Start of Tour Aotearoa

Today I started the Tour Aotearoa!

There was a bit of a mad dash from the paragliding nationals competition in Rotorua, which finished yesterday. Driving from there to a friend's place near Tutukaka (a 5 hour drive) then another 4 hours this morning up to Cape Reinga for the official TA start at noon was a bit of a mission - luckily I have a very lovely and helpful partner (Kris) who I volunteered as my Uber driver.

The day was pretty good for cycling - a brisk north east wind was (mostly) tailwind, and propelled me down Ninety Mile beach on firm sand at a brisk pace, to Hukatere Lodge Camp, where I had booked a cabin for me and Kris (my last night with Kris for a while as he heads south tomorrow). 

As I started late today, I cycled a modest 75km in 4 hours of cycling (5 hours with rests). The real hard stuff starts tomorrow!  Here is my Strava track-log.

PS - don't forget to check out my Give-a-Little page for the Pelorus bats: https://givealittle.co.nz/fundraiser/a-batty-cycling-adventure




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