After a bit of a sleep in, Grant, Erin, Aiden, Anne and I set off from our bach in Te Kouma on our mission to circumnavigate the coromandel penninsula at around 8.30 am on Saturday morning. Our packs were laden down with 20 hours of food three liters of water each and a few extra bits and bobs. Most of us decided to strap our complusory gear and trekking shoes to our carriers to take weight off our backs and bums. Unfortunately no one had told aiden this plan so he was forced to have the whole lot in his back. Poor bugger!!
Our first leg was a cycle from Te Kouma to Waikawau Bay. This involved one mega climb and a whole lot of smaller climbs. But the views made it all worthwhile.
Once at Waikawau Bay we changed into our macpac shorts and shirts and headed up into the hills for a three to four hour trek. It was as hot as but nice to have a break from the bike. The scenery was stunning and well worth the effort of the climb. The highlight of the walk for me was the last 500 metres on the beach back to the bikes with the surf rolling in. So beautiful. It was a pity we couldn't lie in the sun for a bit and swim in the surf but training is training and that is what we had come for. So after a fleeting stop to take in the view we filled our bladders and drink bottles and quickly changed back into our cycling gear and got back on the bikes.
The ride from here to Stoney bay was once again a hill fest with one incline leading into the other. Great training country with very little traffic and spectacular scenery. We made good time on this leg with a tail wind assisting us and were soon off the gravel road and cycling on the spectacular track that links around the tip of the penninsla. Last time we did this track it was pitch black so we were stoked to be able to see where we were going and appreciate the view.
Wow what an awesome ride. This is a little slice of mtb heaven . All to soon we were spat out back to reality and onto the gravel road at Fletchers bay. From here we faced another series of hill climbs to our next little trek just out of Colville.
The ride was punctuated with the most stunning sunset and with the sight of Aiden jumping off his bike at regular intervals to chase possums - according to Aiden we all need to do our bit to rid our land of possums. He is certainly dedicated to doing his bit.
Just out of Colville and before starting the trek we were faced with a hill we named the big bad hill - we were all pretty happy to trade our bikes for our trekking shoes at the top of this hill and once again set off into the bush. This trek was a short pleasant one and a half hours and was a welcome break from the bikes. Yeah now we only had around four or five more hills to our comfy beds.
Before long we were cruising into Coromandel township and only five or so kms from home. As usual at the end of our training missions Anne's homing pigeon kicked in and we found ourselves tucking in behind her and sprinting towards Te Kouma. Yeah we had done it - 16 hours in total, heaps of hills, two tramps and well over 100kms of cycling. What better way is there to spend a Saturday? :) Happy happy
