 4.00pm so we replaced the shock cord in the tent poles while we waited.

Sunday 1st Oct

Down to the Mexican border. 49 days (6 rest days), 2251 miles, 225 hours, and $2000.
Got lost 3 times on the way through San Diego but got there. Rode back to Chula Vista to the KOA (camp grounds of America).

Next ride WATCH THIS SPACE.

Comments

Thanks for all the comments - we are unable to reply to these but if you would like a reply e-mail them to blokes.on.bikes@gmail.com as well as making the comment.
Thanks

The coast before the Big Sur climb.

City Hall San Francisco

More of the Big Sur Coastline.

Big Sur - Glenn riding a bridge - the yellow vests have been fantastic.

Big Sur

Part of the Big Sur ride. Look for the waterfall coming on to the beach. The whole day was scenes like this - magnificent and we were able to stop on the bikes anywhere.