It could be said that our journey started properly on Friday 23rd January 2009 as that was when all the preparations we’d made came to a head. Early Friday morning the car we rented appeared along with our driver Cliff. It must have taken a good hour to lash the bikes to the roof and bags in the boot, but finally we were ready to go. It was great and really encouraging when an impromptu gathering formed around us and wished us good luck, no one had a negative comment and everyone wished us all the best. Which has been a running theme throughout the trip so far.
The drive to Cape Reinga was a long one, (of course not as long as the cycle back). Cliff was a very interesting guy and filled us in on a little of New Zealand history and culture. Driving up to Cape Reinga also afforded us the opportunity to assess some of the roads that we would be cycling and better plan our route. The drive was worth it, Cape Reinga felt like the edge of the world, with sweeping views of nothing but a vast ocean, it certainly made me feel small.
One thing that Amelia said on many occasions, which I agree with wholeheartedly is, that the photos are no more than a record, and come nowhere near close enough to capturing the moment, but since they’re the best we can do this is what I shall post up.
This is another part of Cape Reinga
Unfortunately the road from Cape Reinga to the camp site, where we were going to stay, was not sealed and so we couldn’t cycle it. We got Cliff to take us to Cape Reinga and then drive us back down to camp where we had him drop us off and said our goodbyes.
The last time I went camping was with my school, so I must confess I was slightly tentative about my situation. This was a feeling only intensified by the onset of night and the arrival of possibly every mosquito in the southern hemisphere. Like the hardy campers we were, we wolfed down our food, drowned ourselves in insect repellent and withdrew with all the dignity we could muster into our tents. The wild flailing of my head torch as I tried to find things and get ready for bed, seemed to excite the mosquitos to fever pitch and I have no doubt that they were dive bombing the tent in an attempt to get in. Finally, turning off the torch, I lay panting in the darkness after having fought with a suddenly voluminous sleeping bag and listened to the sound of the insects, which put me in mind of thrumming electricity cable.