452km - 5hrs : 31min
A day for getting from A to B.
Marco had texted their proposed route & destination, so I punched in "Taihape" into my GPS and set off.
420km and 5 hours later I enter the main street inTaihape from the North on route 1 and encounter M & U having literally just arrived from the east! Perfect timing!
My route took me from Coromandel down to route 27 and onto route 1 at Tirau by midday. I stopped for an early lunch after a great morning of riding. Apart from a police roadblock just outside Thames where they were checking driver licences, the ride had been easy. Light traffic and yet more perfect weather.
After lunch, down route 1 through Taupo and Turangi, past Tongariro which was venting steam from its flanks. Over the so-called "Desert Road" to Waiouro. Yet another incredible road through an amazing landscape. On to Taihape and our timely crossing of paths.
Afternoon coffee at the Brown Sugar Cafe before the final 35km to our free campsite for the night at Vinegar Hill. Quiet spot on a river, winding through a landscape of eroded river terraces.
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