Woke to what was going to be a nice clear and sunny day, although going to get some bits and pieces from Countdown shortly after 7am the air was pretty cool. Took opportunity to have a bit of a look around the CBD, including Cook Gardens where there is an outside wooden veladrome which is all rather impressive and right in town.

I was impressed with Wanganui, it was clean and tidy and there are some lovely older and restored buildngs, the CBD looks vibrant and the lay of the land with it being a bit undulating makes it interesting.. There are cycle ways and paths running alongside the river with tourist attractions such as the paddle steamer all being central.

It was not what I thought it might have been based from what I had seen on the TV documentary and totally unlike many smaller towns that I have been through on this tour which have looked tired and somewhat desolate with the type of shops, or empty shops etc.

Well done Wanganui. I refuse to spell it Whanganui and note that many of the signs were not spelt this way either..

It was then up to Narelle’s grandmum Nan’s house where her mum Gaelyn also lives to watch the AB’s demolish the Eagles and for me to demolish the promised pikelets, with cream and jam that were presented at half time.. yum… I have a way to go in the pikelets department based on what was presented by “Master Chef” Gaelyn. Thanks.

Their house is at the top of Durie Hill which has commanding views of Wanganui CBD and of the celebrations that were going on today relating to the 100th anniversary of one of the bridges.

I had been informed that I could take the famous elevator up to Durie Hill, but as this did not open on a Sunday until 10am, I had to bike up, however, had the experience of going down in it with Mr Scott and then walking out the tunnel at ground level.. An interesting piece of NZ history that I suspect is not well known of outside of Wanganui. Look it up on the internet if you don’t know about it!

I hit the road to head south at 12.15pm initially on SH3, then to SH4 and then later to SH1. The road south out of Wanganui was great with a good surface and shoulder and the wind gods must have been paying me back for earlier in the week as although it was not directly behind, it was fairly helpful and made good time for the approximatelty 35ks to Bulls.

At the junction the road then changed direction and the wind was far from helpful on the Foxton straights which just went on and on… Nearing Foxton there was a jandels fence.. No where near as long as the shoe fence of I think yesterday, but still impressive. I think that I have a couple of pair of jandels at home past their use by date that could have been added to the collection!

From Levin on, there was a noticeable increase in the traffic and even though it was a Sunday, it was basically continious.

I had on my schedule intended to stay at Otaki, but there was mostly Outlet stores and at least on the main road I did not see anywhere that I could get a meal, so decided to push on which would also have the benefit of reducing the k’s to Wellington tomorrow, as at this stage I am intending to get the afternoon ferry. I say at this stage, as on the news I heard of gale force winds in Wellington so suspect that this could result in a rough crossing… Although I was experiencing strong westerly winds, it was not gale force so there was obviously a different weather pattern on the other side of the hill..

While there was generally a good shoulder from Levin, the road surface was back to being rough especially along the passing lanes sections and some of the railway overhead rail bridges were frankly dangerous with cars and trucks just squeezing you instead of waiting for just 10 seconds… Apparently there is a new motorway under construction which will make this section of road secondary roads in future and probably part of the New Zealand cycle way.

Somewhere south of Otaki I saw a sign that made me laugh “Drive in – Cemetery”. I could not see a “Drive Out” so not sure that I would want to visit there..

Opted to stop in Waikanae and found a nice motel with an Indian resturant within walking distance from where I am writing this blog.

Total ks for the day were 139 and with a climbing elevation of 837 m, although from the Maps application apart from a few humps at the start it is then in theory downhill. Average for the day wsa 25.77 so happy with that.

By the way, I think (fingers crossed!) that I have fixed the issue about posting comments and that this should now be possible. As there is a wide audience please use appropriate language as any comments posted (if it works) are not being moderated. Thanks.

It feels a bit strange to nearly have completed the North Island leg of the tour and such a long time in a way since I arrived in Wellington and not sure how I will feel when I get back home next week, whether I want to leave again and if I do, what it will feel like when this Odyssey is completed.. I guess that is when you plan the next one.

While checking in at the motel there was a map of New Zealand on the office wall and I took a few moments talking to the motelier to trace my route and even I was impressed!!

While I have enjoyed the North, I am looking forward to getting back “home” to the South Island.

For those following on Garmin and Strava, the phone is out of sync so it is not updating which is annoying… It last updated to Wellsford and I suspect some must think that I am still there! It might have to wait until I can download on the laptop at home for it to be updated.