Labour Weekend 23-25 October 2021

Leader: Brandon Holman

Twelve of us travelled up to Taupo late Friday and booked into the Taupo Top Ten Campground. Most of us shared two motel units whilst a couple camped nearby.

Early on the Saturday we set off in convoy with bikes on the cars to Waihaha, on the western side of the lake, which was a 45 minute drive. After much pumping up of tyres and preparation, we set off on our first ride at about 9:30 am. This was a 17 km section with a gradual downslope to the shore of the lake. The track was a grade 3 intermediate with plenty of up and down, but nothing so steep that you needed to walk. We had a great view of a distant waterfall at the first stop. Most of us arrived, but Darrell, Elisabeth and Neville didn't and it was assumed they had turned back (as this was a there-and-back ride along the same track). We then continued after a snack and stopped again at a crossroads with a toilet at the 17 km mark, which gave access to the lakeshore (a 20 minute walk) or a nearby carpark (alternative start point for track riders). Once again there was no sign of the other three and we still had no phone signal.

After a toilet break and catch-up, we carried on downhill to the next viewpoint, right on the lake, albeit about 10 metres up a vertical cliff. Half way through lunch we were all surprised when a breathless Neville suddenly appeared. Apparently he had been sent on ahead by the others to catch us up! Unfortunately Elisabeth had most of his lunch stuff in her bag, so we provided.

After lunch some of us went on ahead, hoping to see a waterfall. This was mostly an uphill track but after 20 minutes riding the group stopped at a viewpoint and turned around, deeming the waterfall too far away. The others set off back to the cars, meeting Elisabeth and Darrell at the crossroads. Elisabeth decided she had had enough of the cycling for the day and Graeme suggested he drive back to pick her up at the alternative carpark. A group of us, on reaching the crossroads decided to walk down to the lakeshore and had a lovely 20 minutes sitting on the shore and taking photos. Eventually we all made our way back to the bikes, after leaving them at the crossroads under the care of Elisabeth, and set off back to the cars, leaving Elisabeth to wait for Graeme. June had some discomfort from her riding posture and this was eventually resolved by lowering her saddle height. We were all back at the cars by about 4:30 pm. Total distance for those who went a little further was about 42 kms riding plus the lake walk.

On arriving back at camp we all showered, ready for our evening meal at the Taupo Portofino restaurant where much merriment ensued. Some folk were not too sure they enjoyed the cycling on rough terrain, but everyone except Darrell and Elisabeth were ready to go again by 8:30 am on Sunday. This time we drove just to Kinlock, some 20 minutes away. Many of us were all set to ride off when Pete realised he had left his bike lock key in the motel unit so the bikes could not come off the carrier. Needless to say, Pete and the four bikes went quickly back to Taupo and the rest of us enjoyed a leisurely coffee at the nearby café. We set off about 10:00 am on the Kawakawa loop track which was a similar distance as Saturday. We went anti-clockwise, and had a short piece on the road, where Graeme unfortunately fell off due to a slippery curb; luckily only sustaining abrasions and bruises. Paula had the first-aid pack that day so provided painkillers. Once again, we were not sure if Neville had turned back (he had no mobile phone with him), so we pressed on along a lovely downhill section to a lunch spot, and the stopped again at a rocky viewpoint where we once again were surprised by Neville turning up, a little dishevelled as he had taken a fall or two.

All was well however, and after copious group photos, we went a little further to the lakeshore where many climbers were camping and enjoying the cliffs. The next section was mostly uphill and many elected to push their bikes from time to time. Eventually we all breezed into Kinlock along the lovely flat lakeshore section, and some us had an ice cream and a beer from the shop, although we got told off for drinking the beer onsite, albeit on the picnic benches provided.

After this we all went to the Wairakei Hot Pools and Elisabeth joined us. The pools were amazing, well laid out and very popular, and very hot! On the way back, Pete's car group volunteered to go and buy BBQ stuff and we had a communal meal in the dining area for just $10 a head, with Darrel and his wife joining us as well. Monday had us all packed up, and we set off once more to Kinloch. Neville and Elisabeth elected to do something different and headed for Ohakune and the Old Coach Road.

At Kinlock once again, we set off on another shorter W2K loop track to the east, on a large headland. The initial uphill was taxing and Chantal and June decided to turn back and found some alternative, less hilly tracks. A great ride was had on superb tracks and by 1.00 pm we were all back at Kinlock and 4 of us took the plunge into the lake for a quick swim. It was freezing! After a final coffee, or ice cream, we all set off for home, some via the western lake road, some via Taupo. All in all, a full-on long weekend away.

Those on the trip were:

Brandon Holman, Chantal Heller, Chris Keating, Darrel Sutherland, Elisabeth Hynes, Glenda Robb, Graeme Richardson, Paula Richardson, Peter Davis, Rob Dey, Yingjun Shelton

Currently there is no photo album for this trip.