Day 7

The next section of the trail was closed due to logging, so it was an easy cruise along quiet Sunday morning roads. We passed a trail bike event where I scored a cookie and muffin for $2 each (today definitely represents a nutritional downturn).

After a rest at Waipapa dam, where Russ and Barbara caught up with us for a chat it was on to an ‘advanced’ section of the trail. I was grateful for my bike choice and its forgiving nature in this kind of terrain – and relieved the mtb skills I hadn’t practised since Christmas weren’t lost. I managed some tricky switchbacks and a very rocky, steep down hill that made me very proud!

It took a while to do this section and it was pretty intense energy wise. When we approached Mangakino, food was number one priority. We headed down to the awesome bus stop cafe by the lake, where I inhaled a smoothie and a fish burger, and took the chance to dry my tent. We sat here for a while, it was so beautiful and people kept coming up to chat about the event. And I had another burger. After heading to the shop to restock for the next two days, we finally headed out of town around 230.

The next hour was a bit grim with all that digesting food, though the trail was easier. Then we were back on rural roads, trending uphill, and it was super hot. My lower back was getting sore due to tight hamstrings so many mini stretch breaks were needed.

Then we headed into even more sketchy dirt roads, and a very tight swing bridge where I was grateful to have a riding companion as we worked together to get the bikes across. Then it got pretty tough – a narrow, rutted dirt road that reminded me of that difficult walkway in the Gravel Grind.

Time was ticking on but we were confident we would reach the campsite at Pureora before 8, even with our slow pace. There was a lot of climbing and the ks seemed endless. But finally we reached the centre of the north (bit anticlimactic) and then the top of the climb!

The last 10km were awesome mostly down hill in the dying light. Many beautiful majestic trees and finally a decent surface. We touched base with the valley girls (aka Russ and Barb – I only figured that out today!) and then set up camp. Definitely the toughest day so far – only 105km but nearly 8 hours actual riding. Planning a little sleep in before we tackle the whole Timber Trail to Ongarue in one day tomorrow.