Free beer for bikers
Today’s Eggs Florentine included bacon, smoked salmon, pesto and
spinach. I gobbled it down thinking that perhaps it wasn’t the most
epicurean of the various hollandaise-topped breakfasts I’d had, but I
wasn’t going to complain about the extra protein.
40 km to Wairoa, the only major city of the day. I had been informed
by my gracious hosts at Morere that there was a backpackers 48 km
beyond Wairoa, which was the only place to stay between Wairoa and
Lake Tutira, 75 km after Wairoa. I had been thinking I was going to
have to stay in Wairoa, after only 40 km, but the backpackers sounded
perfect, if a wee bit far. How was I doing 90 km days with Victor? Oh
yeah, I was carrying at least 10 pounds less.
Headwinds and many km of climbing made this another red punctuation
day, though I was better fueled from a stop in Wairoa for a flat white
(I’m still not sure how it’s different from a cappucino) and some
apple cake with whipped cream.
The backpackers was perfect. I had a six-person suite all to
myself. The host, Hamish, said anyone arriving on a bike got a free
beer, and I was happy to accept. The 1.4 km driveway was loose gravel,
and I pushed my bike on quite a bit of it, as I’ve lost my nerve after
the fall a few days ago. I’ll be pushing on the way out, as well, as
it wound up and down.
Hamish also provided two eggs for breakfast, and some grapefruit. The
inside of the place is beautifully finished, with nice colors and lots
of solid wood furniture. There is a fireplace, but it’s not quite cold
enough to warrant lighting it. Though I am tempted just to see if I
can do it.
December 30th, 2006 at 7:29 pm
Someday you will have to bike on the Olympic Penninsula of Washington State. There are hot springs there and beautiful vistas from Hurricane Ridge.
It sounds as though the NZ hot springs were just the pick me up you needed.