Cape Palliser
was greying up over the Tararuas and it looked like some bad weather on the way. Changing course to avoid the weather, we instead went to Eketahuna for some lunch as we hadn’ t stopped since Napier. Sitting happily in a café, we waited out the rain and hail from the comfort of our table, while sipping on our coffees and enjoying our toasted sandwiches. With the weather passed, we resumed our course south towards Lake Ferry. After checking into our accommodation at the local hotel, we headed to Cape Palliser, a short 80km round trip around the coast. Reaching another rugged coast, we passed the small settlement of Ngawi, where they launch the fishing boats with bulldozers. Sadly, none were being launched but it must be an impressive sight when they do. Stopping off for the obligatory lighthouse photo, we were happy to knock off our third cape. All going well, we’ d hit the next within 24 hours.
DAY 7: Lake Ferry to Cape Egmont and New Plymouth, 490km The last day of our adventure. Tomorrow we’ d be returning home to our families and jobs. So, leaving Lake Ferry it was a little bitter sweet but we soon slotted back in the familiar riding routine and loaded a course for Cape Egmont.
You know you are in the Manawatu when the RNZAF Texan aircraft are buzzing the skies. So, it was hard to stay focused on the road, while watching the aerial circus in the sky above, made even harder by passing under the impressive Te Apiti Wind farm turbines. Zig-zagging our way through the arterial roads that criss-cross the Manawatu, we were given a back road route by Ian‘ s wife, Judy, an ex-local, which provided a nicer ride into Whanganui. Following the familiar coast line it was late afternoon by the time we reached our fourth, and final, cape, Cape Egmont. Handshakes all around and a photo shoot brought an end to the adventure and gave us all a sense of achievement. None of us had ever attempted a ride of this scale, so it was something of a personal endeavour to remind us of our ability to overcome challenges and, hopefully, for us to embark on another new adventure and new chapter in our riding life. What Theo, Dion and Ian don’ t know is that I already have the next adventure planned, but will they be mad enough to join me again? I hope this ride might inspire you to challenge yourself and look of your own two-wheel adventures.
32 KIWI RIDER