20/01/2015 - Cycle Touring New Zealand - Day 17 - Kiwi hospitality

 

Distance cycled: 43km from Kai Iwi lakes to just south of Dargaville, North island, NZ
Average speed: 11.7km/h
Moving Time: 3h39m
Elevation Ascended: 467m
Total Distance on Current trip: 1,072km
Distance until I have cycled the circumference of Earth: 7,335km
Money spent: $40

Our time at Kai Iwi lakes was short but even just the few hours of relaxation from waking up till when we left around midday was enough to revitalize our systems to hop back on the saddle and continue.
Unfortunately both Marlieke and I are stubborn and did not want to go back the way we came, meaning we would have backtracked; instead we took the alternative route following the Babylon coastal road which is something I would not recommend for people cycling. It was what the kiwis refer to as metal road but for you me and the rest of the world this means gravel and not the nice type, the type that would kill a car let alone two loaded bicycles. The descents on this road  would be taken just as slowly as the rate we would climb but slowly, surely and after the 14km we finally sang out a sigh of relief because we had made it back to the main road that offered a smooth asphalted  surface for us to cherish despite suffering the symptoms of Parkinson's for several kilometers after.
Entering into the town of Dargaville we stopped by the tourist information office where Sue suggested an alternative route for us to take, a ride south to the end of the peninsula and a fishing charter boat would take us across the largest harbour in the Southern Hemisphere where we would disembark at the south end close to Auckland meaning we wouldn't have to cycle whatsoever on the dangerous highway 1.
The charter boat does not run regularly so finding out that the ferry was either Thursday morning or afternoon we were good to go not needing to hurry.
A quick bite to eat and grocery shop sent us on our way but the influx of locals questioning our cycle route down to the tip of the peninsula slowed us. It was kind and friendly of all who stopped us as essentially they saw two cyclists heading 60km to a dead end but as a huge positive we met a lovely woman who invited us to her house only 100 meters from where she had stopped us.
Michele and John were very hospitable, playing up a steak dinner and great conversion but also with the inclusion of me shooting a rabbit with a .22 on their farm - random I know.
We set up our tent on the deck as the Mosquitos were emerging and went to sleep.
This was certainly a pleasant surprise for Marlieke as it is the first time in this trip she has experienced the amazing hospitality of locals, let's hope we get more of this.