Spring Cycling . . .

Yep, that's the cycle at the moment - all ready for a Spring trip out of the Peninsula somewhere. I have big plans every weekend - to sew, to get into my garden, to do housework - and then I get a call from the Cowans or my sister and before you know it, I'm clad in far too clingy outfits, and heading out to the garage. My bike lives beside my car in a corner where it is easy to exit and enter without too much damage to the car (ha!). As you can see, the panniers are covered with the neat little built in rain cover, and there is a nasty CAPE resting on the basket drying out. I wore it only yesterday, during a sudden squall coming back from Henderson. My sister has yet to wear hers.
Cowans and I 'did' the Peninsula shore track over gravel on Saturday in the rain, no less. Seeking shelter as we could beneath some huge pines, before negotiating the track again. Naomi suffered one spill on the boardwalk but arose to continue the rest of the path virtually unscathed apart from an unpleasant scrape on her leg. Whew. It could have been much worse - the smelly mangroves just beyond the boardwalk would be a nasty landing.
Helen and I went to Henderson for the first time this 'summer' yesterday. Once again, it was in fitful Spring weather, but we need to face all of that on the Rail Trail, so it's good practice.

Sept 5 FIRST SPRING trip out of the Peninsula

What a glorious day for our first official outing of the Spring. Blue skies, no clouds, a brisk fresh breeze, and some bikes to be dusted off and made long road worthy. (Helen and I take our bikes to the shops or her work regularly).
Just sorting a handlebar issue on Naomi's bike.

And finally we are ready to go. Off to Pt Chev with all our guff about the Rail Trail in backpack and bags.

Trying out the new cycleway means crossing Yeovil at the end of the road where Te Atatu Rd is pretty busy, and goes from four lanes to two.
But once on the other side, it's new cycle lanes on the road, all the way to the park where the new cycle path goes down into the grassed area.
Lovely to get off the road. . .
and cruise along the prisine pathway to the end where the motorway onramp has a traffic light for cyclists.
Made it easily to the bridge at Waterview, for the customary stop and drink.
and then along to Pt Chev cafe to pore over our maps of the Otago RailTrail and plan our route and accommodation. This is all happening in March next year. Yay.
We packed up after and headed back on the road.
But we made a detour to Adventure Cycles, near Western Springs, to visit Bruce, and sort out panniers and rack for John's bike. Oh, and new bike for Naomi. ALWAYS worth a stop in there.