This text was read by OCR from a scanned newsletter and has not been proofread yet, so expect odd characters and mistakes.
21-23 September 2001
This article is written in parts by all of the punters on the trip...
Part 1: down the Dawson Falls road (by Paul Carter) even keen cyclists met at 5.30 at the Railway Station with the intention of cycling around Mt Taranaki starting at Dawson Falls. Saturday morning greeted our party with blue skies and no wind. The plan was to drive the bus and Simon’s car to the bottom of the Dawson Falls Road so we didn't have to end our trip with a massive uphill. Everything was going to plan with Wayne driving the bus down with two bikes on the trailer and Paul following behind in Simon’s car. The other five cyclists opted to enjoy a leisurely downhill to start the day. Wayne parked the bus on a grassy roadside verge at the bottom and a couple of minutes later Paul arrived with Simon’s car. Paul then asked Wayne was there another bike inside the bus as there was only one bike on the trailer. Bemused and baffled, Wayne thought two bikes should be there as well. Paul then drove the car back up the hill to try and locate the missing bike that had escaped beyond trace. About 300 metres along the road from the forest verge there was a bike seat cover lying on the road in some distress. Four metres down the road from the seat cover was a bike standing upright gently leaning against a tree trying not to be noticed. Apart from the front brakes being slightly out of kilter and the gear lever pushed in the bike was in remarkably good condition and was able to join the other six bikes on the Taranaki Excursion.
Part 2: to Stratford (by Wendy Shuker)
Jane’s panniers got into an argument with her back I wheel. She managed to stay astride her bike, but the panniers were definitely worse for wear. They were all right to continue with though and so the group headed towards Siratford, unable to believe their run of bad luck and all hoping the pace was going to pick up before too long... you can imagine their relief when Stratford was reached without any further misadventures — 142 hours to travel a mere 15km from the bus!
Part 3: Stratford to New Plymouth (by Becky Austin) ith Jane’s panniers securely fastened clear of her wheels and all of us having taken advantage of the donut shop (conveniently placed next to the bike shop!) we set off on SH3 towards New Plymouth. We had 22km between us and Inglewood and lunch (I know what you’re thinking ‘they’ve only just had donuts for morning tea!’ — well apparently this is what cycle touring is all about!) It was a good blast along the hard-shoulder and great to be finally getting on with some cycling.. So we all felt we’d earned lunch and to chill out out after the morning’s events. All of us that is except Wendy who had suffered her second flattie of the day! She took advantage of the Inglewood Dairy and borrowed a bucket of water to find the puncture. Wayne ‘sharp-eyed’ Stevens came to the rescue and found the offending splinter of metal embedded in the tyre... and so it was that Wendy’s run of flatties came to an end. Next stop New Plymouth. Still on SH3 and cycling on the sometimes very narrow hard shoulder was not
Bok Got et sMNMEOEER cee Et Az so it was with great enthusiasm the 7 finally got on the road... 500m later they realised it was a false start when Wendy’s back tyre punctured. Her comment about being very slow at changing tyres obviously worked... Paul C jumped in and installed a spare tube at lightning speed, followed by Paul A pumping the tyre up in an equally efficient manner. And off they rode for a second time... but you know what they say, bad things come in three’s... and so it proved to be when a few kilometres down the road ideal but the traffic wasn't to6 bad: The stn was shining and the mountain would catch your left eye every so often when you weren't looking out for broken glass or being sucked in by the odd dairy tanker zooming past. There were some great long down hills — panniers add an interesting balance and speed aspect; decreasing the first and increasing the second —~ hmmm! As always there was an uphill to follow, a big uphill (panniers don’t help much here!) but at the top there was New Plymouth.
Trip Reports
Part 4: the cultural sights of New Plymouth (by Jane Punga) ell, we were in New Plymouth and wanted to see some of the sites. As not many people had heard of the revolutionary NZ film maker Len Lye I suggested we go to the art gallery and see some of his mechanical works. He is famous for being the first person in the world to paint and draw directly onto film and so make animations. He also designed amazing kinetic sculptures, and we came across the huge new wind wand (designed by him years ago) on the water front. It is only now, after his death, that they have invented the materials to enable the construction to be built. Anyway, I had to convince the punters that the art gallery would be more interesting than rugby grounds and park suggested by Paul Abbot. Selling the idea of a bit of culture was easy when there was the mention of a café attached to the art gallery. We did get to see a NZ jewellery exhibition, some paintings and some photographs. (But Len Lye’s work was not on display.) And of course got to drink some bowls of latte etc and use very clean toilet amenities. Then it was back to the (sore) saddle, off to Oakura camping ground by the sea (for a hot shower — we know how to travel, in style)!
Part 5: the alternative cultural sights of New Plymouth (by Paul Abbott — a good kiwi bloke) atisfying as it was to enjoy a bowl of latte ina sophisticated café adjacent to the Art Gallery {as one does on cycling trips) and observe the absorbing Len Lye sculpture on the seafront, Paul couldn't help but reflect on the missed opportunity to take in the other cultural highlights of the Taranaki metropolis of New Plymouth, namely the picturesque sporting arenas this fine city possesses. We can only wonder now how it may have been to luxuriate in the idyllic cricket venue Pukekura Park, to imagine the sound of willow on leather, to envisage a flowing Martin Crowe shot through the covers... or to visit Ruuby Park-theButtring-t pihe“Taranakt Ruct team, with the spectacular Mt Taranaki in the background, glowing pink in the evening light, where all fine upstanding young Taranaki dairy farmers take their dates, and enjoy the rugger over a few Taranaki bitters. Maybe next time... back to the cycling. We left the Art Gallery and rode west through the city to the Sugar Loaf mountains, where a possible climb to the summit beckoned; however, detailed analysis of the paintings and gluttony in the café had left insufficient time. The next trip to New Plymouth is already being planned...
Part 6: from New Plymouth to the campground (by Stuart Douce) fter watching Paul C eat a gi-normous slice of carrot cake (and not sharing it with anyone) our smiley trip leader decided it was time to I depart the big smoke of New Plymouth and_cycle the short distance to a really flash and expensive camping ground hidden along the coast. Leaving New Plymouth we cycled through beautiful scenery, with heavy industrial chemical plants and beautiful petrol storage tanks making wonderful photo opportunities. After about 15km or 3578 revolutions we passed a pub and Wayne sent (can’t remember who!) ahead to see if the campground was just down a short road. Luckily it was so we freewheeled the short distance to the camp. The owner could well have been a relation of Wayne’s as he was even more laid back, and made us all laugh with his funny comments and then again when he told us how much the tent sites were.
Part 7: the final part — back to the bus (by Wayne Stevens) fter a well earned sleep we were off on our way back towards Dawson Falls. We had two options — a longer route closer to the coast or inland, closer to Mt Taranaki. We choose the inland route — our friendly campground man assured us it was relatively flat and it was. A warm sunny day meant we had great views along the way of Mt Taranaki and the. farmland of Taranaki, so plenty of photo stops were had. It seemed like summer had arrived early. After a leisurely lunch break in the sun we were off. Cycling was good along the backcountry roads of Taranaki: however, when I found myself out in front of the group, I couldn’t figure out why some of the local farm dogs took a bit of a liking to me. On both occasions they would come out barking at me but then wouldn't go after anyone élsé following on behind. I couldn't figure it out — but after the trip was over I heard that dogs typically go for the first person or animal in a pack and as I was out in front I] seemed to suffer from this. (I was glad to hear this— I was a bit worried that maybe I have developed some strange form of attractiveness to dogs in my mid 30’s...) It was a great trip, with a great bunch of people. This was a new trip for the Club and I would highly recommend it.