Sunday 21 November 2021

Leader: Glenda Robb

There was a rumour going around that a new section of the Kapiti Expressway cycleway was open – the bit between Peka Peka and Te Hapua Road. We needed to check it out.

There was also the lure of a quirky café at Te Horo Beach that only a few of the group had been to, so coffee and cake at the far end was there to spur us on.

On the dot of 8:30am Chris and I whizzed down our drive and on to the cycleway track at the Rainbow Court entrance. All along the way we met up with others as they joined us at points nearest to their homes – or in Rob’s case far enough south to give him a decent ride.

So, at various points in Raumati, Kapiti Road, Waikanae, Peka Peka and Te Hapua Road we gathered up more riders and eventually we were thirteen riders whizzing along the back roads from Te Hapua Road to Te Horo Beach.

The café turn-off is just before the residential area. You turn right over the bridge and 200m or so on the left we found the signs for The Bus Stop Café (check them out on Facebook).

There was parking for horses, bikes and cars and all means of transport were waiting patiently while their owners had coffee and cake! A lovely garden and a footpath lead through to the bus and indoor and outdoor seating.

The senses were assailed by a bright blue bus, colourful cushions, quirky decorations, plants and bits and bobs for sale and some rather delectable looking goodies were being brought to the tables. The doughnuts were a particular favourite. The coffee took a while to come, but it didn’t matter much as there was plenty to see and photograph while we waited.

Back to the bikes, a quick pat for the waiting horses on the way out, and we were on the bikes again for the same route back as far as the carpark at Harrisons in Peka Peka, then down the road to the beach. At the corner, Brandon swapped his bike seat temporarily for something more comfortable!

Then roads and some tracks lead to a lunch stop at Waikanae Estuary, farewelling some members of the group as we went. Eight were left for the lunch stop shortened a little by some fat raindrops which only lasted a couple of minutes.

We were then on the track through the Waikanae Estuary to the bridge at Otaihanga and the boardwalk track through the Scientific Reserve on the other side. Then roads and shortcuts through Te Atiawa and Kena Kena Park, around the tracks behind the airport and finally home again to Raumati South.

The length of the ride was about 60km for us and varying distances for all the others depending on their start and finish points. Next time the ride may get a bit longer once the cycleway goes all the way to Otaki.

Apologies for lack of bike riding photos - its not easy to take photos while riding your bike!

Those on the trip were:

Brandon Holman, Chris Keating, Darrel Sutherland, Glenda Robb, Mark Robertson, Paul Michl, Peter Davis, Rob Dey, Sandra Rowland, Sue Pate, Yingjun Shelton, Caroline, Alistair

Currently there is no photo album for this trip.