After spending a few days in Taupo over the long weekend, we recommenced our journey at the start of the Timber Cycle Trail on the outskirts of Pureora Forest Park. We were giving mountain bikes a go. Thanks to Allie, Bevan and Marie. Also thanks to Ann Chris's sister for bringing over 93 year old Dad for a face to face visit with Chris, was great to see him.The initial section of the trail is a very dense beautiful forest and got to see the Kaka, was fortunate to have one fly inches from my face so I realised what it was, like the big green beautiful parrot that it is and then saw a pair a bit further on as well. The trail then opened up onto logged forest tracks and soon started to ascend. With our packs on it proved to be interesting. Chris went over the handle bars and also hurt his man bits in separate incidents to Bella's great amusement, she hadn't seen her Dad curled up on the ground like that before. Was tear jerking funny once the pain stopped, it was painful watching. We camped beside one of the bridges on the first night and it rained but only after we were set up and ready to close our eyes. Still raining in the morning we waiting in our sleeping bags for a bit for the rain to stop. We broke camp and started biking again, did 15kms kms then set up camp at Piropiro, Dryed out all the gear and Bella got a bit sunburnt from chasing birds and riding around the camp, this was also the first time we have been able to have a camp fire, really enjoyed natures TV that night. We met a bear grills look alike. Odd being out in the middle of nowhere and a beautiful specimen with no shirt on that looks like a celebrity pops out. After that we all made reference to him as the Ab man, those abs went for days, I think the Ken doll was modelled on him. Nice chap as well he gave us a packet of biscuits now we are friends for life. We had bike trouble so Chris did McGaiver and asked one of the hunters to use his tools, we were good to go. Third day we did the 45kms to Ongarue, this was such a beautiful ride the trail got wider due to the beginning of the timber tramway line, the gully's were over grown and the forest and rock formations was like being on a movie set, the trees were huge, the furns and colours of moss and deadfall was amazing. Chris saw some deer and we all saw lots of birds doing their thing. This day was also amazing as Bella was using so much energy we held off bolusing for meals and we also cut back her insulin supply to 60% which is lower than her demand when she was first diagnosed and was in her honeymoon period of her diabetes. We are talking breakfast, snickers bars, poweraid drinks, whole grain wraps and noodles. We now have three Basal patterns settings in the pump, 1 for normal day, 1 for walking and 1 for cycling. The last 7kms of the trail including the spiral was fast and all down hill, what a ride. Chris throught he was going fast but Bella was right up his butt pushing him to go faster and faster. Once off the timber trail we met Rem on the bridge, he had a beer in his hand, Chris was going to tip him over the edge and steal his beer but got chatting and he turned out to be a nice guy who offered us a hot shower and filtered water and had great ideas on fine tuning the bikes for our final day. The last days cycle was to Taumranui along the back roads which heaps of people stopped for a chat as we rode out. Great people at the Taumranui Backpackers gave us an ensuite room for a great deal and let us use their laundry facilities. We did stink after a few days riding. Final words about cycles, my lady bits don't ever want to see a bike seat again, Bella felt the same walking like a cowgirl isn't fun. Bevan has picked the bikes and we are recommencing walking the trail on foot.
  |  |
RSS Feed
