Out and about in Onehunga

It was a briskly windy day today but three of us went over to Onehunga, and cycled along the path which went on for some way into the backblocks, following the edge of the inner harbour.
Wind behind us in this direction felt pretty good. Lovely broad path, that three of us could have cycled abreast had we so chosen.
The nearby work on the airport motorway.
Naomi and I following on closely behind John, who shot this over his shoulder.
Container park and customs area.
Naomi stopping while I took the photos.
Yet another factory at the back of Penrose.
Pleasant overbridge with a train or two passing in the distance.
Not sure this was the most respectful way of perusing the old gravestones, but we covered a fair few of them this way.
Lunch at the Library cafe.
Mmmm. And (below) the wharf area of Onehunga, and the old bridge, now a pedestrian and cycle path only.
The main motorway to the airport.

The small and meandering path on the Mangere Bridge side of Onehunga area.

And below, the short film I took of our voyage back toward the bridge.

Halloween day cycle to Kumeu and Riverhead

It was a simply glorious day today, and so we made quick plans to get out on our bikes and go to Kumeu, via Henderson and the train up to Waitakere. This is Helen and Jenny about to set off.

This initial journey to Henderson is about 11 kms along this rather pleasant meandering pathway.


Getting to Henderson 10 mins after the train left, we had a 50 min wait, so spent it having a coffee across the road.
then hanging out at the station. Had to take bikes up and down escalators to get here.
Loved the murals/billboards on display to the waiting passengers on either side of Henderson train station.

Finally the train came and we loaded our bikes - a mere $3.60 to take ourselves and them up to Waitakere township.

.. . where John awaited us. He'd flown in from Whakatane this morning and got to Waitakere to wait for us there.
It was then a hefty ramble up and down hills to Kumeu and discover Carriages cafe closed. So we headed inland to Riverhead and had lunch there. Naomi joined us for this.



Back via the vineyards and a spot of wine tasting at Soljans, (carrying a bottle for dinner tonight in my panniers).
All up, Helen and I did 50 kms today - not too bad really. John did about 28 kms and left us at Waitakere township. My knees are feeling it now - need to lose some weight and am in the process of doing just that. Great day.

Prep for the Rail Trail in Otago

These two lucky Handlebras/Handlebros headed out to visit rellies in Otago and checked out the Rail Trail for the rest of us. We plan to do it in March 2010, and will be well prepared now that we've got bookings and a feel for the track. They didn't do it all, just a bit - still, I'm envious!

Roll on the day!

Getting out there. . .

It's a bit tough when you're an 'adventure' cyclist, and Spring this year is particularly windy and rainy. The trip down to the shops and back is easy enough between showers but the DISTANT HORIZONS still call, and just getting out to the bike and rigging up can be a bit of an effort. Still, we're doing it. The Rail Trail in Otago is calling us, and we're booked for March next year. So, despite pretty disturbing conditions we are taking to the cycle trails to get in shape.
Recently I managed the trip in from Te Atatu to AUT in Wellesley St, despite a flat tyre, brake repairs and tyre come out from the rim situations. The bus strike helped.
Last weekend, the Cowans took to Devonport and Helen and I went to Henderson to do some shopping and get some fresh air.

Rotorua

John, Naomi and I went to Rotorua for a few days at the end of September to check out the easier touring routes. ALMOST didn't make it - both Naomi and I had bad colds, and coughed most of the time, and the weather was very SPRING. i.e. wet and windy for much of the time there. HOWEVER on Tuesday which happened to be the funeral for Sir Howard Morrison down there, it was also mostly blue skies, so we got our gear together and headed out.

Very glad we did! The thermal region cycle track was interesting enough without being too taxing for the not-so-well members of the Handlebra group. Really enjoyed going through the steam and the boiling mud areas.



We even unwittingly joined the funeral procession on our way back to the camp ground at Ngongataha. Going past a billboard for Sir Howard Morrison, John hongi'ed him.

We managed the edges of the Redwood Forest before coming back on the circuitous route.
Neither were we without incident. Surprisingly it was the car that needed a tyre change.

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.