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Saturday, 7 March 2015

16/01/2015 - Cycle Touring New Zealand - Day 13 - sketchy sticky shitty road

 

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Distance cycled: 30km from Paihai to Moerewa, north island, New Zealand.
Average speed: 12.1km/h
Moving Time: 2h26m
Elevation Ascended: 412m
Total Distance on Current trip: 866km
Distance until I have cycled the circumference of Earth: 7,541km
Money spent: $20

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It was an unfortunate accident that occurred to Marlieke today, something that could have been prevented if the road wasn't in such a terrible state. The road was getting resealed in the town of Moerewa and this meant that there was a thin layer of stones on a tar-based substance. These stones being coated in stickiness would grab hold onto our tires flicking themselves into our faces and fenders. Marlieke felt the full wrath of a single stone getting lodged between her front tire and her bicycle rack bar that sat very close to the spinning wheel abruptly stopping her and throwing off her bike.
Thankfully she wasn't injured but was shook up.
Marlieke in tears and shaking I asked a local man who lived on the side of the highway if it was possible to spend the night on his lawn. Steven and his friend Boxer were kind to have helped us out till the following morning when we headed back through town to find a backroad to hwy 12.

From the town of Opua there was a cycle path to Kawa-kawa and beyond to Moerewa. These bike paths are good if you aren't packing a load as the gates prevent any type of motorized vehicles using the converted railroad trail; our gear on our bikes made things difficult to get through the multitude of bicycle gates that meant that I had to dismount all my panniers to get through. The trail is nice and flat (Marlieke likes) with great views and as it's mainly away from the road its more tranquil.

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Leaving Paihia

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The New cycle trail

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Ouch

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