TA day 08 - Timber Trail to Whakahoro from Robert and Marianne on Vimeo.
This is where the rail line spiralled around and over/under itself to enable trams to gain/lose altitude without much gradient. Again the trail passed through stunning rainforest, though today the trees were taller and more spectacular now that we had lost some altitude.
It's been so dry in this region that the trail was extremely dusty, as were the gravel roads that I followed afterwards. I had quite the layer of muck to clean off my legs once I got to camp!
Gareth's company ended once the Timber Trail did, and I continued on very quiet back roads to Taumarunui. Here I enjoyed a late lunch of bakery food (including my 4th pie of the trip), huge milkshake and a huge apple. I often have a lot to organise when I pass through larger towns. On this occasion, a toilet stop, small grocery shop, chain lubrication, phone call to book my jet boat ride for tomorrow, sunscreen application and water refill were all in order. It was a hot day, 29 degrees but fortunately cloud cover through most of the day didn't allow it to heat up further.
Back on the bike after 4pm I still had a long way to go. it was another 67km to Whakahoro, which is a launching point for canoe trips down the Whanganui River. I'd been there only a few years ago to do just that!
I came across very few other TA riders today. It seems we are getting quite spread out now. When I eventually rolled into camp, darkness had crept in. All up, 150km which is a new record for my longest day of riding. I felt quite strong throughout the day, so my bike endurance is obviously building up. Though I am tired!
