Pukenui -Omapere 25th January.

Long day cycling, 85 miles, hills, hills,hills, plus ferry ride Kohukohu to Rawene. Met another tourer, called Linda, she was going north, but we stopped for a chat and exchange of tips. Long stretches of road with a car or lorry passing every few minutes. At one point I was running out of water, but had not seen a store for twenty or thirty miles. Relieved to find one in a tiny place called Blackwood. It's true some of these places (including this one) would not look out of place in the fifties!

 Finally pulled into Omepare about six, pleased to find a local grocer that also sold take away curry, just what I needed. Quick shower then away to pick my curry. A very nice vegetable paneer. Met a family in the camp site, Jim,Loclan and Sharon. They were very impressed with my achievement cycling up a local mountain. Apparently this particularly hill is steeped in local Maori cultural history, presented me with a bottle of wine which we shared.